Kind of random, but I think this is now one of my favorite things Los Angeles has to offer. Possibly because out of my whole life living here and being in Santa Monica quite a bit, I've only heard about it recently, and therefore it seems to me this sort of visibly hidden wonderful treasure if that makes any sense.
The Camera Obscura is visibly located on Ocean Ave. near Santa Monica Pier. But it's also easy to miss. Aside from the very cool sign on the outside of the building, there isn't much that makes it known. The building itself is actually used as an adult/senior activities center, and you have to ask the lady at the window for a key to the Camera Obscura – almost like it's a secret code name.
Once you've got the key, and enter in, the Camera Obscura shows itself as a dark square-ish room with a white table in the middle and a hole at the top. The hole acts as a portal where light comes through and has mirrors that reflect images outside 360 degrees to show on the white table. It was built in 1898 by Robert F. Jones and was originally located on the beach.
