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Western Exterminator's Mr. Little and Mouse statues on a trailer, parked in front of the company's office.
[David Kamada, 03/04/2014]Little Man with the Hammer:- Directions:
- Western Exterminator Co. Hwy 55/Costa Mesa Fwy exit 9. Drive west on Edinger Ave. for about a half-mile. Turn left at the stoplight onto Ritchey St. Drive south about a mile. As the street bends to the right, you'll see Mr. Little on the left. Note: Statues are on a trailer, so they may get moved around.
- Admission:
- Free
- Status:
- Gone
A room festooned with rubber mice at the the West Kern Oil Museum pays tribute to the worst rodent infestation in U.S. history. It began 95 years ago on November 26, 1926, when an army of 50-100 million scurrying critters invaded the town of Taft, California. At its peak, the mouse-to-citizen ratio was estimated at 20,000 to 1. Winter rains and hungry birds eventually ended the plague.
[RoadsideAmerica.com Team, 11/26/2021]The Great Mouse Invasion - West Kern Oil Museum:RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
- Address:
- 1168 Wood St., Taft, CA
- Directions:
- From I-5 go west on Hwy 119 to Taft, through the stoplight and over the old railroad tracks. Turn right onto Wood St.
- Hours:
- Th-Sa 10-4, Su 1-4. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 661-765-6664
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
The museum tells the story of when 44 million mice invaded West Kern, setting off the largest rodent infestation of the U.S. The three month mouse war ended with the help of seagulls and hawks and a change in the weather.
There is also a model of "Gail," a Chevron drilling production platform off the coast of Santa Barbara. Plus tons of fun stuff to see. If you are lucky, Olive will be there to give you a private tour. Be ready for the pop quiz about an item in the museum's theater.
[Dorrie Hall, 07/07/2015]History of Taft and a region once dotted with 7,000 wooden derricks. Outdoor derrick, equipment...site of the largest rodent infestation in US.
Roadsideamerica.com Report...
Museum told the history of Timex watches and Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, but not many people were interested. Opened 2001, closed 2015.
Roadsideamerica.com Report...
- Directions:
- Brass Mall Commons, I-84 exit 22.
- Hours:
- Museum closed Sep. 30, 2015.
- Status:
- Closed
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Travel advisory: the characters sit on a trailer configured for mobile marketing, so no guarantee you'll always find it at this spot. There's a more permanent version in Burlingame, CA.