Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles

Los Angeles' "Miracle Mile" runs along Wilshire Boulevard from Fairfax to La Brea. This stretch, which has been around since the 1920s, has a number of Art Deco buildings and consists of both residential and commercial buildings. For the most part this area is now most popular for the unique shops and some important museums that have developed along here. The mile was the setting and namesake of a 1988 Hollywood film.In this area are the famous Rancho La Brea Tar Pits and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, among other interesting museums. In the evening this area is full of entertainment with some wonderful restaurants and music venues.

The Petersen Automotive Museum is the place in Los Angeles to explore the history of automobiles. This four story building does more than just display some classic cars. The first floor displays a permanent collection of automobiles from throughout the 20th Century uniquely displayed in dioramas. The second floor offers changing exhibits with various themes that may including racing cars, cars of celebrities, concept cars, and more. The third floor is for those, particularly youngsters, who want to have a look at the ins and outs of automobiles. This floor is home to the "May Family Discovery Center" with interactive exhibits designed to show automotive functions. The fourth floor offers space for functions and events, with a large conference center.The Automotive Museum is located right on Wilshire Boulevard. It's a great place for car buffs or families. Unlike many museums that rope off access to what you are looking at, this museum invites you to walk through and learn by getting involved.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded in 1927. This institution became famous as a result of the Oscar film award-giving ceremonies held there. Since Emil Jannings received an Oscar for his star role in the film "The Way of All Flesh" it has been awarded annually in this building.Temporary exhibitions are held continuously in the foyer. In addition, you can watch permanent showings of old films in one of the finest cinemas in the city; one of the most important film libraries is also available to the public.

The Craft and Folk Art Museum was saved when the city of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department stepped in to keep the museum operating. As the only museum in Los Angeles exclusively dedicated to exhibiting craft and folk art, the exhibitions and public programs are created to bridge local and global cultures, and inspire a sense of inquiry and creativity.

The Armand Hammer Museum of Art is a cultural center with displays of art and the fine arts. The collections feature primarily Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings by such artists as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, and Vincent van Gogh.

The Wilshire Boulevard Temple began as Congregation B'nai Brith in 1872, making it the first synagogue in Los Angeles. The Temple was built on Fort Street, now Broadway, but as the congregation grew they moved to a larger structure at Ninth and Hope Streets in 1895.

The Museum of the Holocaust pays tribute to the families who lost their lives in the German concentration camps of World War Two, and those who survived. Exhibits include artifacts that miraculously weathered the Holocaust era.

Museum and shop now closed. The collection has been donated to The Naples Musuem of Art and Philharmonic Center for the Arts.

The Wiltern Theater in Hollywood was built in 1931 and restored in 1985. Originally designed for films it is now a performing arts center.