Getty Center

The Getty Center in Los Angeles, California, is a major cultural campus that houses the Getty Museum and several programs of the Getty Trust. The center officially opened to the public on December 16, 1997, and became widely known for its modern architecture, beautiful gardens, and panoramic views overlooking Los Angeles. Built at a cost of approximately $1.3 billion, the center sits on top of a hill in the Brentwood neighborhood and is connected to a visitor parking area below by a three-car cable-pulled tram system.

The Getty Center is one of two locations of the J. Paul Getty Museum, the other being the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades. The museum at the Getty Center features collections of European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, decorative arts, and photography from the 19th century to the present day. The campus also includes outdoor sculptures displayed across terraces and gardens, including the famous Central Garden designed by artist Robert Irwin. One of the museum's most recognized works is Vincent van Gogh's painting *Irises*.

The campus was designed by architect Richard Meier and also houses the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation, and the administrative offices of the J. Paul Getty Trust. The design incorporated advanced safety features to protect the buildings and collections from earthquakes and fires.

The origins of the Getty Museum date back to 1954, when oil businessman and art collector J. Paul Getty opened a museum inside his home in Pacific Palisades. In the 1970s, he expanded the property by building a replica of an Italian villa to display his growing collection. After Getty's death in 1976, the property was transferred to the Getty Trust for museum purposes. As the collection continued to expand, the Trust searched for a larger and more accessible location. In 1983, the Trust announced the purchase of a 110-acre site in the Santa Monica Mountains above Interstate 405. The Getty Center campus occupies 24 acres of this land, while the surrounding area remains preserved in its natural state. Located about 900 feet above sea level, the site offers views of downtown Los Angeles, the Pacific Ocean, and nearby mountain ranges on clear days.

In 1984, Richard Meier was selected as the architect for the project. Construction began in 1989 but faced several delays, pushing the completion date far beyond the original plans. Although early estimates placed the project cost at around $350 million, the final cost eventually rose to approximately $1.3 billion. Despite the delays and expense, the Getty Center opened successfully in 1997 and quickly became one of Los Angeles's most important cultural landmarks.

The Getty Villa later closed for renovations and reopened in 2006 with a focus on the art and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. Today, the Getty Museum continues to display collections at both the Getty Center and the Getty Villa.

In the mid-2000s, the Getty Trust faced public criticism regarding spending practices under then-president Barry Munitz. An investigation by the California Attorney General found no legal violations, though the Trust agreed to increase oversight of future spending. During the financial difficulties of 2008 and 2009, the Getty Trust reduced staff positions and managed a significant decline in its endowment, which later recovered.

In April 2026, the Getty Foundation announced that the Getty Center would temporarily close on March 15, 2027, for renovations expected to last about eleven months, with reopening planned for spring 2028.

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