In case you didn’t already know, you can score a lot more than just books with your L.A. County and L.A. Public Library cards. That glorious piece of plastic can grant you access to tons of money-saving perks (your L.A. library card can literally save you thousands of dollars). In addition to free subscriptions and, of course, access to a vast and ever-evolving collection of books and films, you can also gain free entry into some of the best museums in Southern California.
The next time you’re planning on soaking up a rich dose of arts and culture, head to the Discover & Go website first. You’ll find separate sites for both the L.A. County Library (with branches in spots like Culver City, West Hollywood and East L.A.) as well as the Los Angeles Public Library (your neighborhood branch within the L.A. city limits). Then simply reserve a date to book your free passes (some museums allow up to four), print them out and bring them with you—it’s that simple. You can make reservations up to three months in advance and have up to two active reservations at a time.
See everything from pre-historic mammals and Ice Age fossils to Native American artwork and historic Japanese prints for free at these SoCal museums. Just a note, though: While the city and county libraries offer a similar selection of museums, some are unique to only one type of library card, which we’ve noted below.
Autry Museum of the American West
Japanese American National Museum
The Museum of Jurassic Technology*
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum^
* Los Angeles Public Library only
^ L.A. County Library only
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