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Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science facts for kids
Buena Vista Museum Exterior from Chester Ave.
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| Established | 1995 |
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| Location | Bakersfield, California |
| Type | Natural history museum |
| Public transit access | GET Rt. 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14 (Downtown Transit Center) |
The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science is an exciting natural history museum in Bakersfield, California. You can find it right in the downtown Arts district. This museum focuses on three main areas: geology (the study of Earth's rocks and history), anthropology (the study of humans and their cultures), and paleontology (the study of ancient life, like fossils).
Contents
Museum History
How the Museum Started
The Buena Vista Museum opened its doors in 1995. It began with a special collection of Miocene fossils. These fossils came from a place called Shark Tooth Hill in Kern County. This collection, gathered by Bob and Mary Ernst, is the biggest one from that area.
Growing and Moving
At first, the museum was in a small space. It was part of the California Living Museum (CALM). As the collection grew, it started to include items from outside Kern County. Because it needed more room, the museum moved a few times. Finally, it found its current home in downtown Bakersfield.
What You Can See
Main Exhibits
The most important part of the museum is the Mary Ernst Collection. This collection features amazing Miocene fossils from Shark Tooth Hill. You can also see other cool exhibits. There are taxidermy animals from Africa. You can also find a replica of a triceratops skull. A model of a Yokuts Indian village is also on display. There is even a detailed model of Yosemite Valley. This model includes tiny roads, buildings, and trails. Some of these items are on loan to the museum.
Interactive Fun
The museum has a special area called the "Oh Zone." This section is interactive, meaning you can touch and explore things. It's a great place to learn hands-on.
The Paleo Lab
There is also a Paleo Lab at the museum. This lab is where experts work with fossils. They clean, repair, and preserve ancient artifacts. They can even put together broken fossils. It's like a hospital for old bones and rocks!