The mission of the Buena Vista Museum is to educate, engage, and inspire our community to explore the wonders of science through enrichment activities, exhibits, and special programs.
BVM has one of the best and largest collections available of fossils from the Miocene period (14-15 million years ago). Kern County is home to more than 100 square miles of Miocene fossil beds. Most of the Miocene fossils that reside at BVM were recovered from an area near Sharktooth Hill, northeast of Bakersfield. These are unique and rare fossils; some are one of a kind and are not found with the same completeness anywhere else in the world!
​
On display at BVM is a significant African animals collection with over 50 taxidermy specimens from the African continent. Additionally, North American animal specimens are on display providing an up close and personal look at the wildlife that live closer to home.
Write a review