California African American Museum

The California African American Museum (CAAM) in Los Angeles is a Smithsonian Affiliate museum dedicated to researching, collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history, art, and culture of African Americans with an emphasis on California and the western United States. The museum offers free admission to all visitors. CAAM is a single-floor building, and all traversable areas, indoors and outdoors, are step-free. The museum is located in Exposition Park and features accessible routes to all galleries and public spaces.

CAAM keeps one loaner wheelchair on-site, available first-come, first-served with an ID left at the information desk. Staff can coordinate borrowing a second unit from the California Science Center next door, if prior arrangements have been made. Two of CAAM’s five galleries require pulling and holding open a door while crossing the threshold; CAAM staff and security are stationed nearby and available to assist. Service animals are welcome throughout the museum.

Parking within Exposition Park is not free. Visitors driving in are advised to enter “Blue Structure” (the parking deck shared by Exposition Park’s museums) into their navigation app, rather than “California African American Museum” or “CAAM” — the latter routes to State Drive, which is closed to unauthorized vehicles. The walk from the Blue Structure’s top deck to CAAM’s front entrance is step-free but about 600 feet. Visitors who need a wheelchair to cover that distance can wait in the car while a companion checks one out at the information desk and brings it back, or, if visiting alone, call 213-744-2084 ahead so staff can bring a wheelchair to the Blue Structure.