Exploring The Grammy Museum
Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Price: $12.95 adults; $11.95 students 18 years and older with valid ID and seniors; $10.95 youth (6-17 years) and military personnel; Children 5 years and under and members free
Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office or on Ticketmaster.com
Located in a tall and narrow structure facing Figueroa Street at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles, the Grammy Museum celebrates the legacies of all forms of music, the artists who have elevated each genre to the spotlight, and the history of the Grammy Awards.
As visitors enter the museum's lobby, they are directed to an elevator that takes them to the fourth floor and into a colorful room equipped with large television screens displaying moments recorded during past Grammy Awards celebrations. Guests get a glimpse of the evolution of the Grammy Awards through glass boxes housing different versions of the statuettes--from its first version back in 1958 to the one music artists receive today.
The fourth floor opens up into a gallery filled with interactive presentations, artifacts, photographs, and films. The Crossroads table, for example, allows visitors to explore any genre of music and read about its history, the artists that best represent it, and other music genres that may be related to their choice. It is also on this floor that the special exhibit "Andrea Bocelli: The Story of a Voice" stands. This lovely display of Bocelli's performing outfits, Braille machines, interviews, and photos is now in its final days, remaining at the museum until February 12.
A set of stairs leads to the third floor, which houses a permanent exhibit of the Latin Grammy Awards. The display includes a video of various performances recorded during awards ceremonies, multiple photographs, one of Celia Cruz's shiniest dresses, and interactive congas and timbales set up with everything needed for guests to imagine themselves as a Latin music performer for a few minutes. It is also here that "the dress" that Jennifer Lopez wore to the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000, that green-turquoise flowery gown with a V-neck that plunged to her belly button and gave her much media attention, is displayed.
The third floor also gives guests an opportunity to experience the advancements in technology since Edison's 1877 phonograph. In a small room, choose one of four songs and hear it transform from what it would have sounded like on a phonograph to what it sounds like today, thanks to surround systems.
Until March 25, the second floor exhibits "George Harrison: Living in the Material World." Through multiple photographs the gallery allows guests to see the famous Beatle in his young years and to appreciate the musical accomplishments of his life time. Framed on the wall are several songs in his handwriting and large and beautiful pictures taken during his years in India.
The journey through the Grammy Museum can comfortably last a couple of hours and could be extended much longer by watching every film, using every interactive aid, and reading every document available. It provides for a stimulating and thought provoking tour that will help us appreciate the power of music and how much it is involved in our daily living.
Visit the GRAMMYs section at CBS Local.
Related: Kid Friendly Museums in Los Angeles
Dena Burroughs is a freelance writer living in Azusa, CA. She is a CSULA graduate with specialties in Creative Writing and Communications. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
