La Brea Tar Pits Revamp Begins With $236M in California Funding, Page Museum Set to Reopen in 2028

• $236 million in state bond financing is supporting the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum overhaul in Los Angeles.
• The first phase expands the George C. Page Museum and refreshes the 13-plus-acre campus with new outdoor spaces, landscaping, lighting, and access points.
• The museum complex is expected to reopen in mid-2028, with the full master plan projected to unfold over roughly seven years.

Work Begins on La Brea Tar Pits’ Major Revamp

The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County has commenced work on a long-awaited transformation of the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum. The project will modernize the landmark museum complex in Hancock Park, with the first phase expected to be completed in mid-2028. The master plan, developed by WEISS/MANFREDI, will reshape the museum and its surrounding campus. We’ll look at the initial construction, the state financing behind the project, and what the multi-phase redevelopment means for Los Angeles’ Museum Row.

Page Museum Expansion and Campus Upgrades

The initial phase includes an expansion of the George C. Page Museum, along with the removal and expansion of exterior berms to create new gathering spaces and improve access. The over-13-acre campus will also receive upgraded signage, lighting, landscaping, and outdoor furniture. A key addition is the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research, which will study how ancient ecosystems responded to climate change and extinction. The larger plan also envisions new entrance pavilions, walkways, a parking lot, and a research building in later phases.

$236M in California Financing Supports Construction

The State of California recently announced $236 million in bond financing for the La Brea Tar Pits revamp. The funding supports the museum’s broader modernization, which will be delivered over multiple phases. The project is a significant investment in Los Angeles’ cultural infrastructure. With completion of the first phase targeted for mid-2028, the museum complex is expected to reopen to the public after its two-year closure.

Museum Row’s Long-Term Transformation

The La Brea Tar Pits project is part of a broader wave of cultural investment along Wilshire Boulevard. Nearby, LACMA’s David Geffen Galleries, designed by Peter Zumthor and spanning Wilshire Boulevard, have recently opened. The Tar Pits’ full master plan is expected to take roughly seven years, keeping construction activity on Museum Row underway well beyond the initial reopening. For the surrounding real estate market, continued investment in cultural institutions and public spaces can help reinforce the corridor’s role as a major destination. The takeaway: California’s $236 million financing is helping move a landmark Los Angeles institution into its next chapter, with a 2028 reopening milestone and a longer-term campus redevelopment ahead.