Photo by Casey Christie
One of the many sights to see at Pioneer Village, a 1936 Union 76 gas station that once stood on Sonora Street near Union Avenue. vantage points. I mentioned earlier you can learn about U.S. History at the museum. Did you know that one of our homes – the Pinkney House – belonged to African-Americans who were the first and second generations to be born outside of slavery and that three other houses were lived in by veterans of the Civil War? William Henry Pinkney was born in South Carolina and moved with his parents to Bakersfield in 1884 to pick cotton on a oneyear contract. Eventually, William worked as a cattleman and for the City of Bakersfield Roads Department. His wife Amanda (her grandfather was a slave) was born in Kansas, a territory established as a state in 1861 which further escalated the division between the north and the south as they argued and fought over whether the state should be free or slave-holding. The story continues with the Barnes Log Cabin. Thomas Barnes was born in North Carolina and came to Kern County after being injured while serving for the Confederacy. Thomas, his wife Jane, and seven children lived in the cabin. On the other side of the village is the Metcalf House. Thomas Metcalf, born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, enlisted to fight for the Union Army as a private during the Civil War. He built the Eastlake style home that is now in Pioneer Village in 1885 (or at least the first part of it as we have uncovered that the home was added onto over the course of time). A second tier to the home’s inhabitant’s history is his daughter Modena (Maud) was one of the early school-teachers in this area who also served as president of the Bakersfield Woman’s Club in 1938-39. The third home with a Civil War connection is the Weller Ranch House. There is so much you can do at Pioneer Village, like enjoy a picnic lunch (you have to bring that), just get some exercise by walking the museum’s sixteen acres, or visit our tremendous exhibits – Black Gold: The Oil Experience – a 10,000 square-foot interactive exhibit that tells the history, geology, process, and chemistry of oil in Kern County, or the Lori Brock Children’s Discovery Center. The Discovery Center has undergone renovation the past couple of years with the addition of taxidermy animals behind exhibit glass in the Lewis & Clark: Exploration & Discovery exhibit. The other exhibit Kid City has new murals, now includes a Pet Hospital and will soon have an Automobile Repair Shop complete with a minicar kids can get into. In addition, many of the murals have been
repainted. This is a great place for kids to play and learn while they are doing it. It will also wear them out so they will take good nap! Lastly, for some time, the museum’s Native American Display has been in storage while museum staff renovated a building for artifact display. The Carpenters Local 743 recently built two exhibit walls for us, All American Glass installed large glass panels, and a security system was added to allow visitors access to this exhibit. The building is also climate controlled for the protection of the baskets and other artifacts on display. As you can see there are lots to do at your museum. So, come check it out and use the half-off coupon included in this issue of Bakersfield Life.
COME VISIT US!
•Kern County Museum •Black Gold: The Oil Experience •Lori Brock: Childrens Discovery Center •Pioneer Village
1/2 OFF ADMISSION *with this coupon
Kern County Scottish Society presents 16th Annual
9AM to 5PM Athletic Competitions Live Music Stages Food and Beverages Scottish Dancing Children’s Glen Clan Tents Family Information Expanded Vendors
15
$
6PM to 10PM
CELTIC MUSIC PARTY Wicked Tinkers • 1916 • Whiskey Galore Banshee in the Kitchen • David Nigel-Lloyd L.A Scottish Fiddlers Association • WTL
The Wicked Tinkers
Whiskey Galore
1916
Banshee In The Kitchen
Ceilidh requires separate ticket purchase or combo purchase
CHILDREN UNDER 10 FREE
15 GENERAL ADMISSION $12 SENIORS 60+ MILITARY, STUDENTS $ 25 COMBO TICKET, INCLUDES GAMES AND CEILIDH
$
Tickets available at World Records and Online at www.kernscot.com w/ Pay Pal
PLEASE VISIT WWW.KERNSCOT.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION
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