Craft and Folk Art Museum (CAFAM)
Begin this tour at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. You can park in the lot at the Petersen Automotive Museum and walk from there.
The first stop on the walking tour of Miracle Mile is a shrine to the power and influence of the automobile. At the Petersen Automotive Museum, visitors can explore exhibits showcasing the history of LA’s love affair with cars, including special collections of lowriders, celebrity-owned vehicles, hot rods, racing vehicles and even cars powered by alternative fuels.
Head east on Wilshire to LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art). Home to the largest encyclopedic art collection west of the Mississippi, this institution has made a big splash in the art world with the opening in February 2008 of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum. Designed by Renzo Piano, BCAM, as the museum is known, is the newest building on the 20-acre LACMA campus. After visiting BCAM, you can relax in one of the outdoor areas scattered around the LACMA campus or grab a meal in the Plaza Café.
Now you’re ready to head next door to the Page Museum – La Brea Tar Pits. A naturally occurring geologic phenomenon, the tar pits have provided researchers with fascinating fossil finds from the last ice age, including remains of dire wolves, ground sloths, sabertoothed cats and mastodons. Inside the museum, exhibits introduce visitors to the work of researchers who collect and catalog the remains unearthed from the tar pits.
End your day exploring Miracle Mile with a visit to the nearby Craft and Folk Art Museum (CAFAM). Just east of La Brea Tar Pits on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard, CAFAM’s exhibits cover artistic expression from around the globe, showcasing a wide variety of cultures. It’s also home to one of the best museum gift shops in LA, with unique items and works of art as well as books and posters.
