NHM Commons, the L.A. County Natural History Museum’s new wing and community hub in Exposition Park, opened November 17. The Annenberg Foundation was among major supporters of the extension designed by architect Fred Fisher.
Among new and refreshed spaces, visitors can enjoy a plaza and garden landscaped with California Indigenous plants and features, then proceed through a new entrance and the Wallis Annenberg Lobby to the Judith Perlstein Welcome Center — home to “Gnatalie,” a green-boned 75-foot-long dinosaur opposite an 80-foot-long mural of Los Angeles history by Chicana artist Barbara Carrasco, as well as exhibitions produced by community-based scientists and museum researchers.
In addition, NHM Commons includes a multi-purpose theater, South LA Cafe, and the museum shop selling locally inspired and made merchandise.
