Noah's Ark Exhibit at the Skirball Center

We did so much this summer, filling our days with lots of swimming, beaching, walking and crafting.  But at least once a week we did a "big" adventure of some sort.  One of the most memorable adventures for us was our visit to the Noah's Ark Exhibit at the Skirball Center with some friends. 

The exhibit doesn't open until Noon, so since we purchased tickets in advance online, we all packed a picnic lunch and ate outside, next to the beautiful lily pond.  The kids enjoyed cookies for Jake's birthday, and posed for pictures.

When you first walk in there's these interesting pieces of art made out of all sorts of materials.

The actual Noah's Ark exhibit is made up of three distinct rooms, all with elements related to Noah's Ark made out of everyday items.  The first room had these enchanting life-size animals made out of cooling vents, pot sticker bowls and bathtubs.

The next room focused on movement and motion.  Pulleys that made thunder, wheels that loaded animals two by two into a giant wooden Noah's Ark, and pumps that made rain.  The kids loved making things happen and watching how their movement created something tangible.  Syd came close to getting into fisticus with a few peers over the ramp that carried the animals into the ark.

Everywhere you looked there was some sort of incredible piece of art to marvel at.  It was interesting seeing how the animals were interpreted so differently in every room.

The last room was a huge climbing structure that the kids could climb in and out and up and down in.  We spent about 45 minutes out of our 2 hour time allotment in this room.

If you live in the Southern California area, this exhibit is definitely worth the trip through the dreaded 405 LA traffic.  Driving up was a cinch since we didn't get there until 11:30.  Coming home though at 4 pm was of course a nightmare.  In hindsight, I think it would have been nice to buy tickets to one of the later entrances, say 3 pm, stay till 5 or 6 and then have dinner somewhere in LA. 

A note about the 2 hour entrance window.  When you purchase your tickets, they are good for 2 hours and 2 hours only.  So come on time!  If you notice in the very last picture of Syd, they make the children wear a sticker that says their entrance time and their exit time.  There is a definite changing of the guards at the 2 hour mark where they make visitors exit and let new ones in.  While this may seem like a bummer, overall it is a beneficial system because it keeps traffic & congestion during your ticket time down to a minimum.  It makes for a much more enjoyable trip.  With that being said, I still had to take my 2 out kicking and screaming, literally.  They could have easily stayed another hour in there.

There is a nice cafe on site, but it is just as easy to bring a lunch and enjoy the patio.  There is a small gift shop right outside of the Ark exhibit, and there is also a gift shop at the very entrance of the museum that mainly carries adult only gifts.  As in art books, not XXX , in case you were wondering.

Let me know if you've been and what your thoughts were on the exhibit.  Did you love it as much as we did?