Gene Autry Museum

• Cost: Admission charged, children under 12 free - Check current fees
• Location: Griffith Park (see below)
• How Long: Depends on interest, at least a couple of hours
• Best Time to Visit: Closed all Mondays, January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving¹ and December 25

Visiting the Gene Autry Museum

Gene Autry was cowboy star from the 1930s through the 1960s. He wanted to build a museum that helped people learn about and understand the American West, and the Gene Autry Museum is the result. They hold an extensive collection of paintings including the Remingtons, Russells and Moran that you'll find an any respectable museum of western art, along with paintings by many other artists. Other objects in the Gene Autry Museum collection include firearms, cowboy gear and western film memorabilia.

The Autry National Center also sponsors a unique series of stage plays entitled Native Voices, providing a place for Native American playwrights and players to explore their heritage.

Just in case you're as confused we were about the name and what happened to related museums, the official title is the Autry National Center, created in 2003 when the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage merged with the Southwest Museum of the American Indian and the Women of the West Museum.

Tips for the Gene Autry Museum

• The family gallery gives little ones a chance to touch things.
• Rent an audio guide at the museum or download it before you go.
• There's a cafe on premises, adequate for a quick break

Review of the Gene Autry Museum

If you love The West as seen through old films and television serials of the kind featuring the museum's singing cowboy founder, the Gene Autry Museum is the place for you. However, we quickly tired of seeing paintings of horses, cowboys, bison and bears. The museum largely depicts the West from the white man's point of view, seemingly one-sided until you realize that its companion Southwest Museum of the American Indian is closed for conservation and won't re-open until 2013. Meanwhile, you'll find much of their excellent Native American art work on sale at the Gene Autry Museum.

Getting to Gene Autry Museum

4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA
323-667-2000
Website

The Gene Autry Museum is in northeast corner of Griffith Park near the intersection of Western Heritage Way and Zoo Drive. From any freeway or nearby city street, follow the signs to the Autry National Center and Los Angeles Zoo.

¹ Thanksgiving is celebrated on the third Thursday of November.