Petroleum Museum
Midland, Texas, United States
Petroleum Museum
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A Museum which tells the story of petroleum and the rugged lives of men and women who sought a better life.
About Petroleum Museum
Welcome to the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. Founded in 1975 by over 500 community leaders under the leadership of George T. Abell, the Museum tells the story of petroleum and the rugged lives of men and women who sought a better life.
What started as a community dream has, over time, become the nation’s largest museum dedicated to the petroleum industry and its pioneers. The Petroleum Museum has welcomed over one million visitors worldwide. It shares the petroleum and energy story and its impact on our daily lives through educational programs, interactive exhibits, an archives center and its Petroleum Hall of Fame.
A visit to the Petroleum Museum is an amazing journey through over 230 million years of history. Located in the heart of the Permian Basin, the Petroleum Museum offers over 40,000 square feet of interactive education and entertainment for adventurers of all ages. The mission of the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum is to share the petroleum and energy story and its impact on our lives.
The Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneers
History & General Information
“The year was 1959 and a good year it was. It was in the hustle and bustle of activities of that time, generated by the rapid growth of the oil and gas business in Midland that the Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneers was born. …
It was also the Centennial year of the oil industry in the United States, and Midland residents were desirous of arranging and staging something special to show their appreciation for what the industry had meant to Midland. … [T]he very first celebration honoring Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneers was held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1959, with headquarters at Hotel Scharbauer. … The celebration was such a huge success from every standpoint that its sponsors and others decided to make it a biennial event.
The association was organized for the sole purpose of recognizing, honoring and entertaining Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneers, and it has met the challenge in grand style. From the beginning, the reunions have been among Midland’s most delightful and enjoyable social functions. Long may they continue.”
— Bill Collyns, 1991
Following the first meeting of the Petroleum Pioneers in 1959, the Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneers was duly chartered as a non-profit corporation in the State of Texas.
Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneers was founded for the purpose of gathering and preserving historical data and materials relating to the early day development of the oil, gas and mineral industry in the area defined as the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico.
Description of Services
Petroleum Exhibits
For over 40 years, the Petroleum Museum has shared the petroleum and energy story and its impact on our daily lives. The Museum offers an amazing journey through millions of years of history, including the vast sea that covered the Permian Basin 230 million years ago.
The 15,000 square feet of interactive exhibits cover all aspects of the petroleum industry. From interactives to immersive environments to game-based learning experiences, the exhibit space will be sure to entertain guests of all ages. In addition to telling the petroleum and energy story of the Permian Basin, the Museum hopes to inspire young visitors to pursue careers in the petroleum and energy sciences.
“The amount of information, dispersed in so many creative ways will fascinate visitors of all ages.” said Kathy Shannon, Executive Director. “The Museum has become a showcase for innovative and creative thinking and definitely a strong science-based museum for our community and beyond.”
Highlights of the petroleum exhibits include:
- Mythcrackers- An introductory film welcomes visitors by examining and dispelling common petroleum myths via a Family Feud-style game show, because “it’s what you think you know that just ain’t so.”
- Permian Reef – Upon exiting the theater, guests are fully immersed in a dramatic recreation of a 230 million-year-old Permian reef, featuring the Museum’s original 1975 reef diorama, beautifully restored.
- Birth of an Industry- Midland comes to life via a re-creation of a 1930s Boom Town, complete with a general store, land office, and an array of early Midland artifacts.
- The Voyage of the PetroTrekker – As the tactical engineers of a petroleum exploration vessel, guests journey across land, through space, and under the sea to find new sources of petroleum. This immersive theater features interactive touch screens, dramatic lighting, and special effects to place guests in the heart of the action.
- Risk and Reward – In this game-based exhibit, guests run into various obstacles as they drill for oil and must determine whether to forge ahead or walk away.
- Supplemental Energies – This area explains the supplemental energies, from solar to hydro to nuclear, that are being used to power our cars, homes, and cities.
- Chevron Energy City – This brightly colored “city”, geared towards our youngest visitors, teaches children about various forms of energy and the steps they can take to conserve energy in their everyday lives.
What we do
Membership
Membership is welcome to anyone who has worked for twenty or more years prior to October 1st of the year in which application for membership is made in the exploration, development, production, transportation or processing activities of the oil and gas business within the Permian Basin. There are no initiation fees or dues; reunions are funded by sponsors and/or registration fees.
To be eligible, a person need only meet the above requirements and register with the Executive Committee by submitting information on the Membership Form. It is not necessary for a person to have lived continuously in the Permian Basin, nor is it necessary for the person to have continued actively in the oil industry.
Persons termed “Vested Member” are those widows/widowers who lived with their Pioneer spouses in the Permian Basin for twenty or more years prior to membership and were married to them at the time of the Pioneer’s death and who have not since remarried.
Current membership includes over 750 Pioneers who are located in over 100 towns and cities.
Membership
Membership has its privileges! Your member dollars support various educational programs as well as the Museum’s most pressing needs. All membership levels are renewed annually and are non-transferable. Prices are subject to change.
All Members Receive:
- Free Museum admission for you and your guest (Family or Corporate employee/constituent must be present for free admission)
- 15% discount in the Museum Store
- 10% discount on facility rentals
- Discounts on select education programs
- Members-only early access to Family Science Nights (Family or Corporate employee/constituent must be present for early admission) and early access to education program registration
Membership Levels
Contributing Membership
Family – For individuals & families
- $100 Family
- $150 Friend
- $300 Associate
- $600 Supporter
Energy Circle Membership
- All of the above benefits
- Patron and Sustainer receive one (1) free daytime rental of Board Room (12-20 person capacity)
- Benefactor and Director receive one (1) free daytime rental of Auditorium
- 20% discount on all other facility rentals
- Featured company/organization logo in Museum publications and website
Family – For individuals & families
- $1,000 Patron
- $2,500 Sustainer
- $5,000 Benefactor
- $10,000 Director
Corporate – For companies, corporations, and organizations
- $1,000 Patron
- $2,500 Sustainer
- $5,000 Benefactor
- $10,000 Director
