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    Urban Light at LACMA

    4.5 (643 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Urban Lights
    Tameka L.

    This is an outdoor art installation that's part of LACMA. It's completely self timed. It wasn't as crowded as I expected. Security was walking around.There are several museums within walking distance so you don't have to go there for this alone . I really want to go back to check it out at night. I parked in the art museum's underground lot and it was $24.

    Lina C.

    One of my favorite tourist spots in Los Angeles, the Urban Light installation at LACMA holds a special place in my heart. It's been a while since I've visited, but this was one of the first places I explored when I toured LA. There's something magical about the way the lights glow against the dark sky and it truly makes you feel like you're in La La Land. It's almost always crowded here, unless you visit late at night or during the hottest part of the day. It was especially busy after the Night Out at LACMA event. Whether you're with friends or flying solo, it's an ideal spot for photos. Definitely a must-see for anyone visiting LA. As for parking, there are plenty of metered spots, or you can park in the museum's garage for a fee. Late at night, I've noticed many people simply turn on their emergency lights for a quick photo op. Whether you're a local or a visitor, Urban Light at LACMA is a little slice of LA magic that never gets old. So, next time you're in the area, grab a friend (or just your camera) and stop by for a moment of pure LA charm. Trust me, you won't regret it!

    Alejandro F.

    Urban Light (2008) is a collage-like forest of city street lights made by artist Chris Burden located right by the entrance of the LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art). It's composed of 202 restored cast iron street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s. They're arranged in a grid and they turn on every evening around dusk and stays illuminated until down (controlled by an astronomical timer). Since it's such a staple of our city, I make it a point to take out-of-state (or even international) friends here every time I can. Ideal parking to visit (it's at most an15 to 30 minute tourist spot) can be found on S Ogden Dr, on S Genesee Ave or on W 8th Street. Please make sure to visit at night for best photo opportunities!

    Samantha P.

    Love this art installation!!! So iconic. Always want to look at it and pose with it. Should come at night! Love that this installation is featured in so many photos of Los Angeles.

    Ying L.

    We were at the grove and didn't not realize Urban light was just less than 5 mins away. We came at night time and were able to find parking. We walked around 10 mins and left. It was very interesting and it was a fun to check it out.

    Wayne W.

    A beautiful, iconic LA spot. The vintage street lamps look amazing during the day, I have yet to see them at night but I bet it's 100x better. Free, photogenic, and absolutely worth a visit. The LACMA and the La Brea tar pits are right there and worth a visit!!

    Urban Light (Chris Burden) - plaque & information
    Ian A.

    Urban Light (aka: 202 cast-iron street lamps from the 1920s) is a glimmering spectacle at night. Families, couples, & photographers flock this free public art piece. I arrived skeptical, yet I left enchanted. Urban Light by Chris Burden is a public sculpture that visitors can explore. I arrived on Saturday (around 8:30PM). Street parking was simple to find, and the location felt busy with smiling, posing tourists. My first impression of the location was bemusement. It felt hilarious how many families and social media enthusiasts were snapping photos at such a simple-looking display. However, my skepticism slowly morphed to a somber thoughtfulness. I noticed how the lighting and the symmetry of the poles created many aesthetically pleasing shots. From different perspectives and angles, I was able to form and discover new vivid images from something seemingly mundane. In a bright flash, 30 minutes had seemingly vanished. This art is free to peruse 24/7, but I recommend visiting Urban Light in the evening. The location also felt safe and a little romantic. These tightly spaced 1920s cast-iron street lamps capture the aesthetic of "classic Greek and Roman architecture or a European cathedral." Honestly, I had a much simpler perspective. Similar to LEGOs, I had dumb fun moving my camera around trying to capture some pretty photos. If you're a photographer enthusiast, visiting Los Angeles, or attempting to impress a date, this is an easy recommendation. 5 out of 5

    Urban Lights at LACMA
    Helene S.

    Last day in LA was a museum district day. Urban Light at LACMA is a very iconic installation of street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s. In fact, 202 historic restored street lamps are assembled in a grid pattern on the LACMA campus. It is free to visit this large outdoor installation. The street lamps came mostly from Southern California. Hollywood. Anaheim. Glendale. With a few from Portland, Oregon. There are sixteen different models included. It is interesting to look at different details in the glass globes and poles. The lights are solar powered and light up from dusk to dawn. Definitely visit if you are exploring LACMA. It is close to the ticket office near the escalator.

    Jonathan S.

    The Urban Light is an art piece outside of the LACMA (LA County Museum of Art). It's a popular spot for pictorials. It's a busy area as people from all over come here for pictures. If you wait around, you should be able to grab some pictures without other people in them. The Le Brea Tar Pits are a short walk from here.

    On the side
    Courtenay O.

    This is definitely a sight to see at night. We went on a week night and saw a photo shoot and lots of folks taking pictures in and around the lights. The lights are fantastic. Look for street parking. It was free when we parked, after 9PM. The walk to the lights was a little dicey with construction around the Art Museum.

    Sarah S.

    I finally done did it! After living in Los Angeles for five years and many tourism visits prior, I got out of my car and walked around this iconic, artistic attraction. I have now come, conquered and walked away with a bajillion photos of myself among some streetlamps against a palm-tree-ridden night sky. The construction is nearing completion in the area which makes this way more enjoyable for me as a Los Angeles resident. I drive by on Wilshire a few times a week and love looking at the art structure and all the tourists & locals alike having photo shoots. the Urban Light at LACMA opened in 2008, and is now lit 24 hours by Bob Iger! #DisneyStan I think this light structure is the first thing people think of these days when they hear LACMA. The grid of 202 Streetlamps are from the 20s and 30s originally all around SoCal, all put together by artist Chris Burden! He procured the first Streetlamp for the piece from the Rose Bowl Flea Market. It's like a reuse and recycle artwork! Something super bizarre happened in 2018, Leonardo Di Caprio's foundation replaced all the bulbs cutting electricity 90%! Weird but rad! This art piece is part of why I love LA. It's come to symbolize a part of our town and I smile every time I go by.

    Cool lights
    Christy C.

    Very cool spot to admire the beautiful lights! Recommend coming here during the night because it lights up but it's also very pretty during the day! Parking can be tough since parking in LA is limited but if you want to park there, it costs $21! Admission to see the lights is free. Be prepared to be surrounded by crowds and don't be surprised if you have a hard time finding a good spot to take a picture with the lights because it gets super packed! You can get a good view of LA if you go to the balcony of the second floor of the LAMCA museum!

    Marisol F.

    It was so exiting g to visit the landmark , I see all the times in movies and reels. Very clean and well keep. There is a small sitting area to the left

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    Urban Light at LACMA Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Urban Light at LACMA

    Will this be open around New Years? My birthday is Dec 30th and I want to take a trip to see the lights for my birthday

    Wait its not free? Till what time is it open? Or the lights on all night?

    It is free you don't have to pay any money to see the lights. Just find street parking and walk up to it. The lights tend to turn on at dusk and turn off at dawn.

    Do they admit small dogs?

    Yes, this is located on the sidewalk of Wilshire Blvd.

    Is there somebody knows how much is the parking fee?

    We paid $21.00 we were shocked because we were only there for 20 minutes or less. Just went to see the Urban lights. It is 13 dollars after 9 I think.

    Is there a nearby parking for free?

    No we had to pay for parking

    As of May 21, 2021, are people allowed to go see the lights? Is there a line? Is it free? Can we take off our masks for pictures? I tried calling the LACMA number and the person who answered told me to check on the website but there's no info there.

    Yes, you can go see the lights and take photos. The line depends on what day/time you go. Avoiding weekends would be my recommendation. Have fun!

    Can you take off mask to click photos?

    I was there last week and we were not allowed to take off masks for photos (even if 6ft apart). They enforce it by shining a light at your face if you're caught without your mask on.

    Is this open during Covid or walkable?

    Yes it is open. It’s right off the sidewalk on the front side and in the open air.

    Do they actually close?

    The lights stay on for most of the night but the museum does close. The lights are easily accessible, so getting to them won't be a problem.

    Where can you park to go see the lights on a Saturday night?

    In the garage. It's a flat rate so you'll pay full price fyi

    Are the lights on all night? Would I be able to go early in the morning ie: 6am

    The lights are on starting after dusk. You can see them even if you just drive by. They are in between the museum (LACMA) and the La Brea tar pits. There is a lot to see and do in that area. Enjoy!

    What time do the lights usually turn off?

    From an article at http://apalosangeles.org/public-art-in-public-places-l-a-s-iconic-urban-light/… 

    What time do the lights turn on?

    Lights go on at night but the place is open 24/7

    Do I have to buy ticiets to the museum to go here?

    No, the venue is outside. You literally just walk upto it and start taking your pictures. Of course, go during the evening because the lights will turn on

    How's the parking situation here like on a Sunday night? Is it just street parking or is there a structure nearby?

    Mostly street parking. There are parking structures but you have to walk few blocks. Street parking is more convenient and closer to Urban Lights.

    I know the museum closes at 5 during week days but can you still go take pics of the lights after hours?

    I'm pretty sure you can.. I went after the museum was closed.. there were plenty of people there also taking pictures.

    Do you have to pay or need a permit to take pictures in the lights?

    I'm not sure about professional photography.. but when I visited, everyone takes/took pictures. No permits no fees.. there's just a lot of people trying to take pictures also.. but if you find the right moment, or ask politely for others to give you… 

    Do the lights stay on the whole night? I was planning to drive down from SF and I'd probably arrive LA around 10pm. But if they don't keep it on that late, I'll have to leave SF earlier...

    I don't know if they are on ALL night, but they are on that late.

    Hi, I wonder what time are the lights on and off? I am planning my visit in early September, please kindly advise, thank you very much!

    The lights are on 24/7 so you can go anytime.

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    Review Highlights - Urban Light at LACMA

    So it's called Urban Lights and its outside of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art also known as LACMA.

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    1st Street Bridge

    1st Street Bridge

    4.8
    (8 reviews)
    7.5 mi

    Forgot to mention super easy to get there on Metro E line to the Pico/Aliso station. There are also…read morea number of cool bars and taqueria places in the area for a great ELA beginners experience (or if you ride to the end of E, there's dim sum in Alhambra or the beach in Santa Monica.)

    The 1st Street Bridge, officially the 1st Street Viaduct, is a beautiful old bridge. By…read more"beautiful," I don't mean pretty; it's not a pretty bridge by any stretch of the imagination, but it serves its purpose in a no-frills way, and it reminds me of the Downtown L.A. I grew up with, a sometimes scary but always fascinating place dominated by imposing physical structures of steel and concrete. The East L.A. Interchange and everything around it seemed intent on delivering millions of cars into and out of Downtown as brutally efficiently as possible, with no regard for the local neighborhoods (or the people who lived in them), the physical environment, or even the L.A. River itself. Unlike its flashy new neighbor the 6th Street Bridge and its closer and more crowded neighbor the 4th Street Bridge, the 1st Street Bridge always felt like the little-used last chance to cross the river before the busier (and confusing) Cesar Chavez Avenue (formerly Macy Street) Viaduct, not to mention Main Street much farther north. The construction of Metro's Gold Line (now the E Line) saved the bridge, in a way. Before the train tracks were laid across the span, there were five total lanes, with the center lane being one of those confusing ones that changes directions at certain times. Caltrans or L.A. Public Works or whoever couldn't seem to decide how wide to make the lanes, so they kept changing the sizes, possibly because the bridge originally had shoulders or three lanes in each direction? Now, there's one lane of motor-vehicle traffic heading westbound and two heading eastbound. All lanes are now permanent. There is a fairly well protected bike lane on the north side of the bridge, and the train tracks run in the middle. It's probably slower now, but because everyone knows it has three lanes total, fewer people probably use it. Or maybe GPS navigation has completely ruined the idea of people driving and not driving places because of their personal knowledge of situations there. In any case, driving westbound gives you the perfect view of Downtown L.A. My dad's side of the family has deep routes in Boyle Heights, so I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff, as ugly as it probably is to most non-Angelenos.

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    End of bridge
    End of bridge
    View of bridge on map
    View of bridge on map
    Running here never gets old

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    Garden of Oz

    Garden of Oz

    4.7
    (11 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    Cool place to visit if you're into folk art. My visit was short since there's only a two hour…read morewindow that you can visit on Thursdays. Some areas are in need of repair; some loose pieces were on the ground so look where you step. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take photos here. There is no parking on this narrow street so you'll have to park and walk.

    Magical garden hidden in a private home. It is open to the public two hours a week while the…read moregardener works on the garden: Thursdays, 10am-noon. However, these hours are contingent on the gardener, who may not show up or may come late / leave early. If you're coming from afar, it might be a good idea to email the owner at gardenofoz@me.com and ask about that particular week. I found the email address on a webpage about the garden. I emailed at the start of the week when I wanted to come but heard back the following week. Turns out the gardener had car trouble so the garden was closed the previous week. The owner did email me back again letting me know the garden would be open the following week, which was nice of her. So, if you're driving from afar, reach out to confirm. Don't come at the last minute just in case the gardener leaves early. It's not the easiest to access but hey, this is a private home and we're lucky to have any access to it. This is interesting for anyone who loves folk art, mosaics, outsider art, etc. It's a large space with a lot to look at. No photography is allowed. Parking is on the street. The streets are narrow and hilly but there should be available parking within a reasonable distance.

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    Garden of Oz
    Throne Of Healing Light
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    The Charmed House

    The Charmed House

    5.0
    (6 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    An interesting street--a cool house from a TV series. There are also interesting Victorian houses…read morenearby.

    Hey Alexa, play the title track from the original Charmed series How Soon Is Now by the Smiths…read more "I am the son... And the heir..." as we park in this cozy historic neighborhood in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California and wait for Piper, Leo, Chris, Wyatt and Melinda to pop out and start their day. Maybe Paige, Henry, Phoebe and Coup will stop by and will catch some protect the innocent, save the world antiques in the attic... One can day dream. The Innes House also known as the Charmed House is a Victorian style home at 1329 Carroll Avenue that is truly one of kind and for eight years was heavily featured on the WB series Charmed from 1998 to 2006 and spotlighted again in the CW reboot of the same name in 2022 for its final episode. In the series the original address is listed as 7571 Prescott Street in San Francisco and is shortly updated to 1329 Prescott Street to reflect the actual number address on the home. For fans this residence was also known Halliwell Manor and for native, local, and transplant Angelinos it's unique craftsmanship, historical establishment (1887), and architecture is something to truly take in and enjoy along the Carroll Avenue Local Historic District of Echo Park. Just a beat/walkable feet down from the Michael Jackson Thriller House (also featured on Charmed like many homes in the neighborhood). You can snap a pic, selfie and/or take it in. Of course be mindful of the owners and current residents as this is their home and they've been getting fans for the past couple of decades stop by to do the very same. This beautiful home Historic Preservation home resides in a overlay zone (HPOZ) with zoning tools to preserve as well as protect neighborhoods composed of historically architecturally significant structures. It will live on like the legacy of the Charmed Ones.

    Photos
    The Charmed House is from the TV Show about 3 witches. It's located a few houses down from Michael Jackson's Thriller House October 2023
    The Charmed House is from the TV Show about 3 witches. It's located a few houses down from Michael Jackson's Thriller House October 2023
    The Charmed House from the TV Show is just a few houses down from The Michael Jackson Thriller House on historic Carroll Avenue in LA
    The Charmed House from the TV Show is just a few houses down from The Michael Jackson Thriller House on historic Carroll Avenue in LA
    The Charmed House is from the TV Show about 3 witches. It's located a few houses down from Michael Jackson's Thriller House October 2023

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    The Charmed House is from the TV Show about 3 witches. It's located a few houses down from Michael Jackson's Thriller House October 2023
    Angels Flight Railway

    Angels Flight Railway

    4.5
    (500 reviews)
    6.3 mi

    Was in the area and my friend and I decided to make this our first stop on our evening of…read moreadventure! I'd ridden Angel's Flight Railway many years ago, so it was really special getting to experience it again and make new memories. Such a fun and unique experience! Even though the ride is short, it's packed with history and offers amazing views. The railway is charming, well maintained, and makes for a great photo opportunity. The staff were friendly, the tickets were inexpensive at $1.50 each way, and it's the perfect little stop while exploring DTLA. Definitely worth checking out at least once--especially if you appreciate historic landmarks and classic LA attractions.

    Celebrating 125 Years!!…read more Angels Flight, a 298 foot funicular / inclined plane, originally opened on December 31, 1901. It connects Hill Street with California and features two vintage cars, Sinai and Olivet. It is open from 6:45am-10pm every day! This was so fun I rode both cars - up, down and up again! $1.50 each way... such a deal! The ride itself takes less than a minute and besides a little shimmy and shake when the cars pass each other, it is a straight shot. You can pay with your metro card, debit/credit card or cash. It's a fairly streamlined process & you pay at the top. The gates for the funicular are automatic at the top and bottom of the hill & only the top is staffed by an employee. If you want to save $1.50, you can always walk up the nearly 300 stairs to the left of the funicular & get your steps in! Peace.

    Photos
    VIP flight. #theboss
    VIP flight. #theboss
    Up and up we go.
    Up and up we go.
    DTLA funicular

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    DTLA funicular
    Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room

    Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room

    4.2
    (85 reviews)
    6.3 mi

    Visited Infinity Mirror Room and let me just say... yes, it's stunning. The lights, reflections,…read morethe whole illusion makes you feel like you stepped into another dimension. No complaints about the actual experience itself, it's beautiful and definitely Instagram-worthy. BUT. That wait vs. payoff ratio? Wild. You're standing there forever, building up the moment, just to get ushered in and out in what feels like 60 seconds flat. By the time you're adjusting your camera and telling your family where to stand, it's already "okay time's up." Like... we just got here?? Honestly, I'd rather they charge more and give people a few extra minutes. Let us actually take it in, enjoy it, and get decent photos without feeling rushed like we're on some kind of aesthetic speed run. That said, it is a must-see at least once. Just go in knowing it's more of a quick visual experience than something you can really sit with.

    On Friday afternoon, my family and I reserved tickets for the Infinity Room next to The Broad…read moremuseum in Downtown LA. Just a heads up, you'll need to book in advance if you want to secure a time slot to see the infinity room. We picked the 3:45 PM slot and waited about 5-10 minutes before entering. There's no food, drinks, or flash photography allowed (which makes sense). To be honest, I was a little surprised by how small the Infinity Room actually is. It's just a tiny platform you stand on surrounded by mirrors so be careful not to get too close to the edges. I think the photos online made it seem much bigger and more "galaxy-like," so I had different expectations going in You're only inside for about five minutes before it's time to exit for the next group. Still, it was a cool experience to check off the list and afterward we walked around The Broad, which made it a fun afternoon overall. I'm very grateful for the memories my family and I got to make together! Quick Note: If you get hungry, Grand Central Market is close by and has a great variety of food spots to choose from! Your welcome!!

    Photos
    Illusion room
    Illusion room
    Not being shady... just respecting my bf's privacy :)
    Not being shady... just respecting my bf's privacy :)
    Infinity room

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    Infinity room

    Urban Light at LACMA - museums - Updated August 2026

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