Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2024

16 2024 Scenic 395 Ridgecrest been restored and used to create the region’s only Veterans Me- morial Building. The China Lake Museum, founded in 1993, features the his- tory of the U.S. Navy and Civilian workers accomplishments in the IndianWells Valley. This museum displays a large variety of weapons systems – past and present – as well as technology developments used by both military and civilian. At their new facilities in Ridgecrest, you can view a variety of displays inside and walk outside around some of the military aircraft that have been used by the Navy here in China Lake. Learn of China Lake’s pivotal involvement in the Manhattan Project and the development of rockets that turned the tide to victory inWWII during your visit. The China Lake Museum is expanded in 2021-2022 by adding a 7,200-square-foot exhibi- tion hall that will provide the space to relocate the many exhibits which currently reside aboard the China Lake Navy Base. All three of these museums have Gift Shops that offer books, DVDs, hats, shirts, and many other gifts that capture the histo- ries of the area. But that is not all there is for you! After enjoying your stay in Ridgecrest and visiting our three museums, you can head east toward Death Valley using High- way 178 Scenic Corridor. You can stop by the nearby Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Corrals (BLM) four miles straight east of the Historic USO Building to feed or pet wild burros and horses – or maybe even adopt one! If you continue on toward Death Valley you’ll run across the Trona Pinnacles, a geological feature that has more than 500 tufa spires, some as high as 140 feet. These have been featured in many films (like Star Trek V or Planet of the Apes). When you pass through the remote town of Trona, you can stop by the Searles Valley Historical Society and visit the Old Guest House Museum, built in 1917. When leaving Ridgecrest heading west into the Sierra Nevada Mountains using Highway 178 Scenic Corridor, you can stop by the Kern Valley Museum in Kernville. At this museum they have thousands of photographs of the early settlers, miners, cowboys and Indians, a wonderful back porch and yard full of historical artifacts. Plus, a restored and furnished 100 year old cabin. If you’re heading north from Ridgecrest using Highway 395, you can stop in Independence and visit the Eastern California Museum. At this museum there is a rich display of artifacts and narratives of the history of Inyo County and the Eastern Sierra, fromDeath Valley to Mono Lake. Continued from Page 15 The Historic USO Building, home of the Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert, is on West Ridgecrest Boulevard. Photos by Aaron Crutchfield Ridgecrest re cords and artifacts of the history and development of Ridgecrest, th e Indian Wells Valley, and the surrounding areas. This museum o wns and has restored the community’s first civic buildings for you to ex plore. These include the Historic USO Building – this USO Club st arted in World War II when Ridgecrest had about 100 citizens! T here is also the first county jail in Ridgecrest, the first firehouse, and th e first fire engine houses. Recently, a one-room schoolhouse built in 19 05 has been restored and used to create the region’s only Veterans M emorial Building. The China Lake Museum, founded in 1993, features the history of th e U.S. Navy and Civilian workers accomplishments in the Indian W ells Valley. This museum displays a large variety of weapons sys- te ms – past and present – as well as technology developments used by b oth military and civilian. At their new facilities in Ridgecrest, you ca n view a variety of displays inside and walk outside around some of th e military aircraft that have been used by the Navy here in China L ake. All three of these museums have Gift Shops that offer books, DVDs, h ats, shirts, and many other gifts that capture the histories of the ar ea. But that is not all there is for you! After enjoying your stay in Ridgecrest and visiting our three muse- u ms, you can head east toward Death Valley using Highway 178 Sce- ni c Corridor. You can stop by the nearby Ridgecrest Regional Wild H orse and Burro Corrals (BLM) four miles straight east of the His- to ric USO Building to feed or pet wild burros and horses – or maybe ev en adopt one! If you continue on toward Death Valley you’ll run ac ross the Trona Pinnacles, a geological feature that has more than 5 00 tufa spires, some as high as 140 feet. These have been featured in m any films (like Star Trek V or Planet of the Apes). When you pass th rough the remote town of Trona, you can stop by the Searles Valley H istorical Society and visit the Old Guest House Museum, built in 19 17. When leaving Ridgecrest heading west into the Sierra Nevada M ountains using Highway 178 Scenic Corridor, you can stop by the Kern Valley Museum in Kernville. At this museum they have thou- sands of photographs of the early settlers, miners, cowboys and Indi- ans, a wonderful back porch and yard full of historical artifacts. Plus, a restored and furnished 100 year old cabin. If you’re heading north from Ridgecrest using Highway 395, you can stop in I dependence and visit the Eastern California Museum. At this museum there is a rich display of artifacts and narratives of the history of Inyo County and the Eastern Sierra, from Death Valley to Mono Lake. According to China Lake Museum Foundation officer Alice Camp- bell, conceptual art for Phase II was recently unveiled. The second phase includes a building designed to look like a hangar. Campbell sai d the foundation is still researching the cos ts and stages of const ruction for the second phase, but once comp lete, could host the majority of displays still located at its old site aboard China Lake. Funding for Phase I came from years of donations and fundraisers, and a $250,000 grant secured written by now-CLMF President Lau- ra Hickle from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment Museum Grant Program. C ontinued from Page 12 PHOTOS BY AARON CRUTCHFIELD ABOVE: The China Lake Museum is located on East Las Flores Av- enue next door to the Maturango Museum. BELOW: The Historic USO Building, home of the Historical Society of the Upp r Mojave Desert, is n W st Ridgecrest Boulevard. www.sce ic395.com