Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen Automotive Museum, located in Los Angeles, California, is a leading institution dedicated to the study, preservation, and exhibition of the automobile and its influence on global life and culture. Founded in 1994 by Robert E. Petersen and his wife Margie, the museum occupies a prominent position along the city’s Miracle Mile, in a building originally designed as a department store in the early 1960s. A comprehensive renovation completed in 2015 transformed the structure into an architectural landmark, featuring a dramatic façade of sweeping stainless steel ribbons suggestive of speed and motion.

The museum encompasses over 100,000 square feet of exhibition space and houses more than 300 vehicles in its collection, spanning the history of the automobile from its inception to the present day. Its galleries are thematically organized to explore topics such as design, innovation, racing, customization, and the automobile’s impact on popular culture. Rotating exhibitions ensure continued relevance and engagement with contemporary developments in automotive technology and design.

A signature feature of the Petersen is The Vault, an underground storage facility offering a curated selection of rare, historic, and concept vehicles not displayed in the main galleries. Access to The Vault provides a deeper understanding of the breadth of the museum’s holdings.

In addition to its exhibitions, the museum functions as an educational center, hosting lectures, workshops, and outreach programs designed to engage a wide audience, from school-age children to automotive professionals. The Petersen Automotive Museum remains a vital cultural institution, celebrating the automobile as both machine and symbol.