Updated for 2024
The Autry Museum of the American West celebrates the history, art, and culture of all the peoples of the American West. And presents a truly inclusive picture, from positive to negative, and all things in between.
The Museum is home to a number of permanent exhibits that help visitors get a sense of how things have changed (and remained the same) over the years. The Autry is considered to be the only museum of its kind that combines Western history and cultures with Native American perspectives.
The Autry Museum of the American West
4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027
About the Autry Museum
The Museum was founded in 1988 by Gene and Jackie Autry, and was originally called the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage. Mr. Autry enjoyed a long career in show business, from radio to TV to movies, and he was known as “America’s Favorite Singing Cowboy.”
The Autry Museum collection has evolved over the years, just as its name has, and today it aims to reflect the varied cultures and histories of the people of the West. The Museum also has a strong dedication to education and family programs.
Throughout the year, the Autry also hosts a number of special events including the annual American Indian Arts Marketplace, lectures and workshops, screenings of Gene Autry films, guided scavenger hunts throughout the museum, and much more.
Autry Museum Exhibitions
The Autry’s ongoing exhibits include the Cowboy Gallery, Western Frontiers: Stories of Fact and Fiction, Human Nature, The Balance of Power in the American West, the Art of the West, and the Journeys Gallery.
It should be noted that there’s an ongoing exhibit dedicated to the Colt Revolver which features many vintage firearms, and some parents may find it unsuitable for their children.
Special exhibits in 2024 include Investigating Griffith Park, Sherman Indian School: 100+ Years of Education and Resilience, Reclaiming El Camino: Native Resistance in the Missions and Beyond, and more.
The Autry hosts a pop-up Family Play Space on Saturdays and Sundays, indoors in the main courtyard, with rotating family-friendly activities, included with admission.
Museum Hours:
10am to 4pm, Tuesdays through Fridays
10am to 5pm, Saturdays and Sundays
CLOSED on Mondays
Autry Museum Admission Prices
| Adults | $18 |
| Students and Seniors (62+) | $14 |
| Children (3-12) | $8 |
| Active Duty Military and Veterans | FREE |
| Children under 2 | FREE |
Autry Membership
Membership to the Autry includes many benefits including unlimited museum admission; free admission to select programs and events; invitations to members-only special events; discounts in the Autry Store, and more. More information is available on their website.
Parking
Parking at the Autry is free and plentiful!
Food and Dining Options
There is currently not an onsite cafe or other dining options at the Autry, but there are often food trucks parked in the front parking lot or across the street at the LA Zoo.
Nearby attractions
The Autry is located within Griffith Park which means there’s no shortage of things to do nearby. If your kids are interested in trains, then stop by nearby Travel Town. Families can also go for a spin on the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, a Griffith Park family favorite since 1937. And while the Los Angeles Zoo is located directly across the street from the Autry, you may want to save that for a different day.
Wendy Kennar is a mother, writer, and former teacher who has lived her entire life in the same Los Angeles zip code. You can read more from Wendy at her website WendyKennar.com where she writes about books, boys, and bodies (living with an invisible disability).
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