Petersen Automotive Museum

The museum features three themed floors. Visitors are encouraged to start their experience on the History floor and work their way down to the Artistry floor. By experiencing the museum in this way, visitors are able to better appreciate the impact and application of the automobile.

The museum has over one-hundred vehicles on display in its twenty-five galleries. The remaining half of the collection is kept in a “vault,” located on the basement level of the building. Age restrictions and an admission premium are in effect to view the vault collection. The ground floor focuses on automotive artistry, showcasing an array of extravagant automobiles. The second floor is principally concerned with industrial engineering—including design, performance, and a collection of interactive teaching exhibits. Special displays on the industry floor cover racing, motorcycles, hot rods, and customs. The third floor chronicles the history of the automobile with an emphasis on the car culture of Southern California.