Los Angeles, CA (June 3, 2025) — On Saturday, June 14, guests will attend a brilliantly verdant Night of Wonder, alive with the sights and sounds of an enchanted garden at night, supporting the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and La Brea Tar Pits. The evening will feature remarks from museum leaders and distinguished guest of honor Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who works worldwide to advance community wellbeing and uplift young women — a mission which dovetails with the museums' approach to connecting community and science by fostering meaningful educational experiences that empower young minds.
“Night of Wonder celebrates and supports the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County’s commitment to science, nature, and community,” said Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County. “We are proud to honor Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, a native Angeleno, whose work to advance community wellbeing and expand opportunity—especially for underserved communities—aligns with our equity-focused approach to developing science literacy for the next generation, including through our STEM and STEAM Pathways programs.”
Celebrating the museums’ impact and the donors’ vital role in supporting community connection to the natural world, the immersive Night of Wonder program will weave the magic of L.A.’s landscape throughout the event, raising awareness of the impact of educational and scientific work being done at the museums.
“Our dazzling new gala reflects the awe-inspiring diversity and beauty of the Natural History Museums' collections, groundbreaking programs, and especially the Museum's enduring commitment to protect and enhance urban nature,” said Megan McGowan Epstein, President of the Board of Trustees of the Natural History Museums. “I am inspired by the generosity that supports NHM's work to conserve and document the rich biodiversity of our urban landscape. This event showcases the vibrant flora and fauna that make Los Angeles extraordinary, unlocking the wonders of nature for our audiences.”
Additional high-profile guests will join the Duchess in support of the vital community-driven work at the Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits, including partnerships with STEM and STEAM programs and some of the Museum’s signature programs such as:
- 10 years of the City Nature Challenge
Launched 10 years ago, in partnership with the California Academy of Sciences, the City Nature Challenge is now an international effort to inspire and encourage people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities across the globe. The City Nature Challenge has become a global phenomenon with 690 cities across 51 countries participating and over 83,000 individuals making over 2.4 million observations. - Outdoor Equity Programs and Marine Teens Internships
Museum professionals work with a network of local community partners to empower youth and families from South L.A. through experiences that remove barriers to the outdoors by providing transportation, learning materials, and accessible field trips and allowing access to urban nature for underserved communities. - Living Collections and Nature Gardens
NHMLAC’s Living Collections department introduces visitors to creatures that are native to L.A. and from around the world, fostering intimate connections between people and wildlife by sharing amazing stories about animals that are often misunderstood or overlooked. The Nature Gardens, cared for by NHM’s Horticulture team, is a botanical wonderland that features a diversity of plants that are magnets for birds, butterflies, lizards, squirrels, and humans.
Produced by My Beautiful City, the event will evoke an enchanted nocturnal garden infused with distinctively L.A. elements. The evening will feature different experiences, including live music, throughout NHM, exploring the recently opened NHM Commons, the first-floor diorama halls, and dinner in the North Garden. Captivating installations will showcase the wonders of our local ecosystems. Guests will dine surrounded by a dramatic interpretation of L.A.’s mountain ranges as well as unique flora and fauna. The farm-to-table dinner will showcase ingredients that can be found in the Natural History Museum’s Nature Gardens.
For more information, visit https://onecau.se/nightofwonder2025. Interested guests can email leadershipgiving@nhm.org.
About the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC)
The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) include the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park and La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park. They operate under the collective vision to inspire wonder, discovery, and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds. The museums hold one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history—more than 35 million objects. Using these collections for groundbreaking scientific and historical research, the museums also incorporate them into on- and offsite nature and culture exploration in L.A. neighborhoods, and a slate of community science programs—creating indoor-outdoor visitor experiences that explore the past, present, and future. Visit NHMLAC.ORG for adventure, education, and entertainment opportunities.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Hood
Natural History Museum
and La Brea Tar Pits
213-763-3532
press@nhm.org
Thomas Onorato
Special Projects
6465226369
thomas@specialprojectsmedia.com