A museum, a restored adobe building, and a temple in Hanford tell stories of different chapters in Kings County. They are joined by art offerings, a market in Downtown Hanford, and recreational opportunities along the river. As you explore the region, you’ll encounter both its settlement history and its present-day cultural and active offerings.
History in Places and Buildings
Kingston was founded by L. A. Whitmore in 1856 and became a Butterfield stagecoach stop after 1858. Another structure dating to 1856 is El Adobe de los Robles Rancho: The adobe building was constructed that year and has been continuously occupied ever since. It has been restored and is described as the second-oldest building in the San Joaquin Valley. Together, the two dates offer a brief glimpse into the region’s early chapters, without confusing Kingston’s founding with its later function.
Hanford also preserves a variety of historical connections. The Taoist Temple at 12 China Alley in Hanford was built in 1893. Hanford’s Courthouse Square includes the original Kings County Courthouse, built in 1896. At the historic site of the Mussel Slough Tragedy, a fight broke out on May 11, 1880, during a dispute between settlers and the railroad over land titles. Seven men died: two deputy U.S. marshals and five ranchers.
Museum, Art, and Local Life
The Kings County Museum collects, preserves, and researches objects that illustrate the history of Kings County and the lower Kings River region; it also exhibits these objects. Its thematic focus thus extends beyond the history of the county to the named river region. The Kings Art Center showcases artworks from across California as well as by local artists, and offers hands-on art education to Kings County residents and visitors.
The Kings Art Center offers tours by appointment during the week for school classes and groups. If you’re interested in art, you can consider these offerings, alongside the exhibitions, another way to experience the county’s cultural life. The Thursday Night Market Place in Downtown Hanford adds to the picture with locally grown produce and handcrafted foods and goods.
Open Space and Waterfront Activities
Burris Park has stands of old oak trees. It also offers disc golf and space for soccer games. The combination of parkland and specific recreational opportunities provides a different focus from the historic buildings and art offerings.
Along the Kings River, it is important to distinguish between use and access. Most access points to the Kings River in Kings County used for recreational and boating activities are privately owned or controlled by the Kings River Conservation District. Permission is recommended before visiting areas along the river. Where access is legal, the riverbed is used for hiking, exploring, walking dogs, and horseback riding. The entire stretch of the Kings River in Kings County is used by the public for fishing. The county’s waters are also used for boating and fishing, as well as tubing on inner tubes or other inflatable devices.
Hanford and Getting Around the Region
Hanford is a commercial and cultural center in the southern San Joaquin Valley and the county seat of Kings County. This role gives the city a distinct place in the regional picture: The original county courthouse stands at Courthouse Square, while the Kings Art Center showcases art from California and by local artists.
For getting around the region, Kings Area Rural Transit provides public transportation to Armona, Avenal, Corcoran, Grangeville, Hardwick, Hanford, Kettleman City, Laton, Lemoore, and Stratford. Kings County offers a variety of starting points for trip planning: history and art in Hanford, the museum’s perspective on the lower Kings River region, and recreational opportunities where river access requires particular attention.
Discover more destinations: Hanford, Kettleman City, Lemoore, Corcoran, Avenal, Santa Cruz, Glenn County, Mono.
For the broader travel overview: California.
