Becoming Los Angeles

Becoming Los Angeles at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County tells the story of one of the country’s most vibrant and vital cities. At 14,000 square feet, the permanent exhibit is the museum’s largest in scale and broadest in scope, guiding visitors through L.A.’s complicated past, exploring its dynamic present, and looking toward its promising future. The relationship between cause and effect, nature and culture, human activity and the land, provides the prism through which Becoming Los Angeles organizes and tells the tales of the frontiers, opportunities, communities, and individuals that have shaped the city’s history.

Second Story collaborated as part of an integrated team of designers, engineers, fabricators, and historians, helping to develop the exhibit’s design and communication strategy. The interactive media experiences we created complement the exhibit, enhancing visitors’ understanding of how Los Angeles as we know it came to be.