You're in the countryside now. Bakersfield, California might seem small and remote, but the city's history is unique, fascinating, and defies the stereotypes usually given to "hippie" Californians.
Generally conservative, the city has its roots in the oil boom of the 1800's. While you drive through the outskirts of the city, notice the oil fields that dot the landscape. A little perplexing for the visitor, however, is -- if the region creates as much oil as an OPEC country -- why didn't Bakersfield become something like a filthy rich Qatar or Kuwait? Instead, the place still feels middle-class dusty with none of the Donald Trump opulence.
Okies settled here in the 1930's hoping to find their wealth in oil. Instead, these transplants from Oklahoma ended up building up California's farming community that today creates about 80% of the nation's vegetables and fruits. Their culture turned Bakersfield into a country western town where Buck Owens, the famous country singer, made a name for himself.
First visit the Buck Owens' Crystal Palace. The country singer lived in Bakersfield until his death in 2006. The palace has a steak house and a dance hall open in the evenings. The outside of the building has mannequins wearing western outfits, billboards with photos of country singers, and facades of old country western establishments.
A little ways down from here, the Greenlawn Southwest Cemetery has a mausoleum where Buck Owens is buried. On the outside of the structure, two guitars pay tribute to the idol.
Dewar's Candy Shop is another Bakersfield original, established one hundred years ago. The soda fountain area has root beer floats, sundaes and a whole menu of ice cream delights. Two moose heads strut out from the end of the counter. When you enter the ceiling is a frosted pink. A last interesting tidbit: they don't carry any whipping cream.
Nearby, a Spanish style clock tower has a charming history that touts Bakersfield's local community activists. The clock tower was originally built in 1904. Paid for by Truxton Beale, a ranch owner who dedicated it to his mother, earthquakes damaged the clock during the 1950's. Local citizens in the 1960's then decided to restore the clock and move it to a new location in the city.
Newly renovated, the Kern County Museum displays the history of the Black Gold Rush in Bakersfiled and also has fifty re-created buildings. On the property, look for a tribute to the Kawaiisu Indians who came long before the Okies. Their mortar rock has holes depicting how they used this rock for grinding acorns.
Cancer Survivors Plaza connects Bakersfield with twenty-four other sculpture plazas just like it throughout the nation. Richard and Annette Bloch erected this moving tribute to those battling cancer. It includes a Positive Mental Attitude Walk, eight life-size figures in various stages of cancer treatment, and seven plaques that describe the road to recovery. The plaza is located in the kid-friendly Beach Park Loop.
The Community Action Partnership has even more vision in these parts. About a ten minute drive outside of Bakersfield, you can visit Weedpatch Labor Camp, created in order to provide housing for seasonal migrant farmers. Inspired in many ways by John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, the plaque on the property actually explains that the camp was first established by people from Oklahoma. Every year in October, Dust Bowl Days takes place here, which is a celebration of Okie culture.
Once you've had your fill of visiting Bakersfield sights, it's time to eat. The Wool Growers is a restaurant that has a Basque heritage, although today it's turned more into a country western feel. They serve meals family style that includes bowls of Basque salsa, salad, beans, and spaghetti. If you're adventurous, you'll also try the marinated beef tongue.
The Sam Lynn Ballpark should be your final destination. They host all sorts of games like BMX and are home to the "Bakersfield Blaze". Interestingly, the architect created this park so that a batter has to face west to the setting sun. Was it a mistake or intentional? For people in Bakersfield, the debate rages on.
Generally conservative, the city has its roots in the oil boom of the 1800's. While you drive through the outskirts of the city, notice the oil fields that dot the landscape. A little perplexing for the visitor, however, is -- if the region creates as much oil as an OPEC country -- why didn't Bakersfield become something like a filthy rich Qatar or Kuwait? Instead, the place still feels middle-class dusty with none of the Donald Trump opulence.
Okies settled here in the 1930's hoping to find their wealth in oil. Instead, these transplants from Oklahoma ended up building up California's farming community that today creates about 80% of the nation's vegetables and fruits. Their culture turned Bakersfield into a country western town where Buck Owens, the famous country singer, made a name for himself.
First visit the Buck Owens' Crystal Palace. The country singer lived in Bakersfield until his death in 2006. The palace has a steak house and a dance hall open in the evenings. The outside of the building has mannequins wearing western outfits, billboards with photos of country singers, and facades of old country western establishments.
A little ways down from here, the Greenlawn Southwest Cemetery has a mausoleum where Buck Owens is buried. On the outside of the structure, two guitars pay tribute to the idol.
Dewar's Candy Shop is another Bakersfield original, established one hundred years ago. The soda fountain area has root beer floats, sundaes and a whole menu of ice cream delights. Two moose heads strut out from the end of the counter. When you enter the ceiling is a frosted pink. A last interesting tidbit: they don't carry any whipping cream.
Nearby, a Spanish style clock tower has a charming history that touts Bakersfield's local community activists. The clock tower was originally built in 1904. Paid for by Truxton Beale, a ranch owner who dedicated it to his mother, earthquakes damaged the clock during the 1950's. Local citizens in the 1960's then decided to restore the clock and move it to a new location in the city.
Newly renovated, the Kern County Museum displays the history of the Black Gold Rush in Bakersfiled and also has fifty re-created buildings. On the property, look for a tribute to the Kawaiisu Indians who came long before the Okies. Their mortar rock has holes depicting how they used this rock for grinding acorns.
Cancer Survivors Plaza connects Bakersfield with twenty-four other sculpture plazas just like it throughout the nation. Richard and Annette Bloch erected this moving tribute to those battling cancer. It includes a Positive Mental Attitude Walk, eight life-size figures in various stages of cancer treatment, and seven plaques that describe the road to recovery. The plaza is located in the kid-friendly Beach Park Loop.
The Community Action Partnership has even more vision in these parts. About a ten minute drive outside of Bakersfield, you can visit Weedpatch Labor Camp, created in order to provide housing for seasonal migrant farmers. Inspired in many ways by John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, the plaque on the property actually explains that the camp was first established by people from Oklahoma. Every year in October, Dust Bowl Days takes place here, which is a celebration of Okie culture.
Once you've had your fill of visiting Bakersfield sights, it's time to eat. The Wool Growers is a restaurant that has a Basque heritage, although today it's turned more into a country western feel. They serve meals family style that includes bowls of Basque salsa, salad, beans, and spaghetti. If you're adventurous, you'll also try the marinated beef tongue.
The Sam Lynn Ballpark should be your final destination. They host all sorts of games like BMX and are home to the "Bakersfield Blaze". Interestingly, the architect created this park so that a batter has to face west to the setting sun. Was it a mistake or intentional? For people in Bakersfield, the debate rages on.
About the Author:
Want to find out more about off-beat California Travel, then visit Barbara Zaragoza's site and learn more about the Cancer Survivors Plaza.
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