Gene Autry Museum of Western History

Hollywood cowboy Gene Autry left a vast legacy on the silver screen, but he also lent his name to a museum in order to preserve the history of the wild west years.

Heritage

Started with a $54 million gift from the Autry Foundation, the Autry Museum of Western Heritage is one of the great attractions located within Griffith Park. Roughly 430,000 visitors come to the Autry Museum of Western Heritage to examine the myths, legends and realities of life on the western frontiers.

On Gold Mountain: A Chinese American Experience

On Gold Mountain: A Chinese American Experience, which details the experiences of Chinese American families in the West. Based on Lisa See's book On Gold Mountain: The 100-year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family, the exhibit shows the experience of sailing across the Pacific Ocean to reach Gum Saan, Gold Mountain, the Chinese language name for California.

Times Children's Discovery Center

Kids can play and learn about life in the Old West in the Los Angeles Times Children's Discovery Center. The Discovery Center will teach kids how hard it was to live in the old days with household chores from the home of a Mexican American ranching family. Visitors can view old-style westerns in the cinema or examine wild west artifacts such as clothing, saddles and a collection of Colt pistols. The Museum of Western Heritage also is a major resource for writers, documentary producers and actors doing research on western related topics. Researchers have access to nearly 40,000 books and 5000 linear feet of unpublished works, maps, music, old movie posters, show programs and sheet music. The museum's exhibits and collections highlight how the settlement of the American West was portrayed in different forms of media. Researchers can contact the Research Center by writing to: Autry Museum of Western Heritage, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462. The Autry Museum of Western Heritage also owns many fine art works of the old west. Frederic Remington, Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran are some of the acclaimed artists on display at the museum.

Hours of Operation and Location

The Autry Museum of Western Heritage is located at 4700 Western Heritage Way just across from the Los Angeles Zoo. The museum is at the intersection of Ventura Freeway and Golden State Freeway. Parking is free to the public. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The second Tuesday of the month, the public is admitted into the museum at no charge. Cost of admission is $7.50 for adults; $5 for senior citizens and students; $3 for children ages two to 12 and free for museum members. Group rates of 20 people or more are: adults, $5.75; seniors and students under 18 years old cost $4.25; children ages two to 12 years are admitted for $2.55. Group reservations need to be arranged at least one week in advance. Contact the tourism department for reservations at 323-667-2000, extension 329.

For more information on the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, call 323-667-2000.