Downtown LA: Bruce Wayne’s new Batcave

Adam West. Michael Keaton. Val Kilmer. George Clooney. Christian Bale. These actors have been in their fair share of movies and TV shows over the past few decades. But they all have one deep, dark secret.

They are all Batman.

On the Event Deck of L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles, a red carpet welcomes you to the “Dark Knight Legend” exhibit, consisting of three sections that display Batman-related memorabilia.

Music from the latest trilogy of Batman films sets the mood for the first section of the exhibit, which features artwork created by fans of the entire Batman series. The most notable attraction is a statue built with a familiar childhood staple.

“The thing that I noticed right away was the Catwoman made out of Legos,” says Gordon Holmes, who has been a fan of the Batman since 1966.

Two versions of the Batsuit, Bane’s intimidating mask and the Joker’s purple outfit are all accounted for in the second portion of the exhibit. These costumes and others on display were worn by the actors during filming, making them truly authentic.

Adding to the authenticity is the Batmobile showroom, the final and most awe-inspiring part of the exhibit. Cars from every stage of the Caped Crusader’s history are present, including the original 1950s version, which will be auctioned off in January. An eye-opening video about the evolution of the Batmobile helps viewers understand the origins of their favorite vehicles.

Holmes’ favorite Batmobile is the original from the Adam West television series.

“It’s sleek; it’s sharp; it still has the spirit of 50s automobiles,” Holmes said.

Christina Antuna prefers the most recent installment of Bruce Wayne’s alternate mode of transportation, the Tumbler.

“It has the most practical design for what it’s trying to accomplish,” Antuna says.

Rounding out the exhibit are other items related to the last three Batman films, including props, a miniature model of the Batcave and the nuclear reactor from “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Walking through this “Batmuseum” certainly induces feelings of childhood nostalgia, reminding us of the very first time we read a comic, watched a cartoon or experienced an IMAX movie about Batman. It may even help us remember the idea behind the mask.

“It’s good over evil,” Holmes says.

Antuna looks at Batman in more human terms.

“He doesn’t have any superpowers,” Antuna says. “He’s just a man who wanted to help people.”

The Dark Knight Legend Exhibit is open to the public from noon to 9 p.m. through Dec. 14, and is free of charge.