This is the original Getty before the 405 / Bel Ai...

This is the original Getty before the 405 / Bel Air Getty Center was built in the 90s. It was built in the 70s and has been maintained beautifully ever since, with a new exhibit having just been completed/renovated on the top floor this year. Highly recommended if you're into Roman/Greek history and you have a penchant for all things "Pompeii" and "Mount Vesuvius." "Free" entry that you must reserve in advance, but they still charge $15 for parking.

I would have given this place a full five stars, but they no longer maintain their beautiful blue pool of water because of the drought (even though everyone knows 80% of CA's water is used by the agricultural industry and no amount of conversation by anyone else will make much of a dent).

I also refuse to give 5 stars because despite the fact that there is PLENTY of street parking available, they force you to park inside so they can charge you the $15 parking fee. The excuse is that they have an agreement with Malibu's homeowners not to let museum patrons park outside the museum, but legally speaking, that smells like BS to me. Malibu's homeowners could control parking through street signs and city ordinances if they really wanted to. The truth is, the $6 billion Getty Trust (largest art trust in the WORLD) still wants your $15 entry fee (soon to be $20) but they label it as "parking" so they can say the entry is still free.

So unless you arrive here by bus (and are somehow able to prove this to entrance guards), they won't let you walk in unless you're in a vehicle and you pay the $15 "parking" fee.