Launched in the late 1980s as the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, this two-floor museum includes multiple gallery spaces, a garden with its own overlook, and a Wells Fargo-branded performance theater. Although the museum originally focused largely on the cowboy side of the “Old West” story, the Autry today offers perspectives on the Native American experience – including displacement, involuntary servitude, and modern cultural impacts – in addition to permanent exhibits on California, cowboy culture (including bits of Autry’s performing history), and an expansive collection of old firearms, including a room full of Colt revolvers. Adults will appreciate paintings, sculptures, clothes, saddles, and interactive exhibits; there’s also a play and learning area for kids,
The Autry Museum of the American West is across the street from the Los Angeles Zoo, and close to Dodgers Stadium and the Subliminal Projects gallery. Parking is free, with paid ticketed (non-reservation) admission for adults and most students.
