There are so many diverse museums across Southern California. Even if you can’t get to California, you have an opportunity to visit those amazing museums from home. Here are a few of my suggestions for virtual visits to Los Angeles museums.

The Getty Center

The Getty Research Institute has thousands and thousands of resources. You can explore them online through virtual visits, videos, podcasts, and more. One of the best resources I found for the Getty is the blog entry they made on their website. Some of the highlights include:

• Explore the Michelangelo exhibit currently at the Getty
• Rembrandt exhibits around Los Angeles, including at the Getty
• Read the Getty’s online publications about art and exhibitions
• Watch the Getty Museum’s YouTube channel
• Listen to the Getty Podcasts
• Resources for parents and teachers

Take a virtual tour of The Getty Center. Photo by Patricio Hurtado via Pixabay

The Paley Center for Media

The Paley Center for Media brings us art and performances from television, radio, and other platforms. While The Paley Center for Media is closed, you can find hours of entertainment and information on the Center’s YouTube channel through PALEY@Home. There are new videos almost daily. Tuesdays feature Paley Presents with some of the biggest headliners. Wednesday is Family Comedy. The Paley Report comes out each Thursday, featuring conversations with CEOs and leaders in media. Fridays are Paley Date Night with comedies and dramas.

You can take a virtual visit to the Paley Center for Media. Check out this set from Friends. Photo by Tracie Hall via Wikimedia

Annenberg Space for Photography

I completely believe in the philosophy that a photo is worth 1,000 words. I am fascinated with great photographs that capture an entire story. Nowhere can you experience this more than at Annenberg Space for Photography. Since the beautiful space is closed, you can follow along with some of the photo exhibits via audio tour. Featured exhibits right now include:

• Vanity Fair: Hollywood Calling
• WALLS: Defend, Divide, and the Divine
• Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop
• Generation Wealth by Lauren Greenfield

The Hammer Museum at UCLA

The Hammer Museum, founded in 1990 by Dr. Armand Hammer, works to bring artists and art together to inspire change. While the museum is closed, you can access the museum’s YouTube channel to experience the wonder of art. Some great artists who offer online interviews.

Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Photo by Gary Minnaert via Wikimedia

The Broad

The Broad, in downtown Los Angeles, is the city’s newest museum. It opened five years ago with works from around the world. There are 2,000 works in the permanent collection and many more visiting exhibits. The museum itself is a work of art designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler. It is called “the veil and the vault,” with a space for the public and space for collection storage.

The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Kerstin Bednarek via Wikimedia

During the COVID-19 shutdown, The Broad offers some great virtual experiences with #TheBroadFromHome. Here are some of the highlights:

• The Broad Facebook page offers excellent video experiences. There are photos, videos, and interactive weekly experiences.
• Infinite Drone Series gives you a chance to experience the Infinity Mirrored Room and more
• The poetry and art series showcases the link between visual art and literature
• Family workshops feature a weekly art activity tutorial, which gives step-by-step instructions for a family art project. New videos come out each Friday morning.

California Science Center

The California Science Center is an interactive museum that is an invaluable resource for students and families in Southern California. During the COVID-19 crisis, it might be closed, but the center is offering great “Stuck at Home Science.”

During the closure, the center offers a variety of daily activities, complete with videos and activity guides that parents can download. They also offer a weekly live video stream each Tuesday at 10 am Pacific time.

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Virtual Visits to Los Angeles Museums

When you can’t travel, you can still experience the wonder of the world through some fantastic virtual experiences. I hope you enjoy these virtual visits to Los Angeles museums.