The heritage of California is alive and well in Kern County. From historic buildings to western artifacts, this is the place for anyone hungry for a glance at the real "Wild West." The days of the pack mule and the wagon train aren't forgotten. The Twenty Mule Team Museum and the U.S. Borax Visitors Center, both located near Boron, chronicle the early days when wagon trains pulled ore, and people, across the vast Mojave Desert.
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Rest up at the historic Rankin Ranch, a family-operated guest ranch overlooking the magnificent Walker Basin. Army life in the Old West is accurately depicted at Fort Tejon State Historic Park near Lebec. Once the headquarters of the U.S. Army Dragoons and Camel Corps, the park now includes an interpretive center and regularly-scheduled battle re-enactments.
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The desert community of Randsburg is a living "ghost town" preserving the early mining era. Pioneer Village, on the grounds of the Kern County Museum in Bakersfield, features a collection of more than 70 historic buildings collected from throughout the county and reassembled in a town-like setting. The Silver City Ghost Town at Bodfish boasts 21 historic buildings along with mining displays. At Caliente, visit the Cowboy Memorial and Library, a hands-on museum dedicated to preserving the heritage of the American Cowboy.
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