We Are 501 c 3 Compliant

The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History provides a repository where residents of our community may see, learn, and appreciate our geologic and biologic heritage. The Museum promotes public education by preserving and displaying the natural history of our area. We provide tours, lectures, classroom presentations, and off-site displays at public events. We are the only museum in Central California that, at a single facility, displays exhibits dealing with geology, archeology, paleontology and biology. In addition to more static displays, we also provide special exhibits ranging from astrogeology to dinosaurs.

Our museum has grown steadily since its incorporation in 1995. We began as a side display at the California Living Museum (CALM), Bakersfield's Zoo. We occupied about 800 square feet of display and restoration area. In March, 1996, we moved to a larger facility, which enabled us to dedicate about 4000 square feet to public displays. We moved again in November, 2000 to our current location, where we are rapidly filling about 10,000 square feet with displays, a room for meetings and classes, specimen storage, and fossil preparation areas.

Buena Vista Museum is a volunteer organization. We have no paid staff and rely upon the expertise and efforts of our volunteer staff. Several of our volunteers are teachers and professors who instruct in related fields. Since inception, the Museum has maintained a close working relationship with local schools, colleges, and universities.

The Museum is actively involved with agencies that work to preserve our natural heritage. We are seeking authorization to serve as a repository for natural history materials recovered from lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). We are involved in a cooperative effort with the BLM jointly sponsoring field trips to various sites within the state. This offers citizens of the community, some as young as eight years old, an opportunity to learn about the varying geology and anthropology within our state. We are developing a working relationship with the National Forest Service, and anticipate helping them manage their paleontologic resources and educate their volunteers. And we have served as repository of record for paleontologic studies associated with public construction projects.

We have an excellent record of sharing our knowledge and collections with the community. Each year since 1996 the Museum had given tours to thousands students, primarily from Kern County. We have also given tours, classes and presentations to a variety of groups including Community House and other group homes in the area. The Museum also delivers on-site presentations to area schools. These presentations cover natural history topics and follow California's Department of Education Science Standards.

The Museum is a 501 (c) (3) organization. We receive no state or federal financial assistance. We are supported by the generosity of our members, and museum visitors, through their individual donations and their membership fees. Other sources of revenue include admission fees, gift shop sales, summer science camp tuition and any special events that we may hold during the year. Recently, we have received grants to fund a special display and certain school tours. We would like to expand our educational programs and offer educational opportunities to children who may not otherwise have an opportunity to attend our science camps or visit our museum. Part of our mission is to educate the public on Kern County and California Natural History, and with your help we hope to expand our reach to educate more of the members of our community.

We ask for your help in the form of a donation. Your generosity will help to provide a valuable educational experience to even more children, as well as aid in the preservation of our natural heritage. We appreciate your consideration of this request.

Donations are tax deductible
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BVMNH Email: bvmnh@sharktoothhill.com

Address: 2018 Chester Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93301

Web Master: Sherry Pauley webmaster@sharktoothhill.com