Museum of Natural History and Felix Chevy

Museum of Natural History

900 Exhibition Blvd., Exposition Park
AAA Map: Central and Western Area, Metropolitan LA
Map Reference: J22-23
Freeway Exit: Harbor Freeway, Exposition Park exit.

Old Facade, M.N.H.

When this museumopened up around the Turn of the Century, it had this beautiful facade adorning the entrance.

New Facade, M.N.H.

Sometime later, the museum was expanded, and given this much uglier entrance.

But that's not why this venerable museum has been included in this tour of LA. While preparing for the "Rite of Spring" sequence in Fantasia, Disney animators drew dinosaur skeletons and examined dinosaur bones for inspiration. This is also a great place to just walk around and check out. Usually there is something cool going on, and if you are interested in bugs (insects, not The Bunny) you have to take a look at the Ralph M. Parsons Insect Zoo. If you're afraid of bugs, though, you can find a lot to enjoy anyway.

The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.

Other points of interest in the area: California Science Center, IMAX Theatre, California Afro-American Museum, LA Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics.

Admission: $6 for adults, $3.50 for seniors and students 12 and up (ID needed), $2 for children ages 5-12 . Free admission first Tuesday of the month.

Felix Chevrolet

Figueroa at Jefferson, near Exposition Park and the Shrine Auditorium
AAA Map: Central and Western Area, Metropolitan LA
Map Reference: J 23
Freeway Exit: Harbor Freeway, Exposition Park exit.

Felix Chevrolet was founded in the 1920s, when Felix The Cat was the first great cartoon star and everyone was Felix-crazy. This lot used to be adorned with a huge statue of Felix which dated back from around the time when the Joe Oriolo/Trans-Lux Felix series was in first run syndication, made (I think...I could be wrong, though) out of Fiberglass and painted very slick and glossy.

Neon Sign: Felix Chevy

Now there is only the vintage neon sign, but that's pretty impressive in and of itself.

Felix Statues: Felix Chevy

The statues inside the showroom used to be out on the lot next to the cars, but were brought inside because of the threat of theft. Who wouldn't blame someone for having larceny in their heart upon seeing these beauties? I'd rather have one of these Felixes in my garden than a Venus de Milo, lemmetellya. But no, I wouldn't steal these. The folks at Felix Chevy take care of them very well, almost redeeming themselves for letting the huge Felix statue disintegrate.

Other points of interest in the area: Shrine Auditorium and Exposition Hall. The Los Angeles Comics and Science Fiction Convention is held the first Sunday of every month at the Shrine Expo Hall...it's worth checking out if you are a Comics, Anime, Toy or SciFi fan. Vendors there are also big on Hong Kong movies...both John Woo and Jackie Chan have made appearances there.

Admission: Free, but I think they might object if you hung out too long without buying a car.

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