University of Southern California (USC)
Los Angeles, CA, 90007
Situated just under 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles, the University of Southern California (USC) campus comprises 229 acres (93 hectares) of green spaces and quads, fountains, public art, and a mix of traditional and contemporary architecture. The USC Fisher Museum of Art and Tommy’s Place venue draw visitors from around Los Angeles and beyond.
The basics
The USC campus lies across the street from Exposition Park, home to top city attractions such as the Memorial Coliseum, Rose Garden, and California Science Center. Though the school has strong ties to Hollywood and the local film industry, few sightseeing tours stop here, preferring instead to pass by en route to Exposition Park. But it's a pleasant place for a walk—the best way to visit is through daily guided and self-guided tours organized by the university.
Things to know before you go
Campus cafés and restaurants offer meals and snacks.
Tommy’s Place hosts open mic nights, trivia, talent shows, and other events.
Visitors requiring mobility or auditory assistance should contact the university five business days before their tour.
Self-guided tours include mobile access to a map with University Park Campus highlights.
How to get there
The university lies across the street from Exposition Park in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The campus is easy to reach by major freeways and Metro buses and Metrolink rail. On public transit from downtown, take the #81 bus to the Figueroa / USC McCarthy stop or the Expo line to the Expo/USC and Expo/Vermont stations.
When to get there
Most of the university is open to the public Monday through Friday from 6am to 8pm. The USC Fisher Museum is open from about noon to late afternoon every Tuesday through Saturday. When the Coliseum next door hosts USC football games during fall and winter, plan on facing extra crowds and traffic.
How to spend a day in Exposition Park
You can easily spend an entire day exploring Exposition Park, a swathe of urban green space and home of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) in South Los Angeles. In addition to NHM, the park hosts the Memorial Coliseum, the Los Angeles Rose Garden, and the California Science Center—where the space shuttle Endeavor is docked. The California African American Museum and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art are also within a stone's throw of each other.
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