Kern County Museum
Encyclopedia
The Kern County Museum is a history museum located in Bakersfield
, California
. Its main focus is the history of Kern County
(including Bakersfield). One of the prominent features is Pioneer Village. Located on 16 acres (64,749.8 m²), it contains over 50 original buildings from around the county, related to life in the late 19th century. Other features include: Lori Brock Children’s Discovery Center, Black Gold exhibit, and main building. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums
.
One of the most recognizable structures at the museum is the Beale Memorial Clock Tower
, located on the lawn in front of it. The clock tower was originally constructed in 1904 in the center of the intersection of 17th St. and Chester Ave. It was destroyed in the 1952 earthquake and rebuilt at this site in 1964.
In 1941, by a decree from the county, the Kern County Museum was founded. However, the outbreak of World War II would delay its opening until 1945. It was placed in a small corner of the Kern County Chamber of Commerce Building
located on Chester Ave, next to the fairgrounds between the Kern River
and Garces Circle
. The popularity of the exhibit quickly grew, as well as the amount of space needed to showcase it. By 1952, the museum had grown large enough that the Chamber of Commerce decided to move to a different location. This allowed for the entire structure to be used by the museum.
The museum continued to grow. The old fairgrounds adjacent to it (the fairgrounds moved to its current location in South Bakersfield on Union Ave) became the site for Pioneer Village. Later, there were other additions to the museum, which included Lori Brock Children’s Discovery Center, and Black Gold exhibit.
The museum is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museums
program.
The Lori Brock Children’s Discovery Center is a children’s museum located on the grounds of the Kern County Museum. It was opened in 1976 and was designed to offer hands-on experiences for children. Like the main building, its exhibits also rotate. The center has three exhibit rooms, each one showcasing a different exhibit.
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Its main focus is the history of Kern County
Kern County, California
Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
(including Bakersfield). One of the prominent features is Pioneer Village. Located on 16 acres (64,749.8 m²), it contains over 50 original buildings from around the county, related to life in the late 19th century. Other features include: Lori Brock Children’s Discovery Center, Black Gold exhibit, and main building. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums
American Association of Museums
The American Association of Museums is a non-profit association that has brought museums together since its founding in 1906, helping develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and advocating on issues of concern to the museum community...
.
One of the most recognizable structures at the museum is the Beale Memorial Clock Tower
Beale Memorial Clock Tower
Beale Memorial Clock Tower is a clock tower located in Bakersfield, California. It was a gift to the city; built by Truxtun Beale in memory of his mother, Mary Edwards Beale. It was dedicated on April 4, 1904, and was built in the middle of the intersection of 17th St. and Chester Ave. When he was...
, located on the lawn in front of it. The clock tower was originally constructed in 1904 in the center of the intersection of 17th St. and Chester Ave. It was destroyed in the 1952 earthquake and rebuilt at this site in 1964.
History
The origins of the museum dates back to 1929. A letter was published in the local newspaper from the local Lions Club asking for historical documents, photos, and information related to Kern County’s past. It was requested that the information be donated to the Kern County Chamber of Commerce. The result was very positive. Thousands of pieces of information were sent.In 1941, by a decree from the county, the Kern County Museum was founded. However, the outbreak of World War II would delay its opening until 1945. It was placed in a small corner of the Kern County Chamber of Commerce Building
Kern County Chamber of Commerce Building
The Kern County Chamber of Commerce Building is a historic building in Bakersfield, California. It is located adjacent to Sam Lynn Ballpark and the Beale Memorial Clock Tower. It is a part of the Kern County Museum. The building is considered on of the best surviving example of architecture...
located on Chester Ave, next to the fairgrounds between the Kern River
Kern River
The Kern River is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. Fed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for...
and Garces Circle
Garces Memorial Circle
Garces Memorial Traffic Circle, informally known as Garces Circle or just The Circle, is the only traffic circle in Bakersfield, California. The traffic circle is located at the intersection of Chester Avenue, Golden State Avenue and 30th St in Bakersfield. The Circle was originally built as a...
. The popularity of the exhibit quickly grew, as well as the amount of space needed to showcase it. By 1952, the museum had grown large enough that the Chamber of Commerce decided to move to a different location. This allowed for the entire structure to be used by the museum.
The museum continued to grow. The old fairgrounds adjacent to it (the fairgrounds moved to its current location in South Bakersfield on Union Ave) became the site for Pioneer Village. Later, there were other additions to the museum, which included Lori Brock Children’s Discovery Center, and Black Gold exhibit.
The museum is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museums
North American Reciprocal Museums
The North American Reciprocal Museums program is a consortium of museums in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, El Salvador and Mexico which offers benefits to museum membership holders in more than 530 institutions...
program.
Pioneer Village
Pioneer Village is a collection of over 50 historic building related to Kern County’s history. The various buildings are from all around the county. There is almost one of every type of building from the time period, including: one room schoolhouse, church, photography studio, train station, hotel, courthouse, and assay office. Oil equipment, including a wooden oil derrick, as well as a pumping unit (with 6 wooden pumps) are located in the village. The buildings are arranged to simulate an actual town. Also in the collection are assorted neon signs, which were collected from around the county. Those signs are being restored and put on display.Black Gold
Black Gold is an exhibit which describes Kern County’s oil industry. It was created in 2002, and occupies 9640 square feet (895.6 m²) with an additional 2.3 acres (9,307.8 m²) surrounding the exhibit. According to the museums website, some the highlights include, “simulated travel under the sea in a diving bell to learn how oil is formed, an exploration into oil discovery, recovery and its transformation into many products we use today, and the many dangers of asphaltum mining straight from the mouth of an old-timer.”Other Exhibits
The main building contains rotating exhibits. It is housed in the old Chamber of Commerce building built in 1929. It is the only historic building original to its location; all others were moved later (although the Beale Memorial Clock Tower was rebuilt in front of the museum in 1964). Currently the museum has over one million objects. Most are rotated through the building according to theme.The Lori Brock Children’s Discovery Center is a children’s museum located on the grounds of the Kern County Museum. It was opened in 1976 and was designed to offer hands-on experiences for children. Like the main building, its exhibits also rotate. The center has three exhibit rooms, each one showcasing a different exhibit.