Heritage Square Museum is an open-air museum in Los Angeles, where historic buildings tell stories of Southern California’s settlement and development. You can explore the grounds and, on guided tours, see the first floors of selected buildings.
- Location: 3800 Homer Street, Los Angeles
- Regular public hours: Open Saturday and Sunday; closed Monday to Friday
- Guided interior tours: Usually offered on weekends; about one hour
- A stay at a motel in Los Angeles puts Heritage Square about 3.6 miles away
What Heritage Square preserves
Heritage Square preserves historic architecture and interprets the lives of Southern California residents from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The museum’s mission covers the region’s architecture, physical environment, and culture during its first 100 years of statehood, from 1850 to 1950.
Formed in 1969 to save significant buildings from demolition, Heritage Square has acquired and begun restoring eight buildings from around Los Angeles. Together, they offer a view of the region’s changing communities and built environment.
Historic buildings and site layout
The grounds bring together houses, a church, a depot, and other structures relocated or preserved as part of the museum. The building list includes Hale House, Valley Knudsen House, Ford House, Carriage Barn, Palms Depot, Lincoln Ave Methodist Church, Perry Mansion—also called Mt. Pleasant—and Octagon House. A Colonial Drug Store recreates the 1918 original.
Beyond the buildings, you’ll find a 1909 Denver & Rio Grande Railroad boxcar, a school garden, picnic tables, a gift shop, and the Great Hiking Era Interpretive Trail. These outdoor features add context to the historic structures without replacing the focus on the site’s architectural history.
What are Heritage Square hours, tours, and admission?
Guided interior tours last about one hour and cover the first floors of buildings. Check the official site before you go, since tour dates and operating details can change.
Opening hours
- Saturday and Sunday: 11 AM–5 PM
- Monday to Friday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Tour tickets are sold through Eventbrite and include general admission. A limited number may be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis, but advance reservation is the way to secure a place on a specific tour.
General admission does not include building interiors, and self-guided interior visits are not permitted; many buildings can be entered only with a guide.
The museum closes on Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, and may occasionally close for safety during heavy rain storms. If you’re planning around a particular date, confirm opening and tour availability before setting out.
How do you get to Heritage Square Los Angeles?
Heritage Square is at 3800 Homer Street, Los Angeles, California 90031, alongside the 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway and just north of Dodger Stadium and Downtown Los Angeles. The museum’s parking is free, with the lot entrance at the end of Homer Street, at the cul-de-sac.
The Heritage Square rail stop is about a 25-minute walk from the museum. The Southwest Museum stop is another transit option. For more context on getting around the city, how to get around Los Angeles from the motel area covers local transport options.
Visitor access and planning notes
Visitors who use mobility aids are welcome, but long stretches of decomposed granite are needed to reach all structures. Perry House, Palms Depot, and Colonial Drugstore have ramps; the other tour structures have stairs. Consider these surfaces and building access when deciding which parts of the grounds to visit.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the grounds, while only service dogs may join interior tours. If you plan to bring a dog, keep the distinction between outdoor access and guided interiors in mind.
FAQs
What can you see at Heritage Square Museum?
The open-air museum includes preserved historic buildings, a recreated Colonial Drug Store, a railroad boxcar, a school garden, and an interpretive trail.
Can you go inside the historic buildings?
Many buildings can be entered only on guided tours. Self-guided interior tours are not permitted.
Are dogs allowed at Heritage Square?
Leashed dogs are allowed on the grounds. Only service dogs are allowed on interior tours.
Is parking available at the museum?
Yes. The museum says parking is free, and the lot entrance is at the end of Homer Street.