Holyland Exhibition, Los Angeles

This museum, founded in 1924, is certainly one of Southern California's forgotten gems. The collection here contains a wealth of Middle Eastern artifacts, some of which are more than 2,000 years old. Collected by explorer Antonio F. Futterer during his years abroad, some of the smaller items here include lamps, bottles and coins. The impressive mummy casket dates 600 years before the birth of Christ. Today, Holyland Exhibition can be visited only by appointment for a small fee, which covers a tour and refreshments. Disabled access is limited to the ground floor.