The Petersen Automotive Museum envisions a rapidly evolving, multi-dimensional society in which it thrives as a progressive, globally respected center for automotive research and collecting; the focal point for automotive history, culture and enthusiasm in the United States; and a premier educational institution in Los Angeles.

The mission of the Petersen Automotive Museum is to present the history of the automobile to the world and share its global impact on life and culture using Los Angeles as the prime example. Far more than just a museum about cars, The Petersen is an iconic testimony to human history, Los Angeles life, and American culture and diversity over the last 100 years. The Museum’s collection captures the early years of the automobile, auto racing, alternative power vehicles, car shows, coachbuilders, concept/prototype cars, and America’s love affair with the automobile. The 25 galleries and vast exhibits spanning three massive stories detail critical features of the car culture, highlighting such significant cultural events as the lowrider and its influence in Latino communities, the family pleasures of the road trip in the early 1910s-1920s, and even women working at automotive jobs historically designated more for men. Largely overlooked by historical sources, The Petersen ensures that Americans know about women like Veda Orr, who was the first female member of the Southern California Timing Association and the only woman competing in racing events in the 1930s. Most importantly, as a primary educator in our region, The Petersen builds community and facilitates life-long learning and growth as a resource for local schools, institutions, and groups throughout Southern California.

The Petersen Automotive Museum is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (EIN: 95-4739699).