The Best Museums in Bakersfield

Nuui Cunni Native American Culture Center

★★★★★ 5 (9)

"I stopped by because a friend recommended it to me. This place is a gem! There is so much information available here about the native peoples in the area - tool making, medicine, games, art, clothing etc. I have been to a few native cultural centers, and this one is by far the best. It doesn't sell mass produced "Indian" goods, and instead offers hand made local crafts. Everything is a great price! They even have classes on how to make some of the crafts and medicine. (Offered Wednesday's or Sunday's, be sure to call and check, email doesn't always work). The people who work there are so sweet, offering to help with absolutely anything. They really just want to get the word out about the place. I was sad to hear that they haven't been doing well, so I want to help get the word out - go check it out!"

Errea House Museum

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"Today I visited the Errea House Museum and was warmly greeted from Carole Peck the Docent. I can't believe that all of my kids have been here on field trips but I have never been. Carole gave me a lot of information about the history of the house and the original family that lived in it. The house was located 4 1/2 miles from where it sits now on Green Street. It was moved here around 1900. In 1952 Tehachapi had a devastating earthquake and the damage to this area is estimated at 60 million dollars and tragically lives lost. This house stood amazingly in one piece and the only damage was to the open porch in the rear of the house. The water tank in the back yard collapsed on it. It was explained to me that the original structure was built without the use of wall studs. The house is now owned by the Tehachapi Heritage League and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 29, 1997. Everything in the home has been donated from the time period of the 1900's. The calendar on the kitchen wall was actually from 1921. When you walk in the door to the left is a beautiful grandfather clock from 1785 and it still keeps perfect time. Every Christmas the Errea house is decorated and they have items available to purchase. I am looking forward to checking that out next year."

Holiday Lamplight Tours

★★★☆☆ 3 (2)

"We have always wanted to check out this one night a year Holiday event at the Pioneer Village in the 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."

Minter Field Air Museum

★★★★★ 5 (6)

"This is a fun little air museum just outside Bakersfield that packs in a lot! 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."

Kern County Museum

★★★★☆ 4.1 (71)

"I remember coming to Kern County Museum years ago for a festive Cowboy Day event with cowboy & cowgirl poetry, and civil war reenactors fighting a battle.These amiable, hospitable guys in blue and grey uniforms thought that I might fit in their unit as a Samurai since the U.S. forced Japan to open its ports in 1853 when the vast U.S. whaling industry needed Japan to serve as a supply depot for its ships catching whales all over the world until petroleum replaced whale oil. Remember, Herman Melville's Moby Dick.  Kern County Museum proper is still not open due to Covid so the indoor exhibits can not be viewed. The history of the region where the oil and the petroleum industry took a prominent role will have to be explored for another day. The outdoor exhibits featuring homes from elegant Victorian to depression era dust bowl hovels & 19th century log cabins. Plenty of 19th & early 20th century hotel, hospital, drug store, courthouse, jails with only buckets for toilets, and other buildings dedicated to various trades of that era. There is a section dedicated to mid 20th century neon signs of former businesses that are now gone. Huge oil derricks & pumps, steam locomotive which have a dystopian steampunk look of the Victorian era. I felt like a voyeur peeking into windows, space in between bars, slats, going up & down stairs. It takes a minimum of 90 minutes to view it all at a more leisurely pace reading explanatory notes. About one hour if you rush through. Good way to see historical Kern County buildings concentrated in one park like setting.  $10 admission fee."

Tulare County Museum

★★★★★ 5 (8)

"Cutest little museum in the middle of nowhere! If you have to be in Tulare where there is nothing else to do, this museum is worth a tour. They have a huge collection of military uniforms from all over the world and all of the wars. That was our favorite part of the museum. Lots of other local stuff about the farming history in the area and athletes who grew up there. The staff are beyond helpful and so excited to show you around their museum. They are very knowledgable about the history of Tulare and very nice. They have a separate side room where they seem to features different shows. They had a local artists photography displayed there and some of it was also for sale. They have a small gift shop as well with some books on the area! Nice hidden gem!"

Hanford Carnegie Museum

★★★★☆ 4 (5)

"very cool stuff, great ambiance, supposedly haunted (i believe it!)"

Tehachapi Depot Museum

★★★★☆ 4.3 (34)

"Educational and informative. Those are the first two words that come to mind when remembering our time at the Tehachapi Depot Museum. I believe the museum is staffed by volunteers. The gentleman who toured us around was terrific and answered all our questions. Even though I am not a railroad aficionado, I still enjoyed our time here.This museum is a terrific place to drop by when you are in Tehachapi. Admission is free. They have a little gift shop that stocks some nice merchandise. Defintely worth the time if you have at least 30 minutes to an hour to spare."

Searles Valley Historical Society

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"The Old Guest House Museum in the middle of 'downtown' Trona near the mineral factory entrance.Even if you're just racing through Trona, this place is worth a stop if you want to check out an awesome collection of artifacts and photographs of local area history. The musuem is small, but larger than you'd expect. Artifacts range from wild west mining equipment to turn of the century items from when Trona was an actual bustling town. The rooms really show off and explain the history of borate mineral mining in the region and why Trona is there. Photographs of old miners, prospectors, factory workers, townfolk, and people of days past line the walls alongside the artifacts. Of particular note to me was the room specializing in the history of Trona high school (go Tornadoes!) and another room that exhibits a collection of old glass power line caps (what a unique collection).So, if you're up for some local and regional history exhibiting the peculiar and unique aspects of life in the Mojave desert, stop by here and take a look. The people in charge of this little museum have done a great job documenting everything in an engaging little display."

Kingsburg Historical Park

★★★☆☆ 3 (6)

"I give 0 stars This place is so unprofessional so overbearing it like a helicopter parents watching you while your trying to have a good time ...My friend got married and chose this place for her reception to celebrate it and have a wonderful experience with her love instead the management were up everyone business saying you cant serve hard alcohol if there no bartender didn't even give a 24hrs or nothing when signing agreement to book this place instead when the event was already started and the alcohol was there they said something than we couldn't take shots either and than couldn't serve alcohol til the security was there which they came late than when were trying to dance and have fun the management lady didn't want the lights off while the dj was playing music than both the management ladies were basically. There the entire event and what top it off ( I WENT TO GET SOME LEFT OVER FOOD TO GO ) mind you it wasn't even ten yet and they were rushing everyone out they had the venue til 11 ok ... I was in the kitchen getting food chit chatting with my friend who getting married mother and here comes the GROUNDS KEEPER!!! SO DISRESPECTFUL SAYS IN A LOUD RUDE VOICE IF YOUR NOT OUT THERE HELPING YOU NEED TO GET OUT THE KITCHEN ....O the mother of the bride who pay for this place was so in shock that he came n told her this n me like what kind of place is this ...this place literally needs to give my friend her money back or something because the way they treated her and her guest was not right at all especially the money they payed for and for her CELEBRATION FOR HER WEDDING LIKE WOW SHE CAN NEVER GET THAT BACK THEY RUINED THE WHOLE THING FOR HER -DONT I MEAN DONT RENT OUT THIS PLACE AT ALL ! And don't say it was just our party is seen you did this few times"

Bakersfield Museum of Art

★★★★☆ 4.1 (34)

"Bakersfield Museum of Art is a good regional art museum similar to Lancaster's Museum of Art and History where local artists, students are particularly featured. However, I was impressed by "On the Edge: Los Angeles Art 1970's-1990's from the Joan & Jack Quinn Family Collection" in November 2021. This quintessential California art exhibit starts with the 1960's Ferus Gallery "Cool School" influenced artists, progressing to exploration of new media & materials, Conceptual Art, rise of Feminism, Civil Rights Movements, Chicano Art, etc.  "On the Edge" may have been the coming out party that demonstrated the Bakersfield Museum of Art was able to curate an art exhibition on par with arguably more sophisticated cities. Earlier in May, I perused students' art work, many of which were winsome and some were outright humourous which made me laugh out loud.  That made my day. Love this compact art museum. Good for an hour of seeIng what is going on In the local Bakersfield art scene. Walking around the outdoor sculpture garden surrounding the museum is free. The free parking lot is adjacent to the museum. 4 stars"

Lancaster Museum of Art & History

★★★★★ 4.5 (30) • $

"Residents of the Antelope Valley, there is no excuse not to get some art into your life. And Angelenos, it's time to stop the stereotypes of the AV as some God-forsaken cultural wasteland. This lovely and well-designed museum offers cutting-edge shows focusing on local artists in a beautiful and wonderfully air-conditioned setting. I absolutely adored the shows I was fortunate enough to see here, especially the High and Dry show featuring stunning photos of the Southern California area. And entrance is free (although donations are welcomed). Check out the latest exhibitions and hours here: https://www.lancastermoah.org/ Street parking is ample. And, yes, there is a gift shop (where I purchased my favorite earrings made of recycled soda can tabs.)"

Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science

★★★★☆ 4.2 (32)

"This was my first stop in Bakersfield for my "There is so things to do in Bakersfield" adventure. I had called while getting gas to make sure they were open. It was veteran's day after all. Nice lady who answered warned me of a parade that was going to shut down the streets around the place. She even suggested where I should park. Several hours later, I arrived, and parked in the suggested parking structure. A short walk later I entered the place. Sure, it's no LA Natural History Museum. But there's practically nobody here. Entrance price was a mere eight dollars. Three floors of goodness ranging in topics from local history to dinosaurs to space exploration. Pretty cool and stuffed with information for such a tiny place. The top floor has their geology, paleontology and anthropology areas. There was even a neat hands-on experiment demonstrating the properties of sound. Lots of models, they've even got a reconstructed full sized ceratopsian as well as a reconstruction indian home up there. The middle floor has mostly natural and current animals. There are a few more paleontological exhibits here too. Fossils of ancient turtles and sharks along side bones and other examples of more modern species. There were even fossils that you could pick up and touch. I've never been able to do that. Even at the LA Natural History Museum. I've never experienced millions of years of history within my hands. Connecting with the past first hand. Wow. Very cool. There's also the gift shop here. Small. No refrigerator magnets. Coffee cups though. Downstairs is the kids fun-zone area. I'm a big kid, so I went down there to check it out. A large room of things for kids to hang onto and science. One that I particularly liked was a row of large high powered magnifiers. Each with a basket of assorted stuff to look at under said magnifier. Bones, rocks, shells...and lots of other things for young minds to pick up and see under great magnification. An Elephant's skull also sat down here. It was very large, and very worn through hands on contact by a very many people. There were also microscopes focused on slides for kids to look at, but they were off at the time I visited. Also downstairs was a room on space exploration. This room was also dark, despite attempts at the light switch. My cellphone light illuminated an image of the moon, and a model of the stars and other astronomical objects. I explored this area, and the kids play/learn area a bit. When I attempted to complete the arch for the hands-on architecture experiment, I found that it was missing a few pieces. Neat experiment, I'd have loved to see how it finished. Overall, I liked the place. I really did. I just wished some of the things that were off/broken/incomplete were on and running and whole. Nice friendly employees, neat exhibits, and a great place for kids to visit and tons of hands-on-learning. Absolutely worth the eight dollar entry price. I'll be back if I'm in the area again. Next time I hope they'll have some refrigerator magnets in the gift shop!"

Kern Valley Museum

★★★★★ 4.6 (27)

"Kern Valley Museum is the absolute cutest little museum and a hidden gem in the Kern Valley area. I came across the Kern Valley Museum over five years ago when I found a geocache in the front area. The museum happened to be open and we happened to have a little time to explore. Inside this small little place was a TON of local history. From maps, to photos, and rare items - it really provided a wealth of information. The docents were especially kind and knowledgeable. We only allowed ourselves 45 minutes to explore and could have easily spent more. Definitely make sure to call ahead since their hours tend to vary. They also close early."

Giant Forest Museum

★★★★☆ 4.4 (27)

"Really cute museum located within Sequoia National Park! It's small but informative and it's also free which is always a plus. Inside the museum, you'll find lots of really neat exhibits that showcase some of the most popular Sequoias in the park! There are also information snippets and a nice little replica of the Giant Forest. They even have a fake "walk through" tree where you can walk inside and watch videos about the Sequoia habitat. The museum also acts as a gift shop and they have several different souvenirs for purchase. I picked up a couple of items while I was here. The employees are really nice and are also willing to answer questions relating to the trails nearby. The museum is near the start of a few of the most popular trails within the park including the Big Trees Trail. There's also a beautiful Sequoia Giant right outside of the museum where people like to pose for pictures. There are two parking lots; one right next to the museum and one across the street from the museum. Both are great places to park if you're planning to hike throughout the park. Get here early as the parking tends to fill up quickly. All in all, it's a nice little museum to check out if you have some time to kill at Sequoia National Park."

China Lake Museum Foundation

★★★★☆ 3.6 (11)

"If I'm not mistaken they're getting ready to build a museum outside of the base, near the Maturango Museum, so it's easier for the public to visit. If that's the case, I hope it's more spacious and updated.The museum is pretty interesting, though it's more about the outside exhibits. The inside gets a bit redundant after a while. I mean, how many rooms filled with missiles can you really look at after a while? Designs on exhibits are pretty dated. Outside they have various jets and planes set up to walk around, and even some nuclear weaponry like the Polaris missile and the MKIV, modeled after Fat Man, the bomb dropped on Nagasaki. While walking around out there, a roadrunner came by to check out the jets with us and endless flocks of geese kept flying overhead. It was special."

Historic Owl Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (9)

"What a cool find! Stopped on our way the desert to check it out and we were so glad we did! Run by a friendly couple and they have snacks, a museum of vintage stuff, spy stuff, gadgets of all sorts, and thrift stuff. Worth a stop for sure! See you next time!"

Shafter Depot Museum

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"This is not a big museum. But us is run by some nice people who have collected and displayed lots of 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."

China Alley

★★★★★ 4.8 (6)

"It is a shame that the Imperial Dynasty closed it doors in 2006 (see review), but China Alley's Taoist Temple Preservation Society, keeps at least the temple going. You can still visit the Temple & Alley on Sat.. You can also Goggle it & find a link to contribute to this almost forgotten piece of Chinese-American History. I will quote from their website as follows:"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.""

Maturango Museum Of Indian Wells Valley

★★★★☆ 4.3 (19)

"The employees and volunteers here are awesome.On my first visit, I came for the tourist information. They were eager to help and loaded me up with all sorts of information about Death Valley and beyond. They suggested that the Rademacher Hills Trail would be a good, quick visit for someone new to town.I happened to be there the day before there was a guided trip with a naturalist to Death Valley. This was awesome because I wanted to visit the area and having someone who had scientific knowledge was as important as someone who knew the better places on the map. $30 for this trip (cheaper for members) was inexpensive, although it did not include admissions and passes.A couple of days later, I actually visited the museum for the museum, and they have quite a variety of artifacts and informative displays about minerals, the naval base, and the origins of people in the area. I got my second senior discount ever, which was both pleasant and unnerving.If you look at the old stove out in the yard, you'll think "who would ever use that?" When I had moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1988, I was looking for an apartment and someone had converted the upstairs of their house to an apartment. There was one of those stoves, apparently from the 1930s."

Three Rivers Historical Museum

★★★★★ 4.8 (6)

"On the way to sequoia national park and noticed this museum. There's also a public restroom and Sequoia shuttle stop here. There are so many historical equipments and vehicles to see. Too bad it was too hot to hangout outside. I only quickly took these photos and ran back to our car."

West Kern Oil Museum

★★★★☆ 4.4 (12)

"This museum totally, totally rocks. A museum, in an ideal word, guides you to another plane or sphere 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."

Taoist Temple Museum and Gift Shop

★★★★☆ 4.4 (5)

"Quoted from the Taoist Temple Preservation Society website (where you can also contribute online):"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.""

Randsburg Desert Museum

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (4)

"At first glance, one might see a little shack, but this donation-run museum houses an interesting collection of pieces from the mining era and beyond, including a modest display on an archaeological search for wreckage of a Northrop YB-49 flying wing in the Mojave Desert. The friendly gentleman overseeing the museum that day was showing people a vial of gold his friend had just found recently in the desert. There's all sorts of things here. Out back are old, mining tools and machinery that really cool to look at up close. They don't look very maintained, so be careful splinters and such."

Silver City Ghost Town & Antique Village

★★★★☆ 4 (50) • $

"HOURS: "Open 7 days per week 10 AM-4 PM, 5 PM weekends, May 15th through September 14th. Open weekends only 10 AM-4 PM September 15th through May 14th. Often open other days by chance (and anytime by appointment). Open all major holidays except New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day" (from their website).I'd recommend giving them a call to ensure they are open if you're driving from afar or going out of the way.I can see how this place can be a bit underwhelming (especially if you compare it to a massive ghost town like Bodie) but I thought it was a nice way to break up the long drive. I wouldn't recommend going too far out of your way to come here. It works really well as a road trip stop though. The admission fee is $7.5 although $5 sounds more reasonable, IMO. FYI: It's not a legitimate ghost town in the sense that all the buildings were brought in from elsewhere and assembled here. There are interpretive panels that tell you the history of each one. It took us about twenty minutes to see everything. A couple decent photo opportunities but nothing spectacular.ANTIQUE SHOP: They have a really large shop full of stuff. They were having a sale when we stopped by. Bought a cool print. That definitely added to the experience. -Cute dog on the premises.-Friendly staff.-Easy parking."

Flight Test Historical Foundation

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"The Flight Test Historical Foundation serves to promote and develop the Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base: From the foundations website: "The mission of the Flight Test Historical Foundation is to raise funds to support the development of the Air Force Flight Test (AFFT) Museum at Edwards AFB, California and the museum's Blackbird Airpark Annex at USAF Plant 42 in nearby Palmdale.The Foundation's fund-raising efforts focus primarily on museum improvements, new construction, exhibits, aircraft acquisition and restoration, and educational programs." They in effect are preserving the rich aviation history of the Antelope Valley and Mojave. Their efforts are bearing fruit. Major construction has begun to place the museum beyond the controlled areas of the Air Force Base and make it more accessible to the general public (right now its a limited tour with a long wait list). While I was there for my tour they had just broken ground. Aside from that they are always looking for donations, sponsors, and even volunteers to help with everything from events to restorations."

Tehachapi Museum

★★★★★ 4.8 (9)

"If somebody passing through Tehachapi was to ask me, what are the two things we need to do while here? My answer would be an easy one. Number one head to the Tehchapi Museum, and the second would be to enjoy a poor boy sandwich and ice tea at Kohnens. Those two things and you will have a perfect day. When I visited recently I had the good fortune of meeting Judith Reynolds, who is the museum director. I learned that the museum is run by the Tehachapi Heritage League and is solely run by wonderful volunteers. The docents work about one day a month for 4 hours and range in age from late 50's to 94 years young. I love that they have kept the admission free to the public, they wanted to make sure families could bring the kids and not worry about the price of admission. They do have a donation box and rely on the kindness of visitors, volunteers and grants to keep this museum up and running. You can join and become a member of the museum as I did for my family. It's 20$ for individual or 25$ for a family. People spend more than that on coffee a month, what a great way to keep Tehachapi history alive and available to everyone. With that membership you will receive a newsletter 4 times a year, it's called Settlers' Gazette. It tells about upcoming events for the museum and the Errea House Museum across the street. I was unaware of the events they hold here and now I will make sure my family doesn't miss any. Most of all the items on display are donated by families or on loan. Some of the exhibits include farming, railroad, local history, Native Americans and much more. I happened to really enjoy the display and story about Tony Anthony the fire chief for the old Tehachapi City Fire Department. I am part of a firefighter family and enjoyed looking at everything displayed. I also bought fire patches to add to our collection. In the back to the left is such a great gallery honoring the Kawaiisu people of the Tehachapi mountains. They have a movie playing that is really great to watch. There is so much more to say about the Tehachapi Museum it would take all night to write. Just please visit, learn, become a member and tell your family and friends passing through to stop and see what an amazing place Tehachapi is."

Zalud House

★★★★★ 4.5 (8)

"My wife and I paid $3 each for a tour through this house, and it was cool. We did not have any definite ghost experiences, but a sliding door did close while we were in the room. The tour guide said it was because of the house being old and moving, but who knows. They do guided tours all year round, telling you the history of the family who lived here, but they ONLY do the ghost tour starting in October, the cooler (temperatured) months. Overall, it was an interesting experience. Beautiful house inside and out. It's definitely worth it!"

AgVentures

★★★★☆ 4.3 (3)

"This is the little museum inside the International Agricultural Center. It's a free museum, free parking and clean bathrooms. There are some interesting old American built tractors including one that was invented and built in California. A few old pickup trucks and other equipment representing farming in the past.A lot simple facts presented and easily understood. California makes a lot of money for the USA in food & agriculture which means a lot of tax dollars. More than $6.5 Billion of California food & agricultural products are shipping around the world - more than any other state in the USA.About 99% of Almonds, Artichokes, Dates, Figs, Raisins, Kiwifruit, Olives, ClingPeaches, Persimmons, Pistachios, dried plums, walnuts consumed in the world are produced in California. Amazing stat. 90% of US wine production is here in California. And a lot of terrific wine is consumed here too. Lol. Trade war on food would really hurt our economic."