Redlands, Ca – When summer arrives, thoughts turn to camping vacations. In San Bernardino County, this has been true since the 19th century, when visitors from the valley made their way in horse-drawn wagons to tents and cabins in the San Bernardino Mountains. Now children can share this experience in a new interactive space, Gone Camping, opening Thursday, June 21 at the San Bernardino County Museum.

“Camping has been a favorite American pastime since the late 1800s, and the San Bernardino Mountains have been a popular destination for locals and tourists to explore the outdoors,” said Jennifer Dickerson, the museum’s curator of history. “This interactive and immersive exhibit gives children the opportunity to discover all that camping has to offer. From sleeping in a tent to building and using a ‘campfire,’ our young explorers can have fun and learn some of the basics for their next camping trip.”

Escaping to the mountains during the summer months was a desirable way to escape the heat in days before air conditioning. But it took improvements in roads, availability of transportation, and leisure time to make camping a mainstream vacation in the late 1800s. The popularity of camping continues to this day.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

The San Bernardino County Museum is at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child aged 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcounty.gov/museum. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.