A band of about 100 teachers from the Los Angeles Unified School District protesting outside the Broad museum did not stop eager visitors from getting a first look at the collections inside.

Ongoing plans for charter schools have some teachers unions up in arms, reports the LA Times. "Invest in schools, not in billionaire's vanity projects" read a sign held by one protestor. Armed with an estimated fortune of $7.4 billion, Eli Broad, and wife Edythe, have invested $144 million in charter schools in Los Angeles and beyond, according to their foundation website.

Some 100,000 people booked tickets to the free museum in downtown LA prior to the opening. Selections from the Broads' collection of 2,000 modern and contemporary artworks by the likes of icons Andy Warhol and Ed Ruscha, plus many LA artists, and recent works depicting a Ferguson, Mo., scene are on view.

"The Broads have really decided to make something private public ... for free," artist Lari Pittman told NPR. "That is a huge social gesture. You know, I know a lot of wealthy people. They do nothing."