Over decades as the City and County of Los Angeles  looked to the San Fernando Valley for expansion but when that too filled with industry, houses, apartments, malls and more it next looked to the Antelope Valley and Lancaster.  Like communities all over the west Lancaster started as a stop on the railroad and hub and center for local farming. 
Now all that has changed once again with Lancaster now serving as the center for Los Angeles County expansion and thanks to its Freeways and Metro Link railroad still only one hour away from Los Angeles civic center.  Situated at where the Mojave Desert begins Antelope Valley is nestled between two mountain ranges and still offers vast expanses of land leaving Lancaster and surrounding communities with  plenty of space for expansion. 
To experience what this expansion has accomplished in the last quarter century Lancaster has established a tourism marketing organization.  Called Destination Lancaster it was this Writer's good fortune to be included in an orientation  that was entitled "24-hour Getaway to Los Angeles' Mojave Desert".
Actually it involved visiting places like  modern art and Native American museums, reminders of the Valley's past .  Also a visit to an Ostrich Ranch as well as a refuge for felines from many countries, some on the border of extinction.  Then there was a tour past wineries and vineyards, the newest venture in the Valley's agriculture and a matching expansion in Lancaster's restaurant scene.
Through the years we often experienced  Lancaster as a stopping place enroute to the Eastern Sierra but knew little about its local attractions. 
Our stay was at the Lancaster Hampton Inn & Suites, much to our delight, since in our travels the last few years we have consistently sought out an Hampton Inn.  They offer consistent comfort, style and value.  The comfort is there with rooms with ottomans, desks,  and all amenities.   The value with free WiFi,  newspapers, parking and an excellent complimentary breakfast .
Our visit to the Quail Run Ostrich Ranch was a true learning experience.  They are the largest of the flightless birds and in flight the third fastest of any species reaching speeds of over 40 miles an hour for long periods of time and distance.  There are several sub species with the largest weighing as much as five hundred pounds and as tall as most humans.  The Ostriches at the Ranch were quite willing to be photographed and were with abandon.
The Quail Run Ostrich Ranch is open for tours and located at 44420 N. Shaffer Road in Lake Hughes, Ca 93532, Tele. 661-724-1592, web. www.quiailrunostrichranch. com.
The Exotic Feline Breeding Conservation Center is dedicated to protection and preservation or the world's endangered felines.  Located in Rosamond just a short distance from Lancaster the center is home to seventy of these cats, ranging from Bob Cats to Tigers.  For short it is called the Cat House.  In American slang this can have  a much different meaning and  purpose.
Completely non profit the Feline Center is staffed  mostly with docents and was first established in 1977.  It has been most successful, both in the breeding of the cats and  in attracting public  support.  We were awed as we watched the feeding of a Tiger from Malaya, which when standing on its hind  legs was taller than any of us watching in fascination..
The pens for the cats, especially the large ones, are large and some include a pool as well as hidden dens.   One attendant explained that many know and answer to their name.  The grounds are well kept and the gift shop most enticing for young people offering a large collection of stuffed animals.
The Cat House is located at 3718 60th Street West, Rosamond, Ca.  93563, Tele. 661 256-3793, web www.cathouse-fcc.org.
The timing for our visit to the Antelope Valley Indian Museum was perfect since it took place during their 'Holiday on the Homestead" event.  This special event takes place at night and includes sipping hot chocolate while sitting around a blazing campfire  listening to a cowboy singer regale  with classic western songs of the range.
The story of the museum is most interesting and exists thanks to two people. The first was Howard Arden Edwards who built a Swiss style Chalet as a private residence on a picturesque rock formation overlooking the Mojave Desert.  Dedicated to finding and collecting Indian artifacts he used this remarkable dwelling as the place to house his findings.
When the Edwards family decided to move on Grace Wilcox Oliver purchased the property since she had an interest in anthropology, and an  extensive collection of Indian tools, utensils and art.  She operated the Museum as a private enterprise for three decades until the State of California purchased the property and turned it over to the State Parks to administrate in 1979.
Now the Museum is administered by California Parks with aid from many volunteer docents  The artifacts cover a long time period and are mostly from the peoples who inhabited southwestern California and the Great Basin.  Also studies have shown that the Antelope Valley often served as a trading area where tribes like the Chumash, living on the coastal regions of California, met and traded with the Piute tribes of the Antelope and Inyo valleys as well as the Great Basin.
There is much to see and the docents are great answering your questions  Also adjacent is a self guided nature trail which explains  the surrounding desert with its Joshua trees and also the San Gabriel Mountains looming in the distance.
Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park is located at 15701 East Avenue M in Lancaster.  It is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  For more information call 661 946-30055, on the web www.avim.parks.gov.
There is much more to relate about the 24 Hour Lancaster getaway and our narrative will continue tomorrow.