Essential Bakersfield Travel Guide: What to See & Do

Bakersfield is a lively Southern California city shaped by Indigenous heritage, migration, agriculture, commerce, and resilience. Located in the southern San Joaquin Valley, the city developed from Yokuts territory into a regional center after Colonel Thomas Baker settled here in the 1860s. His reputation for welcoming travelers helped establish a spirit of hospitality that remains part of Bakersfield’s character.

Explore Bakersfield’s Historic Downtown

Bakersfield’s history is especially visible downtown, where restored and surviving buildings reflect the city’s rapid development. The 1930 Fox Theater is a standout landmark, combining Art Deco design with an ongoing role as a performance venue.

Nearby historic buildings include:

• Hayden Building
• Tevis Block
• Jastro Building
• Kress Building

Together, these landmarks reflect the commercial confidence of the early twentieth century. Other notable buildings reveal the civic, social, and architectural ambitions of earlier generations, including the former Post Office, Masonic Temple, Padre Hotel, Women’s Club, and Bakersfield Californian Building.

Discover Local History and Culture

Bakersfield’s identity extends beyond its historic streets. The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History explores the fossils, wildlife, and human history of Kern County, offering another way to understand the region.

Antique shops add character to the urban experience, while unusual remnants such as downtown tunnels offer a glimpse into lesser-known aspects of the city. City Hall and the statue honoring Thomas Baker provide further links to Bakersfield’s origins.

Things to Do in Bakersfield

For travelers looking for things to do in Bakersfield, the city offers a rewarding combination of local history, architecture, culture, and approachable hospitality. Its landmarks show how a community can preserve its past while continuing to grow, making Bakersfield an engaging destination for anyone wondering what to see in California’s inland heartland.