Culver City

Center for Land Use Interpretation

A unique organization, the CLUI is devoted to researching and illustrating how land is used and perceived. The exhibits hosted in their minuscule gallery space are small, but are usually very intriguing and often draw attention to features of the landscape you would normally overlook. The tiny bookstore (more of a bookshelf, really) is a real treat, selling some excellent texts as well as humorous postcards.

Fri-Sun noon-5PM·Free

Culver City Historical Society

An archives and resource center preserves local history, and aims to serve everyone from young children to senior citizens.

1PM-3PM on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, and by appointment

Culver Studios

Located in downtown Culver City, Culver Studios was founded in 1919. Fans of classic motion pictures will immediately recognize the studio's colonial mansion from the opening credits of the David O. Selznick International productions such as Gone With the Wind and Duel in the Sun. Unfortunately public tours are not available.

Game Show Building

From the sidewalk, you can see Terry Allen's sculpture "Golden Time", a humorous comment on work after overtime. Michael Hayden's sculpture uses cutting edge materials (holographs) producing a rainbow spectrum on the sidewalk and surrounding areas of the Game Show Building. Hayden collaborated with Game Show Building architect, Steven Ehrlich, AIA, who won a National AIA Design Award for the project.

Hobbit House

The Lawrence and Martha Joseph Residence and Apartments have been aptly called the "Hobbit House," and people live in these unusual apartments. Los Angeles city historic-cultural landmark No. 624.

Jim Heimann's sculptures

Jim Heimann's sculptures "Studio Pass I", "Studio Pass II", and "King Kong Gone" (1995-6), celebrate the history of Culver Studios and Sony Pictures

Museum of Jurassic Technology

This museum is a truly unique experience, as it is an artistic mixture of fact and fiction, featuring weird and wonderful displays of things that never happened, next to strange but true practices of bygone years; it can be hard to distinguish between the two, and it's best not to try. Exhibits include micro-sculptures that fit within the eye of a needle, portraits of the canine astronauts of the early Soviet space program, and artwork made from the scales of butterfly wings that can be viewed under microscopes. An enjoyable afternoon's visit and a tribute to the weirdness of the world. The Tula Tea Room is located upstairs and serves complimentary tea and cookies, while the Borzoi Kabinet Theater has free movie screenings hourly; both open one hour after the museum, closing one hour before the museum. Photography and cell phone use (including texting and pictures) is not allowed in the museum. This attraction is actually in the Palms district of Los Angeles, although it has a Culver City address.

Thu 2PM-8PM, Fri-Sun noon-6PM·$8 for adults; $5 for students, retired persons, unemployed individuals, or those age 13-21; $1.50 for disabled persons or military personnel in uniform

Plato's Cup

Jim Heimann's sculpture "Plato's Cup" (1995) is a riff on a weathervane, which pays homage to the film industry, a former cafe at the location, and the initials of the building's owner.

Primordial Reflections

Albert Paley's entrance gates "Primordial Reflections" (1996) provide a monumental entry to architect Jaquelin T. Robertson's Media Building.

Scan

Jud Fine's courtyard installation "Scan" traces the history of television.

Sony Pictures Child Care Center

From the sidewalk, you can see sculptural gates and fencing, created by artist John Okulick, using the colors of "My First Sony" (red, yellow, blue). Also, Margaret Nielsen designed a mural maquette.

Star Eco Station

An exotic environmental science & wildlife rescue center that is in a nondescript building, the Eco Station is a hidden attraction offering hands-on experiences with rescued tropical birds, mammals, reptiles and other critters. Most of the facility's animals are illegal shipments seized by US customs that needed a home. Hands-on tours lasting 45-60 minutes leave every hour on the hour from 10AM-3PM on weekends. Hands-on opportunities as part of the tour. Special community events throughout the year. If you are in the area for Earth Day they hold a massive celebration including hands-on experiences and special events.

Sat Sun 10AM-3PM·$8 for adults, $7 seniors, $6 for children, infants under 2 years free

The Wende Museum

The mission of the Wende Museum is to preserve Cold War history. The museum's exhibits and artifacts include artwork, films and personal histories from the fall of Communist Europe in the late 1980s. Much of the collection is about the German Democratic Republic (DDR). Also has materials from Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and other Communist countries. In addition to its permanent collection, it hosts rotating exhibitions.

Fri 10AM-5PM. Also by appointment Mon-Thu 10AM-5PM·Free

Wading Pool

R. M. Fisher designed "Wading Pool" (2000), the plaza fountain, which celebrates Sony's history of filmmaking and references the set of "Lost Horizon."

Diorama-Museum of Bhagavad-gita

A series of audio-animatronic dioramas depicting the story of the Bhagavad Gita.

Wed-Mon 11AM-4PM·$15

King Fahad Mosque

The King Fahad Mosque was opened in 1998 and has a capacity of 2,000 worshippers, a marble facade, hand made tiles from Turkey, and a high minaret topped with a gold leaf crescent. The complex also contains a lecture and meeting hall, classrooms, research centers, a bookshop, a children’s playground, and a car park. Tours can be arranged in advance through their web site; visitors are asked to wear pants, long sleeves, and head scarves are recommended for women.