A local small art museum filled with diverse, amazing, & unique artwork by talented local artists!…read moreWorth a quick 15-30 minute visit if you are in the area. Free admission! Parking is unique and is along the middle of the street as well as the sidewalks. It's great to come here every few times a year and see new and fresh exhibits. We always come back because of that! The place is well-taken care of with friendly staff and a lot of side events go on as well! Make sure to research if they are open and ensure they are not in the middle of constructing/preparing new exhibits. Always feels good to appreciate the local arts!

Museum of Art & History or MOAH is in a modern, ferro-concrete buildIng with wide expanse of plate…read moreglass & aluminum framing. It has a generic institutional look so typical since the last fourth of the 20th century.  So much clear glass must trap huge amounts of heat from rays of the intense summer sun which must mean much pollution creatIng energy has to be expended to cool its interior. Not exactly a building meeting zero emission standards in the new age of global warming.  January - April 2022: Exhibition of Works by Marc Steven Greenfield is a must-see. It addresses in a very deft way racism as witnessed and experienced by a Black Man in America in a new, sophisticated, novel light. He raises questions about race, equality, inequality, retribution, and possible reconciliation. His mastery in many different styles proves that he is a meister artist capable of manipulating the media into thought provoking questions often done by confronting and "owning" negative, insulting stereotypes of Blacks on canvas.   In another method, he places Blacks in the style of Catholic icons of the Virgin & Baby Jesus and the Pietà where Virgin Mary cradles the dead Jesus. In the background there are scenes of racist Nazi's receiving just retribution for their horrendous acts against humanity.  There is even an iconic portrait of Yasukè (yah soo keh), who was a Sub-Saharan Black African, who served as a high ranking Samurai in 16th century Japan during the Warring States period, in high Japanese military regalia.    Marc Steven Greenfield is well informed about history, culture, religion, politics, race and synthesizes a powerful brew that if we drink it, it gives us food for thought....Why are we so hung up on the color of our skin?  It's another indictment that we humans are the strangest of all animals.  Be sure to see Mr. Greenfield's interview in the small side projection room. The second floor is dedicated to "What would you say?",  Activist Graphics from LACMA: It's a melange of graphics by various artists depicting Disco Singer Sylvester as Gay or even alluding at a Trans Woman. Black Man in white Ku Klux Klan dress is tongue in cheek, sarcastic humour ridiculing white supremacy.  Series of repeating prints of a woman with the title of "I will not be Assimilated." as though she is threatened by the Borg which, in fact, is our own conformist society.  Esoteric reference to Royal Crown Hair Dressing and showing a woman wearing a dress decorated with a woman showing a big butt seems humourous in line with rap songs idolizing ample derrière.  Another great thing about MOAH is that it's free. You only need to give out your resident zip code. Great way to spend an afternoon creating new, cerebral, synaptic connections.  There are two other associated museums nearby:  Western Hotel Museum and Cedar Center for the Arts Museum. Times and dates vary so be sure to call.

The Bakersfield Museum of Art celebrating its 70th Anniversary was truly such an honor to attend;…read moreand what an unforgettable evening it turned out to be. From the moment you step inside, the space feels like pure magic: vibrant, lively, and brimming with creativity in every corner. The evening unfolded beautifully with a delicious dinner catered by Bord A Petite, an open bar flowing with ease, and a thoughtfully curated silent auction featuring artwork selected by curator of exhibitions and collections Victor Gonzales alongside executive director and chief curator Gilbert Vicario. And the décor? Absolutely dreamy. Thousands of balloons were transformed into whimsical sea creatures all floating jellyfish and playful octopuses that created an enchanting, underwater fantasy throughout the space. I was so wrapped up in the moment: laughing, exploring, and enjoying the evening with my sister and her friends that I barely took any photos of the artwork itself... which just means you'll have to experience it firsthand.

We are members so we love the bakersfield museum of art!!!…read more We most recently went on a Wednesday after having lunch at centro Cali brewery around the corner. It was lovely to be one of the only few people in the museum. They always have great bakersfield and kern county focused exhibits. This time we saw bakersfield standards exhibit which was such a lovely look at all the things that make the valley and its history and culture unique. It made me proud to be a valley girl.

Awesome Indian museum with real life artifacts a place you must go if you live in antelope Valley…read more Palmdale ,Lancaster

A small yet mighty museum! Includes artifacts, information, gift shop and book time experience…read moreinside the Joshua cottage. On our visit the book title was; Wolf & Isha Make the Land, illustrated and animated by Sage Romero. Can be found on the California Department of Water Resources website. Beautifully illustrated! Quite a few objects that used to be on display are in the process of being returned to the Chumash, Tongva, and Luiseno ancestors. I look forward to seeing the new exhibits that include the Native peoples input. My favorite part of the museum was the brightly painted artwork on the ceilings. So vibrant!

Tim was so funny and helpful definitely made the experience much better had so much funread more

truly not expected the experience I got. I got to do 2 rooms and everything was so well thought of…read moreI'm costumer service and the rooms themselves . Me and my friend are locals and we randomly decided to come to Hollywood ,and to be honest, we didn't know what to do, we did a few things, but we ultimately decided we were bore. That's when we found smash it and giants house , and to be house, and to be hones, we thought about not doing it at first, but Shea explained everything perfectly and we dec why not, best decision ever! for sure com back!

We visited for the Native Plant Festival in early April. It was so much fun. The vendors were…read moreawesome and the day was filled with so many wonderful activities. There's also a Native Plant Festival in October, as well. So be sure to mark your calendar. The grounds are amazing and the community is too.

Serenity abounds at this botanical oasis nestled within the suburban neighborhoods of Claremont…read more CBG is located just north of the Claremont Colleges, above Foothill Blvd. Reasonable entry prices and free parking. Annual Memberships offer even greater value. The garden is divided into several sections that are well marked and easy to traverse when you stay on the paved pathways. Sections include palms, oaks, chaparral, water features and art sculptures, as well. For those seeking a fun walking or jogging experience, check out the "Trail" route located in the CA Plant Communities section. If you're lucky, you might see a squirrel munching on their lunch, or a turtle sunbathing while gazing at a waterfall.

Did you know that LACMA is free for LA County residents after 3 pm on weekdays. The large new…read moregallery space designed by Swiss architect Zumthor is light filled and spans Wilshire Blvd. It was very crowded on the Friday that we went, as the D Line had just opened. There was also free jazz in the courtyard. There were a couple of food trucks and lots of seating. The outside views from the gallery are awesome. The collection is outstanding however I didn't like the random displays which made no sense whatsoever. Most museum galleries are organized by sections but not here, which made it very confusing. Don't forget to see the massive Matisse at one end. There's also a Erewhon and gift store. Highly recommend for every Angelino.

LACMA finally reopened with their new David Geffen Galleries, which stretches across Wilshire Blvd…read more From the outside, the building is not that visually interesting, though it does have a lot of outside space. I liked that there are windows all around, letting in natural light. The concrete walls help make the art seem more accessible, a little less precious than a traditional museum setting. It can be confusing to walk through, but if you start going around the perimeter, stopping into each hallway, it makes it easier. Some of the photography pieces were not lit very well and could have used a bit more light. Having been to LACMA numerous times over the years, I was exposed to pieces that I probably would not have explored previously. They juxtapose artwork from different time periods and backgrounds, so you'll see stuff that you might not have sought out. They also have some live performances going on inside the gallery, which made it seem a bit more lively. Yes, there is an Erewhon, which is currently the only dining option on the premises. (There was a food truck parked outside.) The cafe has prepared sushi, sandwiches, salads, pastries and drinks. No hot food. If you want one of their $20 smoothies, you can get that too. My main gripe is that there is not enough parking. When I was there, I was forced to use their valet since they had run out of self-parking. There was no additional charge for valet on top of the $23 parking charge, but I still tipped. Tickets are $30. Admission is free weekdays after 3pm for LA County residents.

To be perfectly honest, if you were to ask me how to describe/explain what The Huntington has to…read moreoffer, I wouldn't even know where to start - quite literally. When I've told friends and family about this place, I've almost always been at a loss for words because there is just so much to detail. And yet, if/when they ask me if it's worth checking out, the answer comes out quick, clean, and clear - absolutely! Sitting on what is/was the Huntington family's estate, this place is very impressive. Within their expansive, palatial grounds, there's a library, multiple art galleries and museums, several botanical gardens, a conservatory, a research center, an educational center, a Japanese heritage house (Shoya House), a tea room, a Chinese restaurant, a milk tea shop, numerous smaller gardens, and so much more. What's more, each of those museums, galleries, and gardens are distinctly different from each other - galleries and exhibits featuring American, British/European, and Asian artwork, a Japanese garden, a Chinese garden, a desert garden, a rose garden, a bonsai garden, a California garden...and the list goes on. Despite having spent the better part of a day walking around and exploring the grounds, I'm pretty sure we only managed to get through roughly half of what there is to see here. Of the ones we did make it through, my favorites were the Chinese and Japanese gardens, as they felt the most tranquil and offered the most shade of all of the gardens we saw. Not to mention the fact that we ended up spending a lot of time here before and after stopping in for lunch at the Jade Court Cafe in the Chinese garden. Among the galleries, I also enjoyed walking through the Huntington's Art Gallery, which seemed to hold most of the oldest American and European pieces, as well as historical info about the Huntingtons themselves. Given how much there is to see here, The Huntington is worth the price of admission, even if it does appear to be a little hefty ($34 for adults, with discounted rates available for seniors, students, military, and kids). They do offer free admission on the first Thursday of each month as well, but you'll need to claim tickets in advance starting the Thursday before. Also, if you're short on time, the visitor center has a list of highlights and suggested itineraries, but you'll inevitably miss out on a lot to see. Whenever you do come here, though, even if it's just to go to their tea room, make sure to bring sunscreen and wear some comfortable shoes, as you'll end up doing plenty of walking outdoors. They do have a tram that circles loops around the grounds, but you'll still have to walk from the stop to wherever you want to go. Just make sure to stop and smell the many flowers along the way!

An amazing & beautiful experience! Came w/ my mom on a Wednesday and it was so packed!…read more I want to give a Honorable shout out and thanks to the shuttle busses! T-T ^_^ The shuttle lines really saved my mom, as she wouldn't have been able to enjoy the park or walked that far apart from the gardens. Thank you so much for having and keeping this feature! Staff were welcoming and friendly. The Japanese & Chinese garden was def their main features alongside the Rose Garden blooms which were beautiful in the spring bloom. They also have a huge gift shop for people to enter w/o the need of a ticket as well(:

Such a great way to spend a couple hours checking out California inspired artwork. There's so much…read moreto experience when viewing some subjective art. I also appreciate the historical value portrayed with it. There are two buildings- the north and south. The north side has the permanent exhibits- Disney, stone and scene, radio museum, Maynard Dixon and the Oregon trail, and contemporary paintings. The south has the Emigdio Vasquez art work, Route 66, and Ralph Massey exhibits. I appreciate local museums so much and hope to see so much more of it!

Spent a couple hours at the Hilbert and thought it was a lovely experience. The staff are so warm…read moreand welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the artists and the collection. Tip: for kids (or anyone) ask for the scavenger hunt and get a little prize so fun!

A MUST-SEE! If you're in Bakersfield, you love architecture, and appreciate the growth of a city,…read moreyou need to see the Kern County Museum. The best introduction to a region is learning of its history. I stopped by as I told my Mom this is a highly-rated experience and gem of the community! Turns out, it is. Kern County Museum is an immersive outdoor experience set up as a community or town where you go from houses to buildings to barns, exploring what life was like when people lived in the olden days. We spotted a hotel, doctor's office, schools, courthouse, and so many more buildings. All the structures are well-maintained and have descriptions in front of them. You're even allowed to go in some of the buildings! My favorite was a the spooky Mason Lodge! We spent a while enjoying the stories and significance of these locations which led to the development of a well-known Central California city! Kern County Museum even has a research center, mini art gallery, and children's discovery center. The facilities are clean and well-kept. There's an indoor section to the museum with background on Native American and war-time culture in Kern. My Mom and I came during a week day, we saw several parents bring their children to explore the museum. There's plenty of parking and room to move around. As an educator, i highly recommend checking this out! It's also perfect for field trips!

Spring time and fall is the best time to visit kern county museum. It's almost all outdoors so it's…read moreimportant to have good weather. It is THE PLACE to learn about kern county and bakersfield history. I love coming here and learning new things every time. Not all the exhibits are open each time so it's a little hit or miss but fun to try exhibits when they are open. The country music scene exhibit is really cool and makes you proud of the bakersfield sound and the vehicles exhibit was awesome for any car/wagon lover. I was impressed with the amount of historical vehicles. Then we also love the Lori Brock museum which is perfect for little kids to enjoy the arts/crafts area and make believe area and a small outdoor play ground. It's one of our favorite local activities!

Nice movie set with a old countryside feeling. Awesome place in a small town. Great ride to escape…read morethe city!

Everything just seeing all of everything that was filmed there especially Sabrina Carpenter's…read moremanchild music video that one was pretty awesome to visit and see With tour tickets, but I got to see and stand where Sabrina Carpenter actually was in all of the manchild music video