It's all in the Details: A Visit to the Petersen Museum

Writing and Photography by Riley Koidahl.

When I think of a car museum, I picture rows upon rows of 1930-1960s American cars that begin to all look the same. That is exactly what the Petersen is not. The Petersen Automotive Museum, located in Los Angeles, CA is one of the most diverse collections of cars anywhere on the planet.

From vintage racecars with period-obtained patina to brand new, one-off prototypes, the Petersen has it all.

Every time you go to the Petersen, the cars are new and equally as special. Underneath the Petersen is the "Vault," which houses stories upon stories of rarities, waiting patiently to be shown to the public. While you can pay extra to tour the Vault, photography is not allowed, so it's best that you find a time to check it out yourself - you won't be disappointed.

The Petersen has rotating exhibits ranging from Bugattis to BMW art cars, painted by Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder,  and the likes.

The "Precious Metal" exhibit celebrates some of the most significant cars in history, all of which happen to be silver. The collection is estimated to be worth over $200 million.

If you're visiting Los Angeles, or even just a local who hasn't made it out yet, I would highly suggest paying a visit to the Petersen Automotive Museum; just leave yourself plenty of time to appreciate the history housed inside.