KERN VALLEY MUSEUM

The Kern River Valley Historical Society is the valley's keeper of the flame. Founded in 1967 the Historical Society was appointed to preserve the rich old west history of the area. Starting with only 13 charter members, the society has grown to over 800 members in recent years.

The Society invites visitors to the Kern Valley Museum that has some of the finest exhibits in California and is located in the heart of Kernville. They host field trips to historical sites and points of interest in the Southern Sierra and Kern County as well as conduct tours of the Ardis and Gayle Walker residence. They are also heir to the famous Walker Library, paintings and other memorabilia.

The Kern River Valley has a fascinating history and the history and legends of the Old West captured the imagination of the whole world. The valley retained the atmosphere of the Old West long after most of California moved into the 20th century and this has been immortalized in print and on film in the museum.

The museum also houses objects used by the first known inhabitants of the area, the Tubatulabal Indians, whose descendants live here today. But, it was lure of gold which brought the first white settlers to the Kern River Valley in about 1853. The mining towns which sprang up were as rip-roarin' as any in the Mother Lode country, and from those exciting years there are many things for visitors to see, including some real gold!

When the gold started to run out, settlers began looking at the other rich resources of the Kern River Valley - the land and the river. Farming and ranching pioneers included some of the most colorful characters - the cowboys. These hardworking people braved many hardships to become the founding families of the area. among other things, the museum displays significant items of early-day ranching including brands, blacksmithing tools and barbed wire.

The old west atmosphere of the valley was not lost on early day of Hollywood. Many of the most famous westerns shot in the 30's, 40's and 50's were filmed in the Kern River Valley and stars such as John Wayne, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Humphrey Bogart and Robert Mitchum were a common sight around the area. Local residents served as extras and provided lodging and movie sets during this exciting time. The museum has a video library of many of these films for your viewing.

Along with a gift shop, the museum exhibits the works of local artists. Exhibits are changed monthly and the works may be purchased. For more information about the museum and the Historical Society call 760-376-6683 or visit them on the web at www.kernvalleymuseum.org.