A wonderful museum with cultural based exhibits. The front desk was welcoming and admission was free. The area around the museum is filled with culture and history. The exhibits themselves were also pretty interesting. I was only able to visit “LA Starts Here” and “Linda Vallejo” which we’re both on the first floor. There are more exhibits on the second floor, but didn’t have time to visit them. Both exhibits talk about the culture before Americans colonized California and also the discrimination and violent acts that they suffered against. The “Linda Vallejo” exhibit also had beautiful art works and statistics about the Latino population. Overall, the exhibits were interesting and was definitely worth the visit.

If you havent been to this jewel of Mexican culture and art, youre missing a two story, professionally done space with changing exhibits. Historical and contemporary depictions of Mexican life in Los Angeles; depicted using brilliant photography, video and recreated street life spaces. Its free and open every day except Tuesday.

Nice place to hang out with family and friends! Molcajete Dominguero had an event right there. Music. Artisan ice cream and food. Clothing and more!

This is a great museum with plenty to see and a nice interactive section on the second floor. Definitely worth a stop if youre into history.

Well organized! I learned so much about Mexican-American history, cultures and value. I definitely, would like to visit for different exhibition.

Historical marker inscription:Forced Removal of Mexican Americans During The Great Depression.Beginning in 1929, government authorities and certain private sector entities in California and throughout the United States undertook an aggressive program to forcibly remove persons of Mexican ancestry from the United States. In California alone, approximately 400,000 American citizens and legal residents of Mexican ancestry were forced to leave and go to Mexico. In total, an estimated 2 million people of Mexican ancestry were forcibly relocated to Mexico. Approximately 1.2 million of these people were United States citizens born in the United States.Throughout California, including areas in downtown Los Angeles near this monument, massive raids were conducted in Mexican American communities. These raids targeted persons of Mexican ancestry and indiscriminately characterized these persons as illegal aliens even when they were United States citizens or legal residents. These raids resulted in the clandestine removal of thousands of people, many of whom were never able to return to the United States, denied their right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the American dream in their country of birth.As publicly acknowledged by the California State Legislature in California Government Code §8722 (2005), the State of California apologizes to those individuals that were victims of this repatriation program for the fundamental violations of their basic civil liberties and constitutional rights committed during the period of illegal deportation and coerced emigration.Dedicated on February 26, 2012 at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes.

Its a quick walk over from Union Station and Chinatown.It was bustling with activity on a Sunday afternoon in January. There was even some sort of dance show going on. It’s a place we would visit again.

A truly great place to learn about Mexican Americans. Its well organized and full of real culture. Their events are always a hit!

Make sure you stop by and explore this amazing museum of the cultural history of LA. There is a ton to see and do. It great for history buffs and families too.

Great museum of Mexican American art and political art.

Great place to take the family! Exhibitions are well put together

Great place! All L.A. area students should come to the museum!

This is one of my favorite places to visit every time I am in town. Their selection of carefully planned events and curated spaces makes this a must for all Chicanx Studies, Latinx Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Mexican American cultural history connoisseurs. It is one most underrated institutions of cultural history and center of Mexican American and Chicano life in Los Angeles and in the United States. I came a few weeks ago for the Mírame exhibit on Queer Latinx Art, and it was amazing! The curator for this exhibit definitely put some long hours and thought into recreating such a necessary space for QPOCs in LA and in institutional art spaces. Would definitely recommend visiting and following their social media accounts. They are thoughtful put together and really show a brief glimpse of the great work going on behind these doors.

Mostly I go here when there are events, like today they had the tortilla tournament. The five finalists were giving free samples.. I had some from burritos La Palma and from Kernel of Truth.There was music and 5 or 6 taco trucks. They also had activities for kids such as painting tortillas.

Sat down, was typing on my phone, was asked by rude security guard to leave, was told people are allowed to walk through courtyard but are not allowed to rest sit or type a note about the place for even one minute. Then I sure aint writing home about it except to say DO NOT VISIT THIS PLACE.

La plaza was a great experience. Not only did it help with some of my Spanish skills, but the culture infused me. It was so rich and the place itself was by far a hidden gem. I would have never have guessed that I could find something so beautiful right here at Olvera Street.

This is a great spot. A rare museum that isnt about selfies but just really meaningful exhibits that celebrate Los Angeles and its origins. And its free now! And I really enjoy the store- they sell funky, fashionable things. I want to attend their events- they sound really cool.

What a wonderful place to learn about Latino Culture

LA Plaza De Culturas y Artes (LA Plaza for short) is a very cool free museum! It is a Mexican American museum and cultural center. There are a ton of free museums in the area, but I think this one wins for best experience. It is much bigger than it looks and there is a lot of information! I wish the Italian American Museum upped their game to rival this one in size. We really enjoyed ourselves here. The staff member was SUPER nice and charming too.The Gateway to Nature is a small nature center with various activities or children to learn about nature. Its pretty cool as theyre not trying to sell you anything... they just want you to come in, learn and have a good time. My toddler was getting a bit antsy from all the museums we were visiting, so this was a nice break where he could go in, sit down and color til his heart was content. He was even given a free comic book about Smokey The Bear!This isnt a huge place, but Im very thankful that this was here.Make this into a day trip! My toddler and I literally visited 6 museums! There are small museums all around here and almost all of them are free! Start your journey with a walk down Olvera Street! Catch the Avila Adobe, maybe have lunch or a snack. Then walk across the way and visit The Chinese American Museum, the Plaza Firehouse Museum and the new Gateway to Nature (which is a nature center full of things for kids to do). Then walk across the street to La Plaza De Culturas y Artes museum. Maybe poke your head into Our Lady of Angeles Church. Im very Atheist, but this is historic as its literally what named and started Los Angeles. Then continue down Main street and hit up the American Tropical Historical Museum and end with the Italian American Museum! There are a few other things in there too I think I missed. A great day!

Beautiful space featuring Latin American Arts. The occasion of my visit was the 3rd Annual The Taste of Mexico - a showcase of some of LAs best Mexican Restaurants. The event was well organized, allowing for easy access to all food and drink booths. Live mariachi music throughout the event made this festival quite festive.

Great place to visit if you have kids. Kids can have lots fun getting dressed up in vintage clothing. Engaging in videos of Los Angeles past.

Historic and festive atmosphere. Great place to buy Mexican themed gifts. Or enjoy mexican food.

We have visited museums all over the country and the world. We are open to many types of art forms. But I must say LACMA was the worst museum ever visited. Various genres of art pieces were mixed together spoiling the appreciation of one form versus the other. Too many little rooms with long empty corridors to pass. Silly abstract...

Really interesting museum to go to, very family orientated. Unfortunately they are remodeling half of the museum. Theres still a lot to learn.

Incredible museum, especially with the Plaza Olmera right outside. Theres a lot more to the museum than appears from the outside, with old and new stories revolving latinos nationwide

Cant wait for the grooveradio event held here on Sept.2019

This is actually a question need it answered asap is there a place to buy some kind of food there

Really cool museum with interesting exhibitions about Chicano culture. And it’s free !!! Couldn’t recommend it enough

This is a great little museum.

Part of the most historic area of Los Angeles.

Two floors of exhibitions, free admissions, a gift shop and an amazing garden, whats not to love !

If youre visiting Los Angeles make sure you stop by here. Plenty of History and the events are well-managed.

I work here

So cool

Great place lots of events

Nice place full of music and vendors.

LA needed this place!