The USC Pacific Asia Museum will open its doors free of charge today as part of the annual SoCal Museums Free-For-All event. The museum, located at 46 N. Los Robles Avenue, is the only Pasadena institution participating in the regional tradition that provides free general admission to more than 30 Southern California museums on Sunday, March 16. This collaborative effort aims to increase access to art, cultural heritage, film and natural history across the region.
Alexa Nishimoto, SoCal Museums President and marketing associate for the Japanese American National Museum, said she hoped the day provides residents with a space of comfort and connection following January’s wildfires.
“It is an honor for us to open our collective doors and welcome visitors in to experience the broad range of cultural experiences available in the region,” Nishimoto said.
The USC Pacific Asia Museum houses a collection of more than 15,000 items spanning over 5,000 years. The museum features the Harari Collection of Japanese paintings and drawings from the Edo and Meiji periods, Chinese ceramics, textiles, and Buddhist art from throughout Asia.
Visitors should note that the free admission offer applies only to general museum admission and does not include specially ticketed exhibitions. Regular parking fees will still apply at each museum location, including the USC Pacific Asia Museum.
The museum’s regular hours on Sunday are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On normal operating days, admission prices are $20 for adults, $15 for students with ID and seniors, while children under 17 are always free.
Many participating museums are offering special discounts to Metro riders with a TAP card on the day of the event. This incentive aims to encourage public transportation use while making cultural experiences more accessible.
Other notable Pasadena cultural institutions, including the Norton Simon Museum, The Huntington Library, and the Pasadena Museum of History, are not participating in this particular free admission event. However, these institutions offer their own free admission days throughout the year.
For those interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, the USC Pacific Asia Museum represents Pasadena’s contribution to this region-wide celebration of arts and culture. The Free-For-All event occurs annually and has become a tradition for Southern California families seeking cultural enrichment at no cost.
