This is a really cool place to spend the day with kids. The staff was very kind and helpful. They…read moreplayed a short film for us that explained how the fossils were found in the area. There are many fossils and replica of fossils. You guide yourself on a tour, they give you a booklet to use to guide yourself. Each station has information on the fossils, history,etc. There is an outdoor area with replicas of the homes of the native Yokuts tribe that was originally in the area. There is also an outdoor pond with plaques in front of each different plant that surrounds the pond. It was a really cool learning experience. You can pay a bit extra for fossil digging. There are 19 fossils to dig up, that can take about an hour. We spent about 3 hours there. They also have a cool little gifts shop area.

I don't know how many I've driven by this place along the 99, saying I (we) need to stop and check…read moreit out... finally! After moving out of state , made the stop. So many cool fossils!! Colombian mammoths, sloths, dire wolves, and, yes!! Even American camels.. they were here at one time. Saber tooth cats also roamed the area. Most of this and it's still an active recovery, was started with the expansion of the dump site and widening of highway 99. Once they started hitting the fossils in what used to be a ponded wetland, they've not stopped. Lots of interesting fossils and now they're adding a Mammoth Orange food site, from the golden days of traveling up and down the 99, stopping for a burger and soda coming back to life. It's all definitely worth a stop and enjoying the sight of see a huge full size Colombian Mammoth... a little secret.. they are much bigger than the more famous wooly mammoth. Stop by and enjoy.

We met family from Sacramento here today, we're from Bakersfield. We have never been here before…read more It was a great deal at $3/person, since it's the 1st sat of the month. We spent about 3 or so hours playing & exploring. It's really meant for younger ages,probably up until about 10-11. My son is going to be 11 next week & loved it because he loves dinosaurs, digging & science. Not sure i would go out of my way to go back, only because we don't live locally but if we lived in fresno I would consider getting a membership. They have a lot of great programs throughout the week which would be great for school field trips or homeschooling co-ops.

Awesome place for the kids to learn and run around. Was looking for a place for the kiddos to play…read moreand I came across this. Came here once for my nephews birthday and haven't been back since, so it's been a while and I kind of forgot this place exists. You can get your tickets online, I happen to check at the right time because their prices and affordable on every first Saturdays of the month! The lady working was super friendly and helpful, she even told me they do music classes and that the kids are more than welcome to join. Around 11am they have a person doing a science presentation but unfortunately she was running late on her project and I overheard her being kind of rude and not in a good mood so we decided to move on to the next room. They were also selling boba and eggrolls outside, sorry I forget the name of the seller that had their booth there. The kids enjoyed the front area where they can dress up, draw and play with toys. There was also someone selling their 3D printed animals, which the kids loved so I caved and bought them all one plus help support small businesses. Overall it was a nice experience for the kids to enjoy.

This place blew me away. I had Rhanda (I think that's the spelling) as a guide and she was SO…read moreterrific. This is a historical landmark and she walked me through every room with great detail on the origin story and the rooms we were in. One of the best tour guides I've had. I have never experienced anything this - you have to really appreciate the amount of work, design and detail by Baldassare Forestiere - truly a feat! Very grateful the family makes this available for tours. Highly recommend if you appreciate gardening, architecture, art, engineering etc. They also did a great job of reminding me of my appointment and following up afterwards. If in Fresno area, this is a don't miss!!

My family along with our cousins and aunt decided to tour the Forestier Underground Gardens. It was…read moresuch a gem to visit. The gardens were built in an unexpected park of Fresno and these is a lot of history behind them. Parking was somewhat difficult but once you enter, the staff were very kind, organized, and positive. Our tour guide Raul was super sweet and provided a lot of history regarding the gardens and the family who built them. Raul had my 3 young boys engaged and interested. He answered all my questions and was so open to conversation. You could tell Raul was proud to be there telling all of us how the Gardens came to be. The Gardens are very interesting. I've never seen anything quite like these. The smell of all the citrus trees combine with the natural cooling underground was amazing and made the tour comfortable. If you have any time i do recommend visiting these secret gardens.

The art itself is absolutely five stars--beautiful, thoughtful, and well curated. Unfortunately,…read moreour experience with the staff completely overshadowed the visit. We came with our kids, including my 10-year-old daughter, who is an artist and was genuinely excited to be there. Instead of feeling welcomed, we were treated like our presence was a nuisance. The staff was extremely strict and repeatedly barked orders at us, with very little customer service or warmth. In one area that had children's blocks, our kids were playing and got a little loud. Wanting to be considerate, my husband closed the door so they wouldn't disturb others. There were no signs anywhere saying the door couldn't be closed. A staff member then came in, visibly upset, and yelled at us--again, with no clear explanation or signage to justify the reaction. Later in the gift shop, another staff member sharply reprimanded my kids for leaning on the glass. Once again, no signs were posted, and the tone was unnecessarily harsh. None of this felt kid-friendly or welcoming. It's unfortunate, because the art and the artists deserve better representation. The staff's behavior made it hard to enjoy the exhibits at all, and it completely turned us off from what could have been a great family experience. We had even considered a membership, but after being treated this way, we will not be returning. The art is wonderful. The customer service is not. ### In response to the owner's reply: your response reinforces exactly why we will not be returning. Your tone comes across as condescending and punitive, with the majority of your response focused on what we supposedly did wrong rather than how your staff handled the situation. Saying you will "talk to your staff" reads like an afterthought when roughly 90% of your response places blame on us. We are fully aware that this is not a children's museum or an interactive museum. The fact that you felt the need to explain this only adds to the condescension. Our children were respectful, quiet, and well-behaved. They were not running, not acting out, and not treating the space inappropriately. In the designated children's area, their voices briefly rose while playing together. Out of courtesy to other guests, my husband closed the door--unaware it was not meant to be closed or that it locks automatically, as there was no signage indicating this. The staff's response was unnecessarily aggressive. You offer a family pass, which implies families are welcome. A family-friendly environment should not make parents and children feel like a nuisance. Because of both the original experience and the tone of your response, I am updating my review from two stars to one star.

This is a great way to spend half a day in Fresno, especially if it's a cold or rainy day. I have…read morecome here twice on their FREE days, which are every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Their exhibits change periodically, so if you wait a few months to go again there is usually something new to see. The staff is very welcoming and kind. Right now they have a kid exhibit which is cute, they had some art by Diego Rivera. They have a very interesting cemetery piece. I think my fave was The fruit of life and The contemporary art exhibit, using stones from Zimbabwe (I can't remember the name). They have an outdoor area where you can sit under trees and they also have sculptures out there as well. They also have a great little gift shop! Definitely check it out and support Fresno's Art museum. Afterwards you can go to lunch at Sam's Italian deli across the street or Thai Phucket near by!

This house is so beautiful. It feels like you're traveling back in time. All of the artifacts found…read morein the home are said to be accurate to the time period. My tour guide was fantastic; she gave so much description and answered any questions. I definitely recommend this museum.

This tour was very cool! The docent lead tour was very interesting. They had some original items in…read morethe house and a lot of period correct pieces. The docent was very knowledgeable about the history of the house and family story. The tour also had a/c. The 1st tours of the day starts almost right after the doors open and they only run as many as they have guides. If you miss them you have to wait until the next 1 starts. The house renovation was amazin

I accompanied my child on a class trip to the Coarsegold Museum. The volunteers did an awesome job…read morewith the classes that visited. Very informative and lots of artifacts to see.

The hours should probably be updated. Their sign says they struggle to find volunteers but they…read morehave been closed on Sundays when we have tried to visit. Please consider volunteering.

William Saroyan is a name that is embedded in almost every Armenian and Armenian diasporan's memory…read morebecause of his heavy influence in the literary world. He was an world-renowned novelist, playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner in Drama in the 40s. His home is in Fresno and although we were unable to visit inside the home during the time we had visited, I was so glad to come across it and cross this goal off my bucket list. I look forward to planning this more in advance next time and visiting the home inside.

William Saroyan is an Armenian-American novelist born in Fresno, CA. As an Armenian, I've grown up…read morereading his books but didn't know much about his biography. This museum is by far one of the most impactful, minimalistic, innovative, and informative museums I've visited. It walks through William Saroyan's life and gives visitors a true understanding of the person he was through his publications, art, interviews and hologram. After an hour, I walked away truly learning more of our Armenian icon and proud of the mark he has left in Fresno, CA. If you're visiting Fresno, I highly recommend visiting this museum, especially if you're Armenian.

Did you know you can tour this museum? You can; make reservations online if possible; if not you…read morecan also come at the tour time and pay then. Tours are usually 12pm, 1:30pm, 3pm on weekends or selected days! Cost is $12 for adults; seniors $10. This museum is located in Kearney Park, to enter is $5 per car. On this tour you learn about the history of the Kearney family. The architecture is beautiful and historic! The rooms are big and full of quality pieces.

A piece of history right in your backyard. The Kearney mansion is preserved in its original state…read more What a treat to walk through these walls and see the decor, and see the once glamour of the Victorian era - Gilded Age. Step into the past and learn all about Fresno's history and agribusiness that could have sent this town in a different direction. Filled with Gatsby era artifacts and hometown history. Come visit this local treasure with your family or school.

I didn't visit this museum this time around, but did watch my nephew and niece in a play version…read moreof, The Wizard of OZ. The theater here is on the smaller side, but is perfect for kid plays and other local theater shows. To help fill the space on stage, they have an LED screen that allows any color, theme, or design to be added and enhance the physical props on the stage. The audio kept popping, not if that's because of the kids touching mics, but was a little distracting. I loved the real fire balls they shot up from the stage whenever the wicked witch arrived along with the subtle fog and light elements. The only available parking is street parking and it's metered. So get here earlier to snag a spot close to the venue.

Great museum. A must for everyone to see!!! So many great displays of the history of all our past…read morewars. Everyone will be overwhelmed.