https://chinalakemuseum.org/
Worth a visit if you get a chance. I didn't have the time to get a base museum tour, but it looks cool for the low price of $10.
Lots of mind blowing stuff. Missiles are both cruder than I thought, yet ingenious at the same time. For example, I didn't know that lots of them are just made out of plain ol' steel pipe. Same stuff your average pipeline is made of. WW2 Air to ground rockets were largely rocket motors welded to various caliber of artillery shells, so a salvo of 6" rockets was pretty much a broadside from a light cruiser.
There's a F-11 there which is one of the prettiest planes they ever made (also another as a gate guardian at the base entrance along with a F-4) . Unfortunately the Skyraider and A-6 that used to be on display isn't there at the moment.
Most of the museum is about missile and rocketry development, if you want to know how a sidewinder works.
Also, if one is passing through Ridgecrest the best place to eat, if one likes Mexican, is Olvera's. You know, if you're on the edge of the dessert, before the drugs take hold and the bats and manta rays swarm to attack.
