The Getty Center

About the Business

Specialties

See the Getty's collection of European and American art from the Middle Ages to the present against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens, and breathtaking views from downtown L.A. to the sea. If you are looking for something fun to do in L.A. we have free tours daily, and a year-round roster of art exhibitions and events.

History

Established in 1997.

The Getty Center opened to the public on December 16, 1997. The mountaintop site overlooking the 405 freeway was chosen in 1982, and architect Richard Meier began work in 1984. Once construction began, the Center took nearly nine years to emerge from the hillside: 24 acres of buildings and gardens, with a million square feet of interior space and 300,000 travertine blocks imported from Italy. Today the Center houses the Getty's collection of European art from the Middle Ages to the present as well as European and American photography. It's also home to one of the largest art libraries in the world, which houses a vast special collections ranging from Old Master prints to optical devices.