Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Los Angeles Family Guide

Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids

If your family has been waiting for a new museum that pulls in more than just a school-day field trip crowd, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art gives you a real reason to plan a weekend around it. George Lucas and Mellody Hobson built this place around narrative art, meaning the way images tell stories across paintings, comics, photography, and film.

Kids who love Star Wars will find a few fun things from that world, but this is not a Star Wars Museum. There are objects on display from comic books, picture books, and some of the 20th Century’s most iconic art prices as well.

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
One Lucas Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90037

Ticketing and Information about the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

Families should book timed-entry tickets in advance, know that kids 17 and under get free admission but still need a reservation, and plan for a half-day or more once you add in the gardens, café, and film screenings. That last part catches people off guard.

This museum sits on a 13-acre campus in Exposition Park, and the building alone runs about 300,000 square feet, so a quick one-hour stop is not really how this place works.

Southern California parents who remember the decade of “will this museum ever actually open” headlines can finally stop wondering. It is open, it is enormous, and it rewards a little planning before you load everyone into the car.

How Much Are Tickets, and When Is the Museum Open?

Museum admission runs $25 for adults and $21 for seniors 65 and older, with active-duty military and museum members admitted free, according to the museum’s own visitor information. Every single visitor needs a timed-entry ticket, which is the detail that trips up the most families.

Museum Admission and Free Entry for Children

Children 17 and under get into the galleries free, but that free ticket still has to be reserved ahead of time. Kids under 12 need to be with an adult ticket holder, so you cannot drop off a group of tweens at the door while you grab coffee next door.

Why Everyone Needs Timed-Entry Tickets

Timed-entry tickets control how many people move through the galleries at once, and the museum states plainly that guests without a reservation may only get in as space allows, with access sometimes paused during busy periods, based on the official plan-your-visit page. Do not assume a free child ticket means walking up without booking anything. Reserve everyone in your party, including infants if the booking system requires it, at the same time you lock in your own slot.

Museum Hours and the LM37 Pass

The museum runs Wednesday through Monday, with hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Monday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It is closed on Tuesdays, and last entry is 45 minutes before closing, according to hours and location details from the museum.

Families living in the 90037 zip code can register for the LM37 pass, which grants free admission for local residents. If your family lives in that neighborhood, this pass is worth setting up before your first visit rather than paying full price and finding out about it later.

What Will Kids Enjoy Inside?

Kids drawn to movies will gravitate toward the Star Wars galleries first, but the museum’s real strength for families is how many different storytelling styles sit under one roof. Between concept art, comic panels, children’s book illustrations, murals, and film screenings, most kids find at least one section that grabs them, even if it is not the one you expected.

Start with Star Wars in Motion

Star Wars in Motion is the obvious first stop for movie-loving kids, drawing on the Lucas Archives and Lucasfilm’s own production history for concept designs, props, and costumes. Expect pieces connected to Indiana Jones and other Lucasfilm projects mixed in too, not just Star Wars. This gallery tends to hook kids fast, which makes it a smart place to start a visit before attention spans wear thin.

Find Familiar Stories in Illustration, Comics, and Manga

Beyond the movie material, the galleries hold comic art, manga, and children’s book illustrations that many kids will recognize the style of even if they do not know the artist’s name. Look for work connected to Jack Kirby’s comic art alongside more classic illustrators like Norman Rockwell, N.C. Wyeth, and Maxfield Parrish. For kids who read graphic novels or manga at home, this stretch of the museum can hold their attention longer than the film props do.

Explore Art Beyond the Movies

The collection stretches into fine art, photography, and murals from artists including Thomas Hart Benton, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Robert Colescott, Judith F. Baca, Banksy, and JR, plus historical pieces like the Aztec Sun Stone. Some of this work deals with heavier themes than the movie galleries, so older kids and teens tend to connect with it more than younger children do. Sports-themed narrative art shows up too, which can be a nice entry point for a kid who is more into game highlights than gallery visits.

Take a Break with a Film Screening

Two theaters inside the museum offer drop-in film programming, which gives families a built-in reason to sit down for a while. This works well for younger kids who hit a wall after ninety minutes of standing and reading wall text. Check the day’s screening schedule when you arrive so you can slot a film break into your gallery plan instead of trying to power through everything on foot.

Where Can Families Eat, Play, and Take a Break?

Families can eat at a café or the Skywalker Grill, and wander the public park and gardens without buying a museum ticket at all. This makes the campus useful even on a day when timed gallery tickets are sold out.

Explore the Public Park and Gardens

Landscape architect Mia Lehrer and her team at Studio-MLA turned former parking lots in South Los Angeles into a 13-acre landscape of native and drought-tolerant plants, with more than 200 new trees, according to the museum’s own campus overview. Park and garden hours run from 8 a.m. until sunset, separate from the museum’s own hours, so you can visit the grounds even outside gallery hours. This is a solid spot to let kids run off energy before or after gallery time, and it does not require any ticket at all.

Choose Between the Café and Skywalker Grill

The café and Skywalker Grill both operate without requiring a gallery reservation, per the museum’s plan-your-visit page. That makes either option workable for a lunch stop even if your family’s timed tickets are for later in the day. The rooftop restaurant offers city views, though the roof garden itself is reserved for private events, not general visitor access.

Visit the Research Library and See the Building Up Close

The Research Library is free to enter and serves as both a study space and a quiet corner away from gallery crowds. The building itself, designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects with Stantec as executive architect, is worth pointing out to kids who like architecture, especially the way it appears to hover above its gardens. Solar panels on the roof and rainwater capture for irrigation are part of the sustainable design if your kids are into that kind of detail.

How Do You Get There and Plan the Rest of Your Day?

The Lucas Museum sits at One Lucas Plaza in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA 90037, making it an easy add-on to a day that already includes other LA museums. Its location puts several major family attractions within walking distance, which is the real advantage of visiting here instead of treating it as a standalone stop.

Find the Museum in Exposition Park

The museum is reachable by Metro E Line to the Expo Park/USC station, according to Metro’s own visitor guide. Taking transit sidesteps the parking and traffic that can build up around Exposition Park on busy weekends, and a one-way Metro fare runs $1.75. Driving families should check the museum’s parking information before arrival since Exposition Park lots fill up fast during events at BMO Stadium or the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Combine Your Visit with Nearby Museums or Landmarks

Exposition Park itself dates back to 1872 and now holds the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California Science Center, and the California African American Museum, all within a short walk, based on the museum’s own campus page. The University of Southern California sits just across the street. Families who want to stretch a Lucas Museum trip into a fuller day often pair it with one of these neighbors, particularly since the Natural History Museum offers a discount to Lucas Museum ticket holders. This is a different campus from Skywalker Ranch up near San Francisco, so do not expect any crossover programming between the two locations.

Making a Museum Day Work for Your Family

Plan your visit around your kids’ attention spans rather than trying to see every gallery in one trip. Start with Star Wars in Motion while energy is high, move into illustration and comics as things slow down, and save the park or a film screening for when younger kids need a break from walking and reading labels.

Book your timed tickets the moment you settle on a date, since weekend slots can fill up quickly. Pack layers for the outdoor gardens, and budget extra time near the entrance since security and bag checks can add a few minutes on busy days.

If your child is fixated on seeing Star Wars props and nothing else, prepare them gently for a museum that covers far more ground. Kids who come in expecting only movie memorabilia sometimes need a nudge to appreciate the comics, illustration, and fine art galleries around it. Most kids warm up to the variety once they are actually walking through it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lucas Museum free for children?

Yes, children 17 and under receive free admission to the galleries. Every child still needs a timed-entry ticket reserved in advance, and kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult ticket holder.

Is the Lucas Museum only about Star Wars?

No, the museum covers narrative art broadly, including comics, manga, children’s book illustration, fine art, photography, and murals alongside Star Wars and Lucasfilm material. Star Wars in Motion is one gallery among more than 30 across the building.

Can families visit the gardens without museum tickets?

Yes, the public park and gardens, café, Skywalker Grill, and Research Library are all accessible without a gallery ticket. Only the galleries, exhibitions, and theaters require a timed-entry reservation.

What is the LM37 pass?

The LM37 pass offers free admission to residents of the 90037 zip code, the neighborhood surrounding the museum in Exposition Park. Eligible residents register directly through the museum to receive the pass.

How long should a family plan to spend at the Lucas Museum?

Plan for at least a half-day once you factor in galleries, a film screening, and time in the gardens or café. Families combining the visit with a nearby stop like the Natural History Museum should budget even more time given the size of the Exposition Park campus.

MomsLA is your source for Things to do with Kids in Los Angeles

Disclaimer: MomsLA has made every effort to confirm the information in this article; however, things can often change. Therefore, MomsLA makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy of the information published here. MomsLA strongly urges you to confirm any event details, like date, time, location, and admission, with the third party hosting the event. You assume the sole risk of relying on any of the information in our list. MomsLA is in no way responsible for any injuries or damages you sustain while attending any third-party event posted on our website. Please read our Terms of Use which you have agreed to based on your continued use of this website. Some events have paid to be listed on MomsLA.