During the rush to this state in the late 1800s, the pioneers from the east hastily put up settlements to serve their immediate purposes. Much of the time, they were on the move and expected to go on to greater things.

Eventually, the quickly-constructed buildings, often made of flimsy wood, either collapsed or were torn down.

In Kern County, few of these late 19th century and early 20th century buildings remain standing in the towns in which they were originally built.

Yet at the Kern County Museum's 16-acre Pioneer Village in Bakersfield, a good number of them are not only standing, but are also furnished as they might have been originally.

Next to the village is the Kern County Museum, which houses many historical items as well as some natural history displays, and the Lori Brock Children's Museum.

Reconstruction
Since 1950, the county-funded museum has restored or reconstructed more than 50 buildings from Kern County's past to be part of the Pioneer Village. Dwellings range from the most humble log cabin to the grandest Victorian mansion. The doors of nearly all are wide open, so that visitors to the village can step inside and get a look at how these homes, shops or institutions were furnished.

Perhaps the most impressive is the Howell House, a Victorian mansion of more than a dozen rooms built in 1891. Originally at the corner of 17th and H streets in Bakersfield where it stood for 75 years, it was moved to the village in the 1960s. Inside, the dining room, bathrooms, kitchen and bedrooms are furnished with antiques of the period and peopled with mannikins dressed in the clothing of the late 19th century.

One of the simpler homes is one built in 1901 and belonging to William Henry Pinckney, a son of one of the county's pioneer black families. The one-story house is much smaller, but no less welcoming, with its small rooms more reminiscent of today's tract homes.

Log cabin
Quainter still is a log cabin built in 1867 by freighter Thomas Barnes of logs washed down in a flood from the mountains north of Kernville. Inside, the large stone fireplace, a portrait of Abraham Lincoln and a 50-caliber single shot Civil War rifle augment the house's rusticity.

Some of the other especially interesting buildings within the Pioneer Village include an undertaking parlor, a drug store, a watchmaker/dressmaker's shop, a blacksmith shop, the county's first schoolhouse built in 1882 and the Havilah Courier building, which housed the county's first newspaper.

On the inside of the main museum building, formerly the Kern County Chamber of Commerce until 1952, visitors can see a large diorama of the county's various natural habitats and the animals that live there. Less permanent exhibits are also on display.

"Wheels Through Kern" focuses on buggies and automotive vehicles used in Kern County. A Packard oil field truck, a 1907 Model K Tourist, and a Brougham are only a sampling of the rich history of vehicles in Kern County. Road signs, gas pumps, and automotive equipment help round out this exhibit. In addition, the "Bakersfield Centennial Exhibit," which runs through August 1999, is chock full of historical photos and artifacts that outline the history of Kern County's largest city.

Among the other exhibits housed inside the Kern County Museum is an extensive collection of early American guns, ranging from old black powder rifles to double barrel shotguns and 50 caliber single shot pistols.

In a separate building, a large gift shop offers such diverse items as pioneer wooden toys, glass paperweights, jewelry and an extensive selection of books about the region.

Hours of operation
The Kern County Museum's operation hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to p.m. Saturdays and holidays, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Regular daily admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 60+, $3 for children ages 3-12 and museum members are admitted free. No tickets are sold after 3:30 p.m. Discounts are available for school tours. For further information, call (661) 852-5000