I am sure we all agree we all need oil to some degree. The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum is a great place to see what its all about. Its explains the geology, the formation of the oil, the drilling, the history and the future. Well worth a few hours of your time to explore and enjoy this museum.

A world-class museum in the middle of the Permian BasinThe Permian Basin Petroleum Museum is genuinely stunning and was one of the biggest surprises of my visit to Midland.It would have been easy for a museum devoted to petroleum to become highly technical or narrowly focused, but this institution does exactly the opposite. The exhibits turn geology, drilling, engineering, energy production, and the history of the Permian Basin into an engaging and highly visual experience.The presentation throughout the museum is first-rate. Interactive displays, recreated environments, historic equipment, detailed models, and multimedia installations make the story understandable even for visitors who know very little about the oil industry.There is also far more here than petroleum alone. The mineral and geological displays are visually spectacular, and the unexpected automotive exhibits add another fascinating dimension to the visit.What impressed me most was how effectively the museum explains why this region has played such an extraordinary role in American energy history. You leave with a much greater appreciation for the science, technology, risk, and human ingenuity behind an industry that transformed West Texas.Allow considerably more time than you think you will need. This is not a quick roadside museum—it is a substantial, beautifully executed institution and easily one of Midland’s essential attractions.

Wow! I did not know what to expect but this was extremely well done with so much information. The exhibits are interactive in some areas. There are outside exhibits with equipment. You can drive through those areas if the Texas heat gets to you. There’s an art museum and a full area of beautiful mineral deposits encased in glass. I can see why some say they spend hours here. If you are curious about the oil and gas industry this is the place for you.

Tried to visit here today, but it was closed. Not sure why. Can’t use weather as an excuse. It was a beautiful sunny day with highs in the 40s. We were able to take a nice walk and view their outdoor displays. There are quite a few of them, but really wanted to see the museum on the inside. Neither the museum’s web site nor the signage on the door indicated why they were closed. Definitely won’t be coming back to a place that treats its customers so rudely.

Nicely laid out floor plan. Very informative but a lot of reading. Both movies were geared for school age kids. Wishing there was a map to the floor plan. Radical get list.