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Museum of Tolerance

Despite its uplifting name, the Museum of Tolerance was created to shine a revealing light on two hate-filled subjects: racism in America, and the Holocaust. And as part of the internationally recognized human rights organization, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Museum of Tolerance holds unique credentials to deliver its message on these painful subjects.

The museum presents its case with a collection of interactive exhibits designed to educate “from the inside out.” You become part of some of the exhibits, making the experience more personal, and therefore, more meaningful. At the entrance to the Holocaust section tour, each person is given a photo passport card with the story of a real child who was alive during the time of the Holocaust. As you move through the tour, the passport is updated, culminating with the revelation of the fate of that child. Another interactive experience, the Millineum Machine, involves visitors in the search for solutions to problems such as terrorism, the exploitation of women and children, and the plight of refugees and political prisoners.

Video presentations and computers are used extensively throughout the museum. The 1950s-inspired Point of View Diner employs video “jukeboxes” to present controversial topics. A 16-foot video wall presents key moments in the civil rights movement, using archival footage and interviews on multiple screens. The Multimedia Learning Center contains 31 interactive computer workstations that allow guests access to 5,000 subjects and 50,000 photos, along with maps and video documentary segments.

Many of the exhibits take advantage of modern technology, but some of the most moving displays are more low-tech. The Survivor Testimonies program gives visitors the opportunity to hear personal Holocaust-survivor stories first-hand. The “Artifacts and Documents from the Holocaust” exhibit displays items—such as Anne Frank’s letters, and a flag sewn for American liberators by Mauthausen inmates—that offer physical reminders of that dark time in world history. The museum also mounts special exhibits throughout the year, featuring a variety of topics related to the museum’s educational mission.

Location
The Museum of Tolerance is at 9786 West Pico Boulevard on the southwest corner of Pico Boulevard and Roxbury Drive. Driving directions and a map are available at the museum’s Web site.

Free parking is available in the museum’s underground parking lot, accessible from the Pico Boulevard entrance.

Hours of operation
Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. (last entry time: 4 p.m.)
Friday (November–March) 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. (last entry time: 1 p.m.)
Friday (April–October) 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m. (last entry time: 3 p.m.)
Saturday Closed
Sunday 11:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. (last entry time: 5 p.m.)

The museum is closed or maintains abbreviated hours on the following holidays:

• New Year's Day
• Passover
• Shavuot
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Rosh Hashana
• Yom Kippur
• Sukkot
• Shemini Atzeres
• Simchas Torah
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas

Check the museum’s Web site for exact dates and hours of operation.

Cost
Adults $10
Seniors (ages 62+) $8
Students (with student ID) $6
Youth $6

Contact information and reservations

• Self-guided tours enter the museum every 12 minutes. You may purchase tickets at the door or call (310) 553-8403 to reserve a tour time.
• Docent-led tours are available for schools and groups of 20 or more. Call (310) 772-7637 or (310) 772-7639, or send an e-mail to the group reservations department.

Disabled access
Tours for the hearing impaired can be arranged with advance notice. To arrange for a tour or for other special needs, contact the museum in advance by calling (310) 772-2502 or sending an e-mail.

Special considerations
While most of the museum is appropriate for all ages, some exhibits are intense and are therefore not recommended for children younger than 12 years old.

Additional information

• All visitors are given a brief orientation before beginning a self-guided tour of the museum. You should allow approximately two hours to see the entire facility.
• Do not park on residential side streets around the museum, as you will probably be ticketed or towed.
• The museum’s cafeteria, located on the fourth floor, offers light meals and snacks.
• Photography, and audio and video taping are not allowed in the museum.

Visit the Museum of Tolerance

Please note
Cost, hours of operation, or other information about this attraction is subject to change without notice. We suggest you confirm with the attraction prior to your visit.