Fun little museum in the heart of downtown where you can see some fossils and taxidermia…read more Plenty of street parking was available nearby. We spent about 2 hours here going between the different levels the main level you walk in is the middle area and then there's an upstairs and downstairs. Upstairs there are some more animals and then big dinosaur fossils. There a small Egyptian exhibit which was a cool addition. Then on the bottom level it's an area where everything is touchable so the kids can really have some fun. There was area that they're redoing so that was off limits. There is an elevator so if you have some mobility limitations that is helpful. There are fans on all the levels because it doesn't get the best circulation. Overall a great place to spend a few hours out of the house for a fun learning experience.

This museum is so neat! The docents (who are all volunteers btw!) are knowledgeable and funny, and…read morethey kept my Girl Scouts' interest with no issue. The exhibits are beautiful and interesting, and there are interactive elements to some displays. I was stunned by the Yokuts display, which had a full replica of a traditional Yokut home. An extraordinary, nearly-complete fossil found locally is on display. The bottom floor also has a fun exploratory area for kids! It's great! Highly recommend this museum to all ages.

If you are in Bakersfield and looking for something to do, I highly recommend stopping by to learn…read moreabout the city's history. Caution: It gets really hot in Bakersfield, so it might be a tad hot. Make sure to hydrate, wear comfortable clothes, and shoes because you will be walking around looking at the exhibits. There are a few indoor exhibits, but the majority are outside. Tours are self-guided, which is a plus because you can freely explore the grounds and village in the back. There are a few indoor exhibits that feature the vehicles used in the past for multiple purposes, and also a barn that includes memorabilia from old bars that our ancestors enjoyed in Kern County. Definitely a cool concept filled with lots of artifacts from the past. What a great day to enjoy a fun blast from the past!

A MUST-SEE! If you're in Bakersfield, you love architecture, and appreciate the growth of a city,…read moreyou need to see the Kern County Museum. The best introduction to a region is learning of its history. I stopped by as I told my Mom this is a highly-rated experience and gem of the community! Turns out, it is. Kern County Museum is an immersive outdoor experience set up as a community or town where you go from houses to buildings to barns, exploring what life was like when people lived in the olden days. We spotted a hotel, doctor's office, schools, courthouse, and so many more buildings. All the structures are well-maintained and have descriptions in front of them. You're even allowed to go in some of the buildings! My favorite was a the spooky Mason Lodge! We spent a while enjoying the stories and significance of these locations which led to the development of a well-known Central California city! Kern County Museum even has a research center, mini art gallery, and children's discovery center. The facilities are clean and well-kept. There's an indoor section to the museum with background on Native American and war-time culture in Kern. My Mom and I came during a week day, we saw several parents bring their children to explore the museum. There's plenty of parking and room to move around. As an educator, i highly recommend checking this out! It's also perfect for field trips!

The Bakersfield Museum of Art celebrating its 70th Anniversary was truly such an honor to attend;…read moreand what an unforgettable evening it turned out to be. From the moment you step inside, the space feels like pure magic: vibrant, lively, and brimming with creativity in every corner. The evening unfolded beautifully with a delicious dinner catered by Bord A Petite, an open bar flowing with ease, and a thoughtfully curated silent auction featuring artwork selected by curator of exhibitions and collections Victor Gonzales alongside executive director and chief curator Gilbert Vicario. And the décor? Absolutely dreamy. Thousands of balloons were transformed into whimsical sea creatures all floating jellyfish and playful octopuses that created an enchanting, underwater fantasy throughout the space. I was so wrapped up in the moment: laughing, exploring, and enjoying the evening with my sister and her friends that I barely took any photos of the artwork itself... which just means you'll have to experience it firsthand.

We are members so we love the bakersfield museum of art!!!…read more We most recently went on a Wednesday after having lunch at centro Cali brewery around the corner. It was lovely to be one of the only few people in the museum. They always have great bakersfield and kern county focused exhibits. This time we saw bakersfield standards exhibit which was such a lovely look at all the things that make the valley and its history and culture unique. It made me proud to be a valley girl.

A free air museum run by volunteers! How cool is this?…read more Small - we saw everything in an hour, and were given a personal tour by one of the members. A fun stop to stretch your legs and break the monotony of an I-5 road trip!

This is a fun little air museum just outside Bakersfield that packs in a lot!…read more Clean and well kept. Docents are full of knowledge and stories. Lots to look at making it an enjoyable experience! They host a few annual events as well, one notable one is Santa's fly in where the kids get to meet Santa. Give it a visit and you won't be disappointed.

I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is…read moreholding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon.

Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original…read moreoccupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it.

This year was a disgrace. Total money grab. Years past were a magical experience. Not 2024. So…read morelittle effort, was put into this. The village was largely dark and not festive at all. The "hayride" was a pickup truck pulling a trailer. In the past they had horses pulling wagons. The Christmas music was provided by a high school band, bless their heart they tried their best but again in the past they had professional musicians providing the music. They were supposed to have carolers but that didn't seem to happen. At least we didn't see or hear them. There was one bounce house that was far too small for the size of the event. I've had larger bounce houses in my backyard for a birthday party. Almost no trapping of Christmas to be seen, no tree, no lights, no nativity. There was a Santa who they had tucked away in an off area. It seemed most people had no idea he was in there. The gentleman they had for Santa was excellent. The church exhibit was closed when in the past you could go in, sit and listen to the church organ. I could go on, but again this year's Lamplight Tours was incredibly disappointing compared to past years offerings. The model A cars were cool and the train was neat for the kids. The engineers very kind.

We have always wanted to check out this one night a year Holiday event at the Pioneer Village in…read morethe Kern County Museum. Finally got the chance to go this year! They had a lot of the buildings open for viewing and tours. With docents and volunteers dressed in costumes from the 1800's era walking around, singing Christmas carols and giving tours of several buildings, this event aims to give you a holiday experience from the past. They have decorated the some of the houses & buildings with Christmas trees, a few Christmas lights, lamplights/candle lights and holiday decor. The horse drawn carriage that would pass by every so often while you are walking the "streets" in the village adds to the feel of experiencing holidays back in the day. We love history and learning about the past so this was right up our alley. Great family event. We will definitely go back next year! Only issue we observed was the short time frame this event is open. The Pioneer Village can hold a lot of people to attend this event but with this holiday event open only from 4pm-8pm, there was not enough time to go in all the buildings for the tours with long waits in line (we waited in line for almost 2 hours to see the Howell House). They have to come up with something to make it more enjoyable for everyone. And for people like us who would like to see everything have enough time to go around. They can limit tickets, run it longer, have multiple nights open or have more volunteers giving out the tours to make wait times shorter. Since our kids decided not to ride the carriage, we were able to see more. And we picked and chose which buildings & houses we wanted to tour and see. So until they work out this issue, I suggest you plan your evening when you go.

This was a great place with a bunch of history. Everyone there was so nice and they were very…read moreknowledgeable. Not just about trains, lots of history of Shafter and the area. My family loved the place.

This is not a big museum. But us is run by some nice people who have collected and displayed lots…read moreof Shafter memorabilia. I think you have to have some connection to Shafter to appreciate the place. The museum traces the agriculture beginnings, the first churches, school history and my favorite a display dedicated to General Shafter who the town is named after. Farming in Shafter is hot dirty and dusty work and kinda of a gamble if the crops don't sale. I am so glad there is a place for the farmer and early citizens effort to make a living here recognized. While Shafter is not the potato or cotton producer is once was those potatoes were 5 -stars. I deliberately did not mention water issues it is controversial in this state. This place has very limited hours.

Taft, California…read more This museum/plantation is one of a kind. I have never been to any type of museum catered to petro. The equipment and the sizes are jaw dropping. They have a gigantic oil drilling rig in the middle of the park... It was surreal to see how this old school mechanism worked w/ the plethora of pullies made from wood and rubber. Access/Roads: A Paved. Parking: B Plenty on dirt. Distance: C Appx 120 miles north of DTLA. Appx 40 miles southwest of bakersfield. Costs: A Free Nearby Attractions: Jack dilly squat. hmm. there's some dirt everywhere. Conclusion: A This is one of my favorite museums between LA and SF. It's a must for anyone who cares about these things. No one cares for Taft or the nearby region, and there is no reason too except to visit this museum or visit the nearby prison. Safe travelings. IG @cigarcpa.

This museum totally, totally rocks. A museum, in an ideal word, guides you to another plane or…read moresphere or alternate universe. It transforms, transfigures, transports. It blows your mind and tells you a story in the process. Thanks to our incredible 93-year-old volunteer docent Pauleen and museum staff Agnes and Esther, our minds were officially blown. WKOM provides incredible docents and volunteers who are locals and know the history of the area intimately . What an experience to hear about growing up in a tent house next to an oil rig, dealing with gushers that spewed oil for miles, the positive impact of the oil industry on the area! We came here expecting to spend about an hour, max, but thanks to the incredible volunteers, spent over three hours touring the museum and visiting the gift shop. Now, before people start to message me because they are totally pissed off because "Oil kills" etc., let me tell you that I agree. I recycle. I try to economize on my trips to save gas. I believe in preserving the environment. But history rocks, too.. And when you are presented with a museum of this caliber, created and maintained totally and 100% by volunteers, it is a reminder that the power of community is also something worth preserving. Thank you, all, for an incredible journey back in time.