Time Capsule

Written by Bakersfield Magazine

It’s been said before that taking a trip to Buena Vista Museum of Natural History is like taking a trip back in time. That’s definitely true.

But it’s also the only place in town where you can see just how small you are in relation to a Megalodon’s jaw. This fact cannot be understated. It’s really big.

But there happens to be a lot of other “big” things you can admire while visiting our only natural history museum.

“I think people tend to forget we’re more than local fossils,” explained Koral Hancharick, executive director. “We have an extensive collection of African, Asian, and North American big game animals on display—most of which have been donated by generous locals.”

And there’s nothing like the feeling of standing next to a cast of a triceratops’ skull or seeing artifacts from local Native Americans.

Hancharick and the volunteers at BVMNH have spent years slowly improving the museum, exhibit by exhibit, collection by collection, to further educate the public on the amazing history of our planet.

But it hasn’t been an easy 16 years. And while Hancharick has only been with the museum for a little over six years, she said there has been a constant struggle to keep people invested in the success of the museum. Not to mention the effort it takes to raise funds.

“It seems like some people have the attitude that once they’ve been to the museum, that’s it. But we are always adding new fossils...new collections,” Hancharick elaborated. “Every year, I work toward completing a major change.”

And every year, groups of school-age children march all over the four floors of BVMNH and have their eyes opened and their minds expanded.

“The whole goal of the museum is to educate people, especially children, and help them think critically,” she continued.

That’s why Hancharick is so thrilled with the response to the Discovery Center, BVMNH’s kid-friendly science exhibit.

“Unlike some of the more delicate fossil exhibits, everything in the Discovery Center can be touched and explored. It’s a great place for school and family field trips.”

Another amazing opportunity offered by the museum are its Paleo Digs, where members of the museum can pay a small day-fee to trek up to Shark Tooth Hill and excavate fossils. All shark teeth (including any megalodon teeth) can be kept.

The funds from these digs go to help BVMNH stay open.

“The whole museum is always in need of something, but somehow, some way, we’ve been able to stay alive and floating.”

The museum’s exhibits did take a major hit last year when, after the passing of one of its major donators, Bob Ernst, many of the fossils were repossessed as part of his estate and put up for auction.

“We tried to raise as much money as we could to buy the fossils back,” Hancharick explained. “We were able to come up with about $36,000 total and we’ve been slowly buying fossils back, but we have at least another $5,000 to come up with to pay for more.”

The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History truly is a valuable educational and entertaining resource for the community. But it needs the community’s support to stay open. In addition to funding, Hancharick says the museum needs an updated computer system and network and, more importantly, a permanent home.

If you’d like to show your support for BVMNH, take a trip into the past and visit. It’s open Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit SharkToothHill.org

or call (661) 324-6350 for more information.

Article appeared in our 28-2 Issue - June 2011