Welcome to the corner of Sillect Avenue and Buck Owens Blvd. in beautiful Bakersfield! Bakersfield was founded in 1869 by Colonel Thomas Baker ("Baker's Field" - get it?), who turned 10 acres of swampland along the nearby Kern River into alfalfa fields, and then into valuable real estate once oil was discovered there. And who wouldn't rather have oil come out of their soil instead of alfalfa??? The can of frijoles had a great time in Bakersfield, and jealousy aside, are perfectly content to be black beans instead of black gold.

The original "Bakersfield" sign hung over Union Avenue & Hwy 99 since the 1940's, but it took a harsh beating from the weather and time, and was close to being condemned when country music musician Buck Owens stepped in and bought the sign in 1999, fixed it up, and then moved it to in front of his Crystal Palace Museum and Theater.

And here it is in person, the Buck Owens' Crystal Palace, a combination restaurant, nightclub, theater, and museum! Buck has had quite the career, but is probably best known for standing in the plastic corn fields on Hee Haw. In 1998 Bakersfield changed the name of "Pierce Road" to "Buck Owens Blvd." in honor of the man who helped teach us the following ditty:

(And yes, we're a little ashamed to admit that we knew that by heart!)