Known as the Los Angeles County Museum of History, Science and Art when it opened in 1913, the Natural History Museum has since gone through four name changes and several major renovations. Its initial collection of art and mammal skeletons grew so massive that it spawned two new museums to house them: respectively, LACMA in 1961, and the George C. Page Museum in 1977. A century later, the Exposition Park institution is considered the largest natural history museum in the western United States — and its 100th Birthday Bash aims to prove it's also one of the hippest. The celebration features family-friendly activities like guided nature walks and gardening workshops from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the real party gets started in the evening, with KCRW DJs spinning in the Mammal Halls all night and live performances in the outdoor amphitheater by rapper GZA/The Genius at 8:15 p.m., followed by new wavers Devo at 9:45. Perhaps coolest of all, the party unveils NHM's new Otis Pavilion: a six-story glass façade showcasing a fin whale skeleton that glows with colored lights and vibrates with the sound of a real fin whale. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park; Sun., June 9, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; $25. (213) 763-3466, nhm.org.

Sun., June 9, 9 a.m.-11 p.m., 2013

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.