Fantastic place for the city of Hanford! From 1905 to now, we must preserve it! You should know…read morewhile other museums are dying our Hanford and surrounding area youth are enjoying it. Luckily the Pokemon group that uses it as a start point for their game are becoming members. Give it a looksie. Interesting items inside including articles from Amelia Earhart and the Mussel Slough Tragedy gunfight from 1880

This museum is the result of some people putting out the word to folks to bring in their treasures…read moreto preserve some local history. There is an odd, but lovely mix of things: antique medical equipment, a dress remade out of Amelia Earhart's dress, a fire-charred doll from the 1700s, a set of plastic California Raisins--circa 1986, old china, an impressive array of taxidermy. The "Hanford Horse", discovered during excavation at a construction site, gets prominent display downstairs. The building itself is interesting and appealing. Don't miss the huge hair wreath near the front door. It is made of (you guessed it!) human hair and was a wedding present long ago. If you're looking for some local color in Hanford, this is definitely worth a look.

We met family from Sacramento here today, we're from Bakersfield. We have never been here before…read more It was a great deal at $3/person, since it's the 1st sat of the month. We spent about 3 or so hours playing & exploring. It's really meant for younger ages,probably up until about 10-11. My son is going to be 11 next week & loved it because he loves dinosaurs, digging & science. Not sure i would go out of my way to go back, only because we don't live locally but if we lived in fresno I would consider getting a membership. They have a lot of great programs throughout the week which would be great for school field trips or homeschooling co-ops.

Awesome place for the kids to learn and run around. Was looking for a place for the kiddos to play…read moreand I came across this. Came here once for my nephews birthday and haven't been back since, so it's been a while and I kind of forgot this place exists. You can get your tickets online, I happen to check at the right time because their prices and affordable on every first Saturdays of the month! The lady working was super friendly and helpful, she even told me they do music classes and that the kids are more than welcome to join. Around 11am they have a person doing a science presentation but unfortunately she was running late on her project and I overheard her being kind of rude and not in a good mood so we decided to move on to the next room. They were also selling boba and eggrolls outside, sorry I forget the name of the seller that had their booth there. The kids enjoyed the front area where they can dress up, draw and play with toys. There was also someone selling their 3D printed animals, which the kids loved so I caved and bought them all one plus help support small businesses. Overall it was a nice experience for the kids to enjoy.

Heard this is a great place for young kiddos, and boy that rumor was true! Our kids loved it! Our…read morekids were entertained the whole time. Loved all the hands on activities. Everything from a fish aquarium, to a fire truck, slides , kitchen, and more. Could have spent the day here , if they were open longer. They have an outdoor area, however was closed due to the rain. Will be back to check it out though. Only open to the public four days a week, other days closed for field trips. Can be pricey $15 for kids one and up and $10 per adult; $7.50 for seniors. Can add up quickly for large families.

First time here with the kiddos and their little cousins! They had a blast! And I'm just at awe…read moreevery corner I look and go to! Down to the restroom with the tiny tiny toilets for the littles! Lol! Love the fact there's kid friendly washing stations through the museum making it easy for the kids. The indoor treehouse has cameras on the outside so parents can keep an eye on the littles while they are in the treehouse which is awesome! The entire time we were there I saw workers tidy up and sanitize and clean the whole time so that is reassuring! Like the indoor didn't impress me enough.. when we went outside.. I was mind blown at how much is outside and how even cuter it is! They had balance bikes with helmet and a track for kiddos, fishing, building, learning to milk a cow, dinosaurs, farmers market, and so much more! Also, kid friend height table and benches perfect for snacking and breaks. Is to note there isn't any food or drinks available for purchase at the museum but we were able to bring our snacks. Price point was so affordable especially for the experience and what they offer for the kids. We will definitely recommend this place and would highly likely return!

Beautiful little place in downtown Hanford! My son goes to music therapy there. Love the garden and…read morecharming atmosphere.

Very cute place. I enjoyed this stop. The kids had a lot of fun running around and visiting the…read moredifferent storybook homes. They also enjoyed going in the water. I didn't bring swimsuits so I let them swim in their underwear. The kids loved it.

The Lord told me about this place in a dream, and the upstairs is a temple. I been here 3x first 2…read moreI came it was closed but the third time I came they were open however to visit the temple upstairs you will need appointment in advance. I pray that this place will be preserved forever in Jesus name because the spirit of the LORD dwells here.

Much history here in China Alley. I used tio come here as a kid with my parents. They just…read morerecently had a fire in one of the buildings bt had minimal damage than goodness. But as I figured Id be there when the doors were closed. I strolled through and took some pics. It was fun.

Such I neat museum! So many things to see. The docent is very nice as well. Enjoyed this and the…read moregas station museum as well

I hit the jackpot one evening with being directed to this museum while traveling through Coalinga…read more My luck held when Tim, a descendent of one of the original European families to settle in the area, showed up to give me a tour. Decades of civic pride and love have gone into creating and maintaining this fabulous collection.

One of the best places to learn about wars in US History from the last 125 years! So much…read morememorabilia, artifacts, costumes, and testimonials along with actual veterans who volunteer there and are ready to answer any questions you have or just to say "thank you for your service." Such a rich treasure trove of information and artifacts and well organized. Anyone who is doing research on any of the wars, making a movie or documentary, or even some local Fresno history needs to come here and do their homework. You simply can't take it all in with one visit. Seriously, this place has the most artifacts I've ever seen in any veteran's or US historical museum and we have this piece of history right here in our own town. Let your friends in Hollywood know, this is the place to come to check your facts and see an amazing collection!

I didn't visit this museum this time around, but did watch my nephew and niece in a play version…read moreof, The Wizard of OZ. The theater here is on the smaller side, but is perfect for kid plays and other local theater shows. To help fill the space on stage, they have an LED screen that allows any color, theme, or design to be added and enhance the physical props on the stage. The audio kept popping, not if that's because of the kids touching mics, but was a little distracting. I loved the real fire balls they shot up from the stage whenever the wicked witch arrived along with the subtle fog and light elements. The only available parking is street parking and it's metered. So get here earlier to snag a spot close to the venue.

This was a very interesting place. It's nice someone cared enough to preserve it for future…read moregenerations. It's good to embrace history and this museum is full of that. Our tour guide was new and a little vague on some points of interest but that really didn't bother me. It has a cute little gift shop and tours are by donation so don't cheap out when you visit. What's a few dollars to walk back in time.

Quoted from the Taoist Temple Preservation Society website (where you can also contribute online):…read more "Everything you ever wanted to know about China Alley. China Alley in Hanford, California traces its roots to 1877, when the Central Pacific railroad was extended westward into the area and the new town of Hanford was formed. Numerous Chinese came to the area, many initially to help build the railroads, but others came for farming and agricultural purposes. China Alley grew rapidly and the Chinatown prospered to include restaurants, homes, boarding houses, grocery stores, laundries, herb shops with reputable herbal doctors, sundries stores, gambling establishments, a Chinese school and a Taoist Temple. It soon became known as a "city within a city" with buildings lining both sides of the alley made from bricks formed and fired on site. Visiting Hanford's China Alley Historic District is a fascinating adventure that allows us to step back into history. As visitors enter China Alley today, they are met with a sense of historic ambiance that is reminiscent of a strong cultural heritage. Many of the buildings lining the alley are visually unaltered and remain largely as they did over 100 years ago. Various myths and folkloric legends have weaved their way into tales of this historic Alley. It has been alleged that the population of Hanford's Chinatown went from a small but thriving number of residents to a crowded metropolis rivaling the Chinatowns of San Francisco and Los Angeles. The stories of underground passageways that connected the basements of some merchants on China Alley have been wildly embellished to include tall tales of an expansive network of subterranean tunnels that reached far away from the Alley's core. Some minor alterations to the ground floor of several of the buildings occurred while creating The Chinese Pagoda and Imperial Dynasty restaurants in the late 1950s. These restaurants were established and operated by the Wing family and once served as a catalyst for the revitalization of China Alley. For nearly 50 years until its closure in 2006, the Imperial Dynasty was recognized as a world renowned restaurant serving continental cuisine. The restaurant became famous for its gourmet dinners, extensive wine cellar, and escargots bourguignon. Certified executive chef Richard Wing is widely credited as the originator of fusion cuisine as he combined Chinese and French cooking techniques that became known as Chinoise. One of the highlights of China Alley is The Taoist Temple Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Temple and Museum offers a rare and authentic experience of entering a unique and historic cultural structure that has remained mostly unchanged over the years. Upstairs in the Taoist Temple Museum, the original Temple exists where visitors are first met with large plaques covered with Chinese characters that list the names of members of the Sam Yup Association who donated funds for the construction of the building. On the south wall are wooden figures of the eight immortals while their corresponding ceremonial staves are displayed next to the stairwell. In a corner of the room is a ceremonial brick oven in which symbolic paper money or clothing was burned as an offering to an individual's ancestors. Silk embroideries throughout the Temple featuring animals, birds, and shiny objects have various symbolic meanings. A variety of tools used for individual worship remain where they were once used. Apparent on the ceiling are different methods of lighting from bygone eras that were used to illuminate the Temple. A separate room behind an elaborate altar served as a schoolroom so children could learn of their cultural heritage and beliefs. The street level of the Taoist Temple Museum includes rooms that once served as sleeping quarters for single men. These rooms now reveal a variety of artifacts from the everyday life of Hanford's Chinese residents including kitchen items, gambling matter, and articles and furnishings from several of the Alley's herb shops. Along the walls of the single hallway are photos of the early populace and structures of the area. A small shop occupies the front of the ground floor where informative books and commemorative items can be purchased with the proceeds used to assist in ongoing maintenance of the Temple and the restoration of other buildings in the Historic District."