Wow! What a gem of a museum! I highly recommend visiting this museum if you are near the Lake Isabella or Kernville area. The admission was free, but PLEASE consider making donations to help employ and maintain upkeep at the museum. This place has such a rich history of artifacts, including a woolly mammoth tooth to a 1900 stock certificate for gold, a display of all the movies ever made in the area and tons of items from the Oregon Trail. Super interesting for kids and adults. I'll definitely be returning for another visit on my next trip to Lake Isabella. read more

Kern Valley Museum - Museums Near Me - Kernville, California

See all

Best small town museum we've been to. Great maps, exhibits, etc. Who knew that John Wayne's Stagecoach was filmed here? History of the lake and how they had to move two towns (Isabella and Kernville) to make room for the water. Ask for Kit to show you around, she is a bundle of energy and very enthusiastic about Kernville. read more

You don't have to be a history buff to enjoy the Kern River Valley Museum. The staff is wonderful and happy to tell you stories of this exciting place and its importance to California's History. There are many displays broken into categories, such as mining, the movie industry (John Wayne's Stagecoach was filmed in part near here), horses, water and more. There is so much to look at. This was our second visit and I saw some things I had missed on our first. New to the museum is the Research Annex. There is a full library at your fingertips. It's filled with lovely artwork from the collection of Aldis Walker. If you're in Bakersfield and want a good day-trip, this one is excellent. read more

See all

A great, small little museum that makes for a relaxing pitstop for the family. It's amazing for the little kids to run around and enjoy the small displays and the models in the outer court in the back. Many local histories are collected and displayed here, and the best part is all are entirely run by volunteers and locals. The docent volunteers are just friendly and kind to talk in great length about the artifacts and the stories behind the donations here. It's fascinating, and just the best way to spend a moment to catch your breath in the nice A/C with restroom while the kids take an educational stroll down the hallway of small gems and tokens. read more

See all

Even if you have a short time, definitely stop by!! We were wandering around the town and almost missed this absolute gem. With free admission, awesome docents and tons of cool exhibits the museum makes for a great hour or so to get to know the town and the history. There is something here for everyone! We talked with Rick who gave us great advice and even directions to the Trail of 100 Giants. We thought we didn't have time to see any sequoias but because of his advice we were! Linda was a joy to speak with. She had some very cool information about the back portion of the museum and told some great stories about electricity, olympians, the river, and so much more. It truly made my day to learn a little something and it really made me appreciate the land even more. The museum is all volunteers as well which is super cool. I definitely recommend everyone stop by, no matter how long you're there for! read more

See all

Having been to this museum twice, I can easily say it is one of the best in California. Though small, it is packed with information about the area, such as the history, the geology, and much much more. But what makes this museum extra special is the passion of the docents. Everyone is very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the history of the Kern River Valley and Kern County as a whole. What a gem! read more

The Historical Society created a wonderful museum for amazing collections tended by an all- volunteer, friendly docent community. A must see. read more

I had a wonderful time visiting the Kern Valley Museum. I learned some very interesting information and have gain even more knowledge about the history of Kernville and the surrounding areas. I was very fascinated learning about the original towns of Old Kernville and Old Isabella prior to moving to their current locations in 1951. Most of the original towns, especially Old Isabella, are under what is now Lake Isabella. I've learned that some buildings were relocated but most were demolished before the completion of the Isabella Dam. You'll find some really cool antiques, displays, and pictures here. Linda was a great museum guide and host. She answered all of my questions, was very personable, and was very passionate about sharing Kernville's history. I highly recommend coming here, especially since admission is free. Random fact: If you are interested on seeing what's left of the town of Old Kernville, you can access it since the water levels are very very low right now and no longer covering it. When you turn on Old Cemetery Rd., make a right on a road with a sign called "Day use only." Keep going straight until you make it to dirt roads. If you look at the Old Kernville map, you can compare it to what still exists there. You'll find the foundations of the building of Odd fellows/or Outdoor Movies, Standard Oil Plant, the elementary school, and the Methodist Christ for the down on right. Have fun exploring! read more

See all

Luckily it was open during this pandemic and on our trip to Kernville. Hours are 11am to 3 pm. Lots of local history, super friendly and informative docents, and it's free! Really small gift shop. read more

Kern Valley Museum - Free entrance - Museums Near Me - Kernville, California

Kern Valley Museum is the absolute cutest little museum and a hidden gem in the Kern Valley area. I came across the Kern Valley Museum over five years ago when I found a geocache in the front area. The museum happened to be open and we happened to have a little time to explore. Inside this small little place was a TON of local history. From maps, to photos, and rare items - it really provided a wealth of information. The docents were especially kind and knowledgeable. We only allowed ourselves 45 minutes to explore and could have easily spent more. Definitely make sure to call ahead since their hours tend to vary. They also close early. read more

Kern Valley Museum - Exterior of the Kern Valley Museum (2014) - Museums Near Me - Kernville, California

Friendly and knowledgeable staff ! The collection is amazing and such an awesome stop to check out during your stay !

we stopped in on the way out and ended up spending a couple hours on the tour and chatting with the guides. especially Chig. Great insight of historical Kernville. I have not been to this area before and it was great getting info on the history. read more

Super charming and fantastic collection of Kern artifacts. Really nice exhibits and docents share lots of cool info. Check it out next time in Kern. Free entry but highly recommend leaving a donation. read more

Our family was camping in Kernville recently for the first time, and we were looking for things to do in town. Decided to check out this museum on a whim and were so glad we did! The museum houses a fantastic collection of local artifacts. The docent was so wonderful and walked us around all the exhibits, giving us a tour chock full of information and fascinating stories about the area. Our 11 year old, who normally prefers to spend his time playing video games, said it was a trip highlight and that he wants to return again in the future. We will visit again the next time we are in town. read more

This is an excellent museum! It's clear that the volunteers have put their hearts and souls into preserving the important local history of this fascinating area. The docents could not have been more informative or kind and we were very pleasantly surprised by how much we learned. We really enjoyed the old rotary telephones, native peoples, maps, photos, history of Chinese immigration, beautifully kept antique ford truck, movie history and much more! read more

Visiting a friend in Lake Isabella, thought we would visit. Website said open untill 4. We drove up to kernville and it was closed. Always call ahead. Beautiful day in Kernville though. Plenty of antique stores. read more

I feel a bit sheepish to admit that we only came to the museum because our friends told us that they had public restrooms. I'm glad we stopped in for our pottying needs because during our wait to use the one restroom we perused the museum and learned some interesting tid bits about the history of the area. There are displays about the filming of movies, sharks teeth embedded in rocks, cool fossils and lots of old tools and mining equipment on display. My visit to the museum enriched my perspective of the area and I'm glad we made a pit stop. read more

When I was a little girl, I found a fossilized shell on the banks of the Kern River. For years, it sat gathering dust on the mantel in my parents' vacation house in Kernville. When I was old enough to recognize that it should be in a museum, I donated it to the Kern Valley Historical Society. I was probably about ten or eleven years old at the time. Researchers came from Berkeley to take a look at it, and identified it as a pelecypod, a bivalve from the cretaceous era similar to a scallop. My exhibit is still there in the museum, with my name credited for the donation. It's pretty much the coolest thing a ten-year-old can lay claim to, and it sparked a lifelong interest in history and science. Every time I visit the valley, I make a point to go to the museum and drop a few bucks into their donation box. read more

This museum is awesome so much history in this town it's fascinating .. The volunteers here are amazing greet to talk too. My favorite part was the camera history it's was cool .. If your in town come by put your cell phone away and enjoy a conversation with the volunteers they got loads of information to talk about. Places like this are fading away fast so take advantage of it and visit. Plus donate a dollar if you can just to help out. If you don't like museums and the history they hold. then your just stupid. This will be a mandatory stop when I'm passing through. read more

See all

My mom and I came here while on a mini road trip. The volunteer took me on a personal tour of the museum and there is a lot of really neat stuff in there. From movie memorabilia to glow-in-the-dark rocks to antique housewares there is a lot to peruse and explore. read more

Kern Valley Museum - Front of museum - Museums Near Me - Kernville, California

An amazing fun and educational museum covering the history of Kern County from prehistoric to the present. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. And free! There is a small but well stocked gift shop. read more

Nice way to spend 30 minutes if you need a side distraction. Friendly knowledgeable "tour" guides. Free.. Donations only.

Local museum with lots of artifacts and history. Maintained by volunteers who are very involved.

Stopped-in here while visiting Kernville and the surrounding area. The staff were very friendly and it was interesting to learn that all of the artifacts/items which the Museum displays are authentic to Kernville. Definitely a must-see when in-town! read more

What a gem of local history. If you're in the area definitely make the effort to stop in.

This is a must see when visiting the Kern River Valley. We visited during Whiskey Flat Days. They provide great displays, with detailed, researched, authentic information. Since we are new to the area, it is important for us to learn about the pioneers and life in the early days. We will return to the museum many more times, as you can spend hours here. read more

Decided to stop in while on vacation and SO glad we did! So much history and the people working there are more than happy to tell you everything they know. Jon showed us around and was a pleasure to listen to. So much history! We got there shortly before closing and they were so nice, they were going to stay open for us but we felt bad. Everyone needs to get home to spend time with the family, so we opted to come back the next day. If you have a couple hours, stop in and learn some history about the place. You'll be glad you did! read more

Surprisingly extensive museum! I expected a small museum with a few (perhaps) generic exhibits of the history of the area, and maybe a handful of more specific artifacts. On the contrary, this museum packs every corner of the building with relevant and very interesting artifacts. Moreover, there is a wide range of exhibits from the area, covering Native American inhabitants, mining days, geology (with a nicely presented gem room), Hollywood's surprisingly prominent presence, and the various public works projects of the region. The volunteers are very informative and friendly as well. Check this museum out, it is most definitely worth a stop. And please contribute to the donation box! read more

I have to say that this place really disappointed me. Me, my husband, and little brother went camping on the kern river last week. And we ventured into Kernville for some food and culture. Well we started at the welcome center.... Not very welcoming. We walk in, and the lady comes out of the back "Can I help you?" in a nasty voice. So needles to say we did not feel welcome. From there we walked over to the museum, there was a group of people standing outside, like a tour, so we waited not to interrupt, and the lady there just closed the door on us.....Didn't smile or even bother to ask us if we were there for the museum. Now I have to mention that my husband is African American. And since I have been with him, I have seen and felt racism. But what pisses me off is that my little brother now has seen and felt the sting of racism. From now on you get your wish Kernville, me and mine are never spending money or even stopping in Kernville. Thanks, but no thanks. read more

What a lovely museum!! We were especially amazed by the friendly and enthousiastic volunteers working at the museum. They were very helpfull and knew a lot about the history of their Region. The Love for the Area they live in was obvious and we felt heartwarmed by their friendlyness. Highly recommended, make sure to take Time, it is defenitely worthwhile!! Nice and interesting, we loved it read more