La Brea Tar Pits

One of California's most fascinating natural wonders, the La Brea Tar Pits make a fun, frugal and educational day trip.

Located along Miracle Mile on Wilshire Boulevard, the asphalt deposits at Rancho La Brea have been seeping to the surface for nearly 40,000 years.

The fossil fuel was created by ancient sea life dating back nearly 100,000 years — when Los Angeles was still buried beneath the Pacific Ocean.

The resulting semi-solid asphalt softened during the summer heat, trapping thirsty animals in its sticky surface. Roaming predators, in search of easy prey, also met their fates here.

Methane gas, created by petroleum-eating bacteria, makes the asphalt appear to bubble and "boil" beneath the surface, but the tar actually isn't hot.

Excavation at the tar pits began around 1890.  Since then, more than 100 tons of fossil bones have been recovered from the tarry deposits. Many are on view inside the Page Museum, which is home to the most important collection of Ice Age fossils in the world.

Full-sized specimens at the LA Page Museum include the California saber-tooth cat, Dire Wolf, Harlan's ground sloth, Columbian mammoth, American mastadon and antique bison.

One of the most recent discoveries is Zed, a nearly-intact Columbian mammoth. He was found in 1996, when a bulldozer shaved off part of his skull during work on an underground parking lot.

Today the area, known as Project 23, is the most active excavation in Hancock Park. During the summer, everyone is welcome to watch as scientists and volunteers busily chip away in search of fossils. New discoveries are made daily, some dating back nearly 40,000 years. On the day we visited, a large limb bone (perhaps camel), an eagle toe, articulated rattlesnake vertebrae, plant roots and seed pods were being exposed. Volunteers are welcome to aid in the discovery.

You can stay abreast of recent excavation developments on Laura Tewksbury's blog at excavatrix.blogspot.com or on Twitter @LaBreaLaura

Pit 91, just steps away from Project 23, is the world's longest-running urban excavation site. Paleontologists began work here in 1969, and there is still about 5 or 8 feet left to explore. Scientists use a grid system that's 3-feet by 3-feet by 6-inches deep, and each fossil is identified as it is removed from the ground. The most common animal found in the pits is the Dire Wolf. Excavation on Pit 91, which is currently 15 feet deep, is on hiatus for 5 years as excavators complete work on Project 23.

A few more fun facts:

• Bones are not found in liquid asphalt
• Paleontologists use mechanics' degreaser or Gojo to remove the tar from their hands. Clothes are stained permanently.
  

While you're at the La Brea Tar Pits, be sure to visit the Paleontology Lab inside the George Page Museum. Nicknamed "The Fishbowl," this working exhibit offers a glimpse of scientists sorting, cleaning and cataloging fossils found inside the tar pits. After cleaning, they are moved to the primary ossuary for storage.

The only human remains found in the tar pits were discovered in 1914. Dated at 9,000 years, the La Brea Woman was believed to be a Channel Island, or Chumash, Indian. She was on display for years, only to be placed back into storage in 2004.

Next time you're in LA, be sure to check out the Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits. They will certainly appreciate your support.

Page Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free on the first Tuesday of each month.

The George C. Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits address is 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. It is located right next to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) between Curson Ave. and Ogden Dr. La Brea Tar Pit parking is available at Curson Ave and 6th St., behind the museum.

For more information, call (323) 934-7243, visit http://www.tarpits.org or watch our video.