Photographer: Kevin Stillman

The museum's variety of collections, exhibits and interpretation of the oil industry make it an outstanding visitor site. Historical highlights include thousand-year-old reed mats and woven fiber articles from the area's prehistoric population; superb historical paintings; cowboy tack and early railroad artifacts. Petroleum exhibits include great historic photos of early boom-town activities; fascinating well-drilling techniques in paintings, models and hardware; 3-D models of oil strata; geological AV shows and the story of oil formation; actual oil-well cores from deep underground. Step back 230 million years and walk 30 feet "under water" in a Permian-age sea. Stand amid a wrecked drilling rig and experience a simulated wild well blowout. Experience transportation history as you view the Jim Hall Chaparral race cars displayed in the new transportation wing. Rarely seen by the public, these race cars were instrumental in the development of technology still used in racing today. Outside you can find a large collection of antique oil drilling rigs and equipment as well. This museum also features the largest collection in the nation of Tom Lovell works. At 1500 I-20 west, exit 136 in Midland. Admission fee.