Permian Basin Petroleum Museum

The scent of the oil fields is heavy in the air of Midland, Texas, an industry hub and home to the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum.  Ever since the discovery of oil in the Permian Basin with the Santa Rita No. 1 in 1923, Midland has become an administrative center for west Texas’ oil fields.  Midland continues to produce one…

Continue Reading

Panhandle–Plains Historical Museum

In case there was any question about the subject matter of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the 100 cattle brands decorating its entrance and iconic old oil derrick should remove any doubt. This is a history museum for and about northern Texas. Located in Canyon, just south of Amarillo, on the West Texas A&M University campus,…

Continue Reading

Drake Well Museum

Pennsylvania might not be the first place one thinks of when considering oil, but it was the first place that oil was drilled in America. On August 27, 1859, in Titusville, Pennsylvania next to Oil Creek, Edwin Drake completed the first commercial oil well. The Drake Well Museum preserves the original well and celebrates the…

Continue Reading

California Oil Museum

The California Oil Company Museum is an educational and historic site located in the Union Oil Building in Santa Paula, California. Displays span subjects from oil history, its uses, the development of oil drilling technology, and the companies that distributed it.  The museum is open to the public with a suggested $4 donation per person….

Continue Reading