Kern County Museum
Kern County Museum
4.5
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
280 reviews
Excellent
172
Very good
83
Average
20
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Richard S
Angmering, UK510 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
We went with friends from Bakersfield who are members of this 'working' museum. It is a real gem that tells the story of the history of Bakersfield. We never knew about the Bakersfield sound, being second only to Nashville. The hostory of the railroad, the oil and the people.that built this city.
Written 23 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barbara D
Qualicum Beach, Canada360 contributions
Mar 2023
We found the whole place interesting and well worth the price of admission. The young man who gave us a tour of the vehicles building was very nice and very knowledgable.
Written 9 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paradise28472449176
3 contributions
May 2022
While visiting Bakersfield, we stopped here late one afternoon and strolled around, seeing old Western-style buildings from the original settlement as well as interactive oil derricks from the oil fields. We just had time to visit the automotive exhibit before the museum closed, but there is so much more to see on future visits.
Written 16 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike Post
95 contributions
Feb 2022
This is a great venue but shows signs of insufficient maintenance and poor artifact curation. Many active displays were "out of order" and some things had no explanations at all. Tires on the old cars going flat.
Written 24 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sultan A
Kuwait City, Kuwait430 contributions
Feb 2022 • Friends
Amazing museum and worth a visit cost $10. It takes you back to the 1800s and 1900s era, how people lived in terms of their migration to Bakerfield, their homes, their clothes, their tools, their furniture, their jobs, and their means of transportation. The museum is outdoor and built in the shape of a replicants neighborhood. Walking around the museum, you feel as if you are living in that era. It takes two hours or more to complete it.
Written 8 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BFtime
Fillmore, CA37 contributions
Jan 2022
We only had time to visit the Museum’s Pioneer Village on the day of our visit. The historic buildings (exterior/interior) were displayed with care in a peaceful village setting . Information on the history of each building was displayed in front of each building, and made the visit even more enjoyable. There are also other areas to visit within the Museum for the whole family to enjoy. We will be back to visit again in the future! The Kern County Museum is definitely worth a visit!
Written 18 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scott r
Silver Spring, MD701 contributions
Sept 2021
Really torn on this. I like these historic town sites where buildings are moved together in order to tell some history - there's a good collection of specimens and quite diverse too. According to the website there are a number special attractions as well - every single one closed the weekend day I toured. No docents available anywhere, just a maintenance man who let me out after the main gate closed, locked and the sole park employee departed. Plus side, there are short descriptions on almost all properties, there is a good variety as well as quite a number of things to see. Downside, many can be viewed only through windows, and some barely at this (the sole large Victorian you see pictured offers barely any interior views). Some can be accessed by plexi viewing areas at the front, but not far into the structures. Honestly, something like this, being completely gated, can afford to have open wander through structures - I've been in several. There's nothing of great value that could wander off, and most of it wouldn't make it past the main gate anyway without detection. The only real problem would be children not minded by parents, but again, we're not talking diamonds of historical rarities. Perhaps if the place actually did have some docents, but absent that - full access at 2x the price would work too. You leave wanting it to do better, you know it could - and the fact that it isn't more engaging means people won't learn as much as they otherwise could from the experience / and won't come back.
Written 9 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rose D
8 contributions
Jul 2021
sad think they got a new manager maybe get younger bands to play the old guys just need to retire they have lost the word country in this town . hire youthful staff
Written 4 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phyllis W
4 contributions
Sept 2020
My daughter and I had a great time seeing the historic homes/businesses and oil industry exhibition displayed at the Kern County Museum. I thought the way it was set up, where you view the exterior of structures while peaking inside through window viewing areas, was very clever. During the current pandemic times, it is a great place to visit, since all activities are outdoors.
Written 23 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
35745JohnK
Bakersfield, CA204 contributions
Feb 2020
Oil is a big part of Kern County and the Black Gold Exhibit is the star of the museum. Nicely done throught donations of time and materials from the local oil industry. The old wooden drilling rig shows how far we've come. The artifacts laying all over inside and out tell the evolution of the industry. You can spend half a day here easily. All the old buildings on the property tell a story as well. The whole place is for rent for events. Lots of neat places to explore. Go and enjoy!!!
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
devbat77
Cottonport, LA5 contributions
I’m turning 19 this coming up March and around this August coming I’m planning on taking a lil personal trip to California to visit a friend. I don’t know much about California don’t know much about airports and I’m just wondering would it be a great or smart idea to go by myself (don’t really have anybody to bring with me) but I’ll be 19 couldn’t I get my own hotel, plane ticket and everything I need for this trip together by myself. And is it safe
Patricia G
Bakersfield, CA10 contributions
I think as long as you have a valid ID and credit card you would be fine to stay at a hotel. California is safe but since you will be by yourself I would suggest to think carefuly where to go and the time. But the place and time matters when you are by yourself specially at a state you don’t know.
devbat77
Cottonport, LA5 contributions
I’m turning 19 this coming up March and around this August coming I’m planning on taking a lil personal trip to Bakersfield California to visit a friend. I don’t know much about California don’t know much about airports and I’m just wondering would it be a great or smart idea to go by myself (don’t really have anybody to bring with me) but I’ll be 19 couldn’t I get my own hotel, plane ticket and everything I need for this trip together by myself. And is it safe
walterfarnum
Bakersfield, CA35 contributions
Hello devbat if by chance you make it to Bakersfield. I drive for Lyft and would gladly arrange something. I know the area well so could offer whatever advice you need. As far as safe goes and Jana W hit it on the money. There is also a hotel right beside airport even.
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Claim your listingKERN COUNTY MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Kern County Museum
- Kern County Museum is open:
- Wed - Thu 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Fri - Fri 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sat - Sun 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Hotels near Kern County Museum:
- (1.90 km) Padre Hotel
- (2.07 km) Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bakersfield Central, an IHG Hotel
- (3.22 km) Hampton Inn Bakersfield-Central
- (2.36 km) Best Western Plus Hill House
- (2.83 km) Hilton Garden Inn Bakersfield
- Restaurants near Kern County Museum:
- (0.33 km) La Costa Mariscos
- (0.35 km) Frosty Fast & Fresh
- (1.34 km) 24th Street Cafe
- (1.90 km) Nuestro Mexico Restaurant
- (0.62 km) Foster's Donuts