Where curiosity fuels the future: 50 years of the Petroleum Museum
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- In a city shaped by oil, one place has spent the last half-century telling its story, not just through artifacts, but through imagination.
The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum turns 50 this year. And for those who know it well, it's never just been about petroleum.
Walk through its doors, and you'll find a game show that busts myths about energy. A recreated reef that dates back over 200 million years. A hands-on mission aboard a petroleum-finding spaceship. In the very next room, you might hear the roar of a legendary race car.
'It's a place for curiosity,' said Associate Director Mara Bland. 'We want people to come in and feel inspired, no matter their age or background.'
Founded in 1975 by George T. Abell, the museum was envisioned as both a tribute to the industry that fueled the Permian Basin and a living classroom for the people who call it home. Over the decades, that mission has expanded. Today, the Petroleum Museum serves as a science center, historical archive, educational hub, and community gathering space all rolled into one.
And according to Bland, it's still evolving.
Much of the museum's strength lies in its range. In one exhibit, visitors walk through a recreated 1930s oil boomtown, complete with a general store and land office. In another, they explore renewable energies or learn how to drill for oil in a hands-on challenge where luck and logic collide.
For young visitors, the summer science camps are a major draw. This year, 72 kids are enrolled, thanks in part to scholarships supported by Oxy and a new partnership with the Boys and Girls Club.
A new camp called 'Circuit Wars' introduces older students to robotics, circuits, and programming through Battle Bots challenges.
'It's about sparking interest at the right moment,' Bland said. 'Especially when older kids are thinking about what their future might look like.'
For many longtime Midlanders, the museum isn't just a local attraction, it's a source of pride. But Bland said many residents are still surprised by what they find inside.
'There are people who've lived here for years and didn't realize all this was here,' she said. 'And there are kids who walk in and see their eyes light up. That's when you know it's working.'
The exhibits don't shy away from the labor that built the region either. Outside, visitors can walk through the largest collection of historic oilfield equipment in the world, from towering derricks to the same cable-tool rigs that powered early wildcatters.
Inside, art plays a role too. Fourteen original paintings by Western artist Tom Lovell tell the cultural story of the Permian Basin, from early settlers to the birth of the oil industry. Lovell worked closely with founder George Abell to select moments that captured the region's spirit and resilience.
To honor five decades of education and community, the museum is hosting a yearlong celebration. Each second Saturday of the month, admission is rolled back to 1975 prices, just $1 for adults, 50 cents for students, and free for kids under five.
In September, the museum will host two major public events: a Family Festival Day on September 13 with food trucks, activities, and free entry; and a formal celebration on September 20 honoring the museum's founders and future.
Bland said these aren't just milestones, they're thank-yous.
'We wouldn't be here without the people who support us,' she said. 'This is their story too.'
With thousands of annual visitors, the museum has grown far beyond its original purpose. But Bland says the heart of the work hasn't changed.
Whether it's a child stepping into a replica Chaparral car, a parent finally understanding what their partner does in the field, or a retired worker seeing his story honored in an exhibit, the goal is the same: to create moments of understanding.
'Those are the things that stay with us,' Bland said. 'Because this isn't just a museum about oil. It's a museum about people and the place we all call home.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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