Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the Autry Museum of Western Heritage?

As a result of the creation of the Autry National Center, the Autry Museum of Western Heritage has changed its name to Museum of the American West.

What happened to the Southwest Museum?

The Southwest Museum of the American Indian continues to be in Mt. Washington, Los Angeles.

Where is the Autry National Center?

The Autry National Center administrative offices are located in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California. The mailing address is 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462. The Center's telephone number is 323.667.2000. Click here for directions.

I'm a member of the Autry Museum (or the Southwest Museum). What happens to my membership benefits?

Your membership is now with the Autry National Center with membership benefits to both the Southwest Museum of the American Indian and the Museum of the American West (formerly the Autry Museum of Western Heritage). Click here to visit our membership page.

Why did you merge?

The merger created the Autry National Center, which consists of the Southwest Museum, Museum of the American West (formerly the Autry Museum of Western Heritage), and Institute for the Study of the American West. The Center will create a broad foundation of knowledge about the significance of the history of the American West and provide new learning opportunities to scholars, educators, students, and the general public, thus giving the Center a distinctive national profile.

If I want to donate to the Autry National Center, who do I contact?

The Autry National Center welcomes donations of items that meet our collecting policies. You will need to make an appointment with a member of our staff. Please click here to send us an email about your potential donation.

Why is "Autry" gone from Museum of the American West - is Gene no longer a part of the museum?

When Gene envisioned this museum, he specifically stated that he did not want this to be a museum dedicated only to him, but to be about the mythical and historical West. The Autry National Center bears his name as a public acknowledgment of his vision and Jackie Autry's continuing support for the study of the experiences and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West through exhibitions, educational programs, public events, and publications.

What can I see at the Autry National Center?

The Autry National Center is the governing body or administrative portion of the operations of the two museums and the Institute. Please click here to see what is happening.

What is the Institute for the Study of the American West?

The Institute provides leadership in the academic community by engaging well-recognized scholars to research, publish, and conduct seminars, workshops, and symposia.

Can I view your collections on the web?

Yes. In 2003, we launched the Autry National Center Collections Online. You will find images, art, artifacts, archival collections, historical interpretations, and research materials. This online catalog contains many more artifacts than can be displayed in the museums' galleries at any one time. Furthermore, it is a work-in-progress, and we are adding to it every month.

How often do you change out exhibitions?

There are usually four different special temporary exhibitions during the year. You can learn about these exhibitions by clicking here.

What upcoming exhibitions are you planning and when?

To find out about future exhibitions please click here.

Can I still have my event at the museums?

You certainly may. Please contact our Special Events Department by clicking here.