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Collections

Collections

The Kern County Museum promotes lifelong learning by interpreting the cultural history of the region through exhibitions, public programming, and outreach activities. As a research institution, the Museum’s focus is to collect historic artifacts with the purpose of telling the stories of the people who have lived and continue to live in the Southern San Joaquin Valley.

Within the museum’s collection of historic items, researchers, students, and visitors will find California Indian artifacts, an extensive collection of textiles and clothing, archaeological collections, tools, vehicles, structures, furnishings, and firearms.

For further information about the Kern County Museum’s collection, please contact Rachel Hads at  rachel@kerncountymuseum.org.

Archive

The Kern County Museum is a repository for historical records, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and other ephemera documenting the history of the county, region, and state. The archive, housed in The Bakersfield Californian Foundation Research Center, also contains an extensive reference library consisting of books, pamphlets, and catalogs pertaining to the local history of Kern County. In an effort to make primary source material accessible and preserve our collections, the Research Center is available to researchers by appointment only.

Please contact Rachel Hads at rachel@kerncountymuseum.org to make an appointment to visit the Research Center.

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