Kern County Museum: In 1929, a letter from the Bakersfield Lion’s Club was published in the local paper encouraging the citizens of Kern County to donate historical materials to the County Chamber of Commerce. The response was overwhelming. Family after family brought items and papers documenting Kern County’s history and the people who called it home.
Museum
In 1941, by the issuance of a County Ordinance, the Kern County Museum was founded with its original mission to “collect, preserve, research, and present the history and culture of Kern County for the education and enjoyment of the public.”
Excitement about the new Museum was high; but, due to the scarcity of resources during World War II, full operations did not begin in earnest until 1945, when the Museum officially opened in the Kern County Chamber of Commerce building in Bakersfield, California.
Before long, the new Museum encompassed the entire Chamber of Commerce building. An outdoor exhibit—an 1868 Barnes family log house—was added on the former County Fairgrounds property adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce Building. By 1952, the growth of the Museum as a tourist attraction, ancillary educational facility, and a community cultural center, prompted the Chamber of Commerce to seek new quarters.
Visitors Ages 8 and Under
In 1976, the Lori Brock Children’s Discovery Center was opened on the grounds of the Museum. Initially operated by a separate nonprofit with assistance from the Junior League of Bakersfield, the Discovery Center merged with the Museum in 1993 and has become an important element of Museum operations by providing exciting, educational hands-on experiences for visitors ages 8 and under.
Today, the Kern County Museum is administered by the Kern County Museum Foundation, a 501c3 organization under an operating agreement with the County of Kern. The Aera Energy Gallery, housed in the historic Chamber of Commerce building, is home to the History of the Golden Empire Exhibit which provides a detailed outline of Kern County’s history and agricultural significance.
The outdoor complex, Pioneer Village, contains more than 50 buildings, including historic structures that represent different aspects of the County’s history, and several facilities for administration, maintenance of the grounds, exhibits, and artifacts. The Museum supports the concept of lifelong learning, offering a variety of programs targeted to specific ages and interests, along with programs families can enjoy together.
kern county museum photos
In this photo dated 1960, Ardis Walker, president of the Kern County Historical Society, examines a U.S. 1862 Springfield rifle.
University ot Southern California (Photo by Los Angeles Examiner/ USC Libraries / Corbis via Getty Images)
The Kern County Historical Society dedicates a historical marker at Rose Station in Tejon Ranch in 1941.
Kern County Museum
Visiting Hours
Closed: Monday & Tuesday
Open: Wednesday — Sunday 9:00 am — 4:00 pm
No new admission accepted after 3:30 pm
Black Gold is open Wednesday- Sunday 9 am-4 pm
Transportation Exhibit is open Saturday & Sunday from 10:00-3:30
Closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
Closed on all Federal Holidays.
Occasionally closed for special events and private functions. See the Calendar of Events or call for more information.