The
La Brea Tar Pits are a group of
tar pits around which
Hancock Park was formed in urban
Los Angeles. Natural
asphalt (also called asphaltum, bitumen, pitch or tar—
brea in Spanish) has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with dust, leaves, or water. Over many centuries, the bones of animals that were trapped in the tar were preserved. The George C. Page Museum is dedicated to researching the tar pits and displaying specimens from the animals that died there. The La Brea Tar Pits is a registered
National Natural Landmark.