The Kern County Museum, founded in 1941, provides interpretive experiences through historical objects that tell significant stories about Kern County life to its visitors. As a result, the museum provides a meaningful learning environment for people of all ages, and showcases the unique importance of the region in shaping the history of California and the nation in ways that enrich lives and shape a better future.
The museum has been collecting pieces of Kern County history since 1929. Thousands of historical and cultural artifacts are displayed in more than 50 historic buildings on 16 beautifully landscaped acres. Treasures such as a one room school, a general store, jail, oil derrick, and seven historic homes join Native American, Bakersfield Sound, mining, agriculture and railroad exhibits for visitor enjoyment. From California’s Gold Rush, through its settlement and development, to the crucial oil industry of today, the state’s rich heritage can be experienced in one convenient and central location