Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen Automotive Museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. One of the world's largest automotive museums, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a non profit organization specializing in the education and history of the automobile.

Founded on June 11, 1994 by Robert E. Petersen (who founded Hot Rod, Motor Trend and many other magazines as part of Los Angeles-based Petersen Publishing) and his wife, Margie, the $40 million dollar Petersen Automotive Museum is owned and operated by the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation. Previously located within the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, today the museum is permanently housed in a historic 1960s department store building. It was originally built in 1962 for a short lived U.S. branch of Japanese department store chain, Seibu. Then, from 1964–1986, it operated as Ohrbach's department store.

The museum can display over 100 vehicles and owns over twice that. The ground floor displays a virtual history of the automobile in Los Angeles, complete with vintage vehicles and buildings. The second floor houses both permanent and special exhibits. The third floor features the May Family Children's Discovery Center, an interactive exhibit for children to learn science through the workings of a car. The fourth floor houses an all glass penthouse conference center, Founder's lounge and kitchen for corporate and private use. The rooftop conference center was originally built by Seibu as a restaurant surrounded by a reflecting pool. Among some of the cars and automotive memorabilia in the Peterson collection include:

A 1963 Volkswagen Beetle used during the shooting of the original Love Bug movies.

A 1940's Pep Boys store marquee which was recently restored to museum quality by Rick's Restoriations in Las Vegas.

and the 1967 Batmobile from the television series starring Adam West.