A much bigger museum than I was expecting when I put this on the list of places to stop for our latest road trip across Texas, but I'm very glad we went! Honestly, I do wish we could have spent more time here because there's so many different sections and the displays are beautiful and full of information that people of all ages will enjoy. While there's obviously a heavy lean to only discuss the pros of oil and gas and the extraction of these resources (and sometimes the propaganda is painfully obvious), the detailed information in the different sections still makes it highly educational and we were very impressed by how many interactive displays there were. If you have any kids with you (or you're a kid at heart) make sure to go on the "ride" near the middle of the museum where you get to pretend you're on a flying ship to steal resources from the ocean and other countries. It's wild but very entertaining to press the touch screens and experience their little story! Just don't focus too hard on how you're shooting a laser into the ground of an independent, populated country to "claim" resources lol The best part of the entire museum for us was actually the mineral exhibit. Absolutely breathtaking samples from across Texas and around the world, and as big rock nerds we would have willingly spent a whole half hour just walking through the gorgeous room and looking at all the displays. Don't miss it! There's also beautiful art in this area, and that hallway winds around to the exhibit on race cars, which was a very fun way to end our tour of the museum. I'd recommend at least 1.5 hours to see everything, but you could probably spend more time just having fun and enjoying the interactive displays! A great museum that captures the history of oil and gas that built up this area of Texas, and so much of Texas' economy in general. Worth a stop for sure! read more

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There is a lot to see at this museum. It could take 8 hrs to view all exhibits and games. This is a great place for students who are in STEM programs. The mining pumps are amazing to see from the beginning of the era to the modern industrial era. I enjoyed learning about diatoms, the Permian Basin, shooters, and the difference between fracking and drilling. There are many classic race cars on display, and fun games to reinforce learning. I did not know that the U.S. produces the most oil in the world. I also did not know that Midland is the birthplace of petroleum and natural gas as well as the largest oil field in the U.S. The museum also has art on display. The restrooms are clean, the museum is bright and colorful, and staff are friendly. The museum is also kid friendly. Check it out! read more

We moved to the area about seven months ago. My son (15) had been asking to check out the museum. We decided to check it out on a whim with my other two children (4 and 18 months). Much to my surprise, we had a wonderful time. I was a little overwhelmed after realizing I didn't have my 18 month old's stroller but didn't have to fret too long when the young lady we bought our tickets from showed is they had ones for guests. We spent about two and a half hours perusing and playing as they had interactive areas for kids. They all loved it. The price point was $20 for the four of us. I even bought my boys a couple of items from their gift shop around $30. So, $50 for a nice time out. I even ended up enrolling my oldest son in one of their summer camps. Unfortunately, the preschool camps are full but I hope my littles can catch it next year. read more

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What a fantastic museum! Confession Time: I went (mainly) for the Chaparral car gallery; As an impressionable youth I was captivated by Jim Hall's innovation and in-your-face engineering. I'm an engineer, and watching the Chaparral's run in Can-Am as a kid is a major reason why. So I didn't have high expectation for the rest of the exhibits capturing my attention. Boy, howdy, (as they say in Texas) was I wrong! The museum chronicles the methods, evolution, and history of petroleum extraction in the region, and I learned far more than I expected to. But there is also a wonderful gallery of regional art (paintings) and and gallery of interesting minerals and crystals. And there are educational exhibits specifically tailored to kids. Finally, there is an exterior exhibit of various drilling rigs and (I learned a new term!) "nodding donkeys" out back and I was impressed that most had very detailed plaques describing each of them. The highest compliment I can give an educational venue is, "I lost track of time" and the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum was one where I truly did lose track of time. Pro Tip: Most museum gift shops are ho-hum, but this one is first-rate. The selection of items is almost as vast as the museum exhibits! read more

Petroleum Museum - Exit thru the gift shop. - Museums Near Me - Midland, Texas

Am I the Yelper who finds the auto-populated "Does this location have EV chargers?" hilarious?!?!? Other than that, just like the exhibits inside, the petroleum museum is a hidden gem. The rich, unique history of the Permian Basin, the profession, and the characters are thoughtfully displayed. Gem and stone lovers' hearts will flutter over the beauty produced within our planet. It's SO convenient, on the frontage on WB I20. There's AC and the gift shop has some cool treasures. Definitely worth a visit. read more

We decided to stop here because of the reviews and we weren't disappointed! There was something for every member of my family to enjoy. Minerals, fossils, geology, racecars, perspectives on oil & energy production. There are so many interactive exhibits for all ages, and great relics from the past. read more

Brought my dad here while he was visiting since he enjoys museums aaaaaaaand there isn't much to do in Midland. We actually had a pretty good time. Though, I came without my 3 kids (ages 5,4 and 2) so going ANYWHERE without them is a good time. Tickets: Adults $12 Seniors $8 Children $5 Kids 5 and under FREE I admit, we didn't read every single sign, touch every single screen or watch every single video but we did learn a lot about the oil industry. I KNOW my kiddos would NOT have enjoyed coming here. There is a little "kids area" towards the end of the petroleum "tour" with a play car, a video game where you build a car, etc. but they would have been bored out of their minds along the educational side. The mineral exhibit was unexpected but I really liked it. Loved seeing all the different colors/shapes/kinds of minerals. So neat! Then there was an art gallery. I wasn't quite sure how that tied into the petroleum aspect? We breezed through that part rather quickly. Lastly, there was a race car section. I didn't look through that area at all. There were plenty of benches so I zoned out on my phone while my dad looked around. Unfortunately we didn't look around outside and I'm kicking myself bc some of these other reviews mentioned how neat the outdoor exhibits were. Guess it'll give us something to do when we come back. read more

Petroleum Museum - My dad - Museums Near Me - Midland, Texas

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I remember when this museum first opened back in the 70s, complete with President Ford! My school took us there on a field trip, and I realized for the first time what it takes to get those dinosaurs from ground to gas tank. I'd just been happy to get out of school for the day.... I didn't realize we'd be stepping into a time machine and transported back millions of years, when all our West Texas sand really was an ocean and a beach! This place is an adventure machine for all ages. Kids will love the exhibits and depiction of their Basin when it really was The Permian era, and adults will enjoy learning the nuts and bolts about Texas' largest industry. It is anything but boring, and it just grows and gets better every year. Midland-Odessa can be a real bore - and if you're visiting the area be sure not to pass up this museum. It will make your trip the fun vacation you were hoping for! read more

We made a big detour to visit this museum and spent several hours looking at many fascinating exhibits indoors and outdoors. It was great to see the historical drilling equipment as well as the geological, exploration and drilling exhibits - good learning! I recommend walking (not driving) through the outdoor exhibits to be able to study the amazing technologies of the industry pioneers. The gorgeous exhibition of mineral samples was an unexpected plus. This is a must-visit museum! What was disappointing, is that many exhibits lacked depth - for example I specifically wanted to learn about directional drilling. Unfortunately, there was no technical information about this, and there was nobody who could answer my questions. Much of the outdoor signage was very weathered and difficult to read, and many signs lacked dates. The simulation chamber and video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd3s34CeTFg) was a waste of time for adults interested in petroleum, but no doubt fun for kids. The Mythbusters video was very simplistic, one-sided, and did not capture the industry challenges that discerning visitors would want to understand - it felt a bit insulting, and thus reduced museum credibility! There was no mention in the exhibits about the impacts on climate change that the petroleum industry itself had documented decades ago - apart from a single sentence acknowledging the need to reduce CO2 emissions. There were some exhibits showing at a high level some advantages and disadvantages of alternative energies. Nevertheless, this museum is definitely well worth a detour and a multi-hour visit despite the shortcomings I mentioned! read more

There is a lot more here to experience than one might expect, and a lot to learn if you're not from the Midland Odessa, oil Fields. Not only did I learn a lot, but I found out that every child in public elementary school has gone through this museum as a requirement. It really is a very interesting and fun way to learn about the petroleum and natural gas industry read more

How did we miss coming here for so long. Must visit if all you know about the energy industry is wanting the price of a gallon of gas as cheap as possible. Or natural gas for water heater or stove. Very educational for all including children as there is lots of info suitable for them. Many interactive displays to test your knowledge of what it takes to find and deliver oil/natural gas. Be sure to take in the outdoor exhibits behind the museum. read more

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For some reason I had in my head that this museum was free, so when we walked in and were charged $12pp, I was expecting a really cool experience. It was alright. Not very kid-friendly. There is a small kids' area toward the end of the museum, but it didn't have very much and what was there either didn't work or wasn't that engaging. The best part was the "ride" for lack of a better word. You go in a little room and there's a movie that plays and you get to be part of the action and push buttons, and the ground shakes. The kids like that. Maybe it's because I'm not that interested in petroleum, but I was pretty underwhelmed by this museum. read more

This is a terrific museum to illustrate how the oil and natural gas industry operates. Besides the history, it shows very good 3D animations of how the gas and oil is extracted. VERY educational. Then, there's the Chaparral Car Museum for those racing fans. Also, a fabulous art museum that depicts life in the industry AND a gemstone museum. Great, great stop!! read more

I learned about the Petroleum Museum from Texas Monthly's fantastic Boomtown podcast hosted by Christian Wallace. The Museum tells the history of the oil boom of the Permian Basin in West Texas. There is also an in-depth permanent exhibit that explains how oil and gas is extracted from the earth. It is fascinating! The museum visualizes the process and what's required in an interactive way. I really enjoyed learning more about the area, and the science and engineering that rules the Permian Basin. read more

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Don't miss the outdoor exhibit that you drive around back to see. Don't miss the futuristic exhibit with the big ramp up high that lets you experience what exploration in the future might be like. Don't miss the Jim Hall race car wing behind the petroleum wing in the same building. read more

Awesome and very informative. Very hands on and audio-visual are intensive. Also, great Formula One cars there as well.

Much bigger than expected. Thought this place would take maybe an hour tops to go through. I've been here at least four hours I think and I did skip some things. Highly recommend. read more

Never expected this nice of a museum around here! So new and modern. The race cars in the back were a cherry on top! Having over $50 million worth of cars is not bad paying $8 to get inside read more

Petroleum Museum - Museums Near Me - Midland, Texas

It is small. We were through the inside rather fast. The outside is great. They have wonderful era pieces for oil digging, The gallery inside is nice,money have a great mineral section. My was disappointed in the history of oil though, mould like to have had more history and items. The museum only costs 5 dollars and walking to see the outside displays is worth that. I think i thought you would see gas pumps which there is only two and advertising which there is none. read more

Petroleum Museum - Museums Near Me - Midland, Texas

Great little museum if you are visiting oil country- this is your stop! Inside are exhibits on the history of petroleum in West Texas Permian Basin, with geologic panoramas taking you back 250 million years to the Permian sea. Visit a mock drill rig floor without losing fingers. Check out the tools and equipment inside and out from drilling bits, to pump-jacks, to old antique full retired rigs link g the property! Not into oil and rocks? Stunning mineral collection, southwest art collection, and if you are into old cars, this is the home of the Chapparel race car and there is a great exhibit! And for the shoppers, the staff mines the gem and mineral shows to provide a fantastic gift store!! You can just hit the gift store if you just want some baubles or t shirts, or a dinosaur! Really should not miss this gem!! read more

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They spent a lot of time creating the displays and they're pretty neat but their scientific information and their dates are not even close to being correct. The stuff that they tried to tell us was true just a few years ago they make fun of in their video and in place of it they put a bunch of other nonsense that they will be laughing at in the next few years. They make fun of people for believing what they drilled into their heads over the last few years. I don't think it's worth the $12. I think l would spend may be five dollars to go see the race cars and the drillbits and the core samples without reading all the scientifically inaccurate information insulting my intelligence and my scientific training on their signs. Just because somebody sticks something on a sign in a museum doesn't mean that's true information. I don't know maybe somebody would spend an extra five dollars just to see the neon sign but I don't think it's worth that much. read more

Really enjoyed the visit to kill a few hours before a business meeting. Not the most convenient to get to off the service road, but well signed. Adult entry fee $12. Do yourself a favor and skip the 15 min "mythcrackers" presentation and the futuristic drilling seminar unless you have youngsters to entertain. Lots of dates and numbers concerning history of companies and production capabilities. The museum was laid out well with defined sections like "boom town", "oil crisis", "geology & science", etc. Plenty of interactive exhibits and videos to explain various processes in laymen terms. Good school field trip! Recently renovated displays and a neat section of art & Chaparral cars. Finally, an outdoor drive through antique oilfield equipment is impressive. I highly recommend this stop. read more

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Great museum! It is recently renovated, so everything is pretty new. Takes you through the history of oil in Texas. You really learn how oil is viewed in culture and over time. It makes you appreciate the oil industry for how difficult it is to get out of the ground and the technological advances in the industry. Make sure you ask for the key at the front desk to go see the modern oil rig exhibit. Family friendly and informative without much bias. read more

Great service these people really know how to put on a show: kids are all comfortable with some of these are clean everyone's having a good time: initially was very cold they heated up so the girls could enjoy their volleyball tournament: Looking forward to this place during the year for more competition read more

the patrolman museum was one of my favorite places to go when i was little the workers are so nice and all the exsibets are fun to look around in and explore the other fun is the gift shop you never know what your gonna get . I recommend going here with family and friends you will have a blast read more

This is a good little education visit to learn about the area and history of petroleum in the are.

Neat place, but currently under renovation. Still a few things to see, including the mineral exhibit and Chapparal Gallery - and admission is free right now. read more

Wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Lots of interesting artifacts, stories and exhibits of early oil exploration and early West Texas Days. Very well organized. Very interesting exhibits of the Chapparral Cars. Great museum store. read more

Well done presentation on the history of the its oil industry. Then for car racing fans: Chaparral Racing Cars, the whole lineage!!! These cars revolutionized car racing dominating all kinds of races until the innovations were banned by the losers. read more