Museum of Jurassic Technology

Museum that will keep you Wondering

by Debra Karplus

     Is a trip to the Los Angeles area located in scenic and sunny southern California in your plans?  The Getty Museum, Disneyland, Hollywood Bowl, studio tours, and the numerous recreational activities at the expansive stretch of beach, such as swimming and boating, are popular tourist spots.  But, The Museum of Jurassic Technology will spark your curiosity; it’s definitely worth putting at the top of your vacation to-do list.  Easily reached by the city’s public buses, the unassuming, unpretentious museum building on Venice Boulevard is located in a commercial neighborhood beside restaurants and shops.    

     When you ponder what you might discover at a Jurassic museum, you typically imagine dinosaurs or perhaps sites representative of the geologic Jurassic period that existed about one million years ago.  The museum name is perhaps a misnomer.  The museum professes to be one of natural history rather than science or art; but as you saunter through the two-story building you will likely feel challenged to notice a commonality between the many intriguing exhibits.

     The museum’s website claims that it is an educational institution whose mission is to advance knowledge and public appreciation of the lower Jurassic period, by serving as a specialized repository for relics and artifacts.  There are numerous fascinating permanent exhibits such as the fruit-stove carving or the Horn of Mary Davis of Saughall.  The many temporary exhibits like the Floral Stereo radiographs of Albert G. Richards or the exhibit entitled The World is Bound with Secret Knots will captivate your attention.

     You’ll be curious before you attend the Museum of Jurassic Technology, but perhaps more puzzled after your visit to this obscure, off-the-beaten-path treasure.  The arbitrariness of the collections at this relatively unknown Los Angeles resource will stimulate thought-provoking conversation long after you return home from your visit.  It’s enjoyable and satisfying to explore places that are commonly visited, but vacationing in relatively unusual spots can be truly entertaining and guaranteed to create many fine long-lasting memories.