Our next stop was the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in Midland Texas. This was another Harvest Hosts, just over 300 miles from the War Eagle Air Museum.
There is not much in western Texas. Just lots of desert, construction and I hate to say it but liter along the road.
My knowledge of oil production was remembering a few movies from many years ago. When they did strike oil, the oil would create a gusher of oil, that they had to cap and sometimes it would catch on fire. Always a lot of drama. I also was good at drawing oil derricks when I was in grammar school. We would enjoy seeing the oil pumps that were decorated like animals when traveling through Coalinga, California.
This Museum was very well done with lots of hands on displays for kids. Its focus is Science, Education and History. Everything from cool Polished core samples to a giant neon Mobile Gas Flying Horse. Besides all the petroleum exhibits, there is a Mineral Collection and even a collection of Jim Hall’s Chaparral Race Cars. To top that off there are the Oil Patch Outside displays. They have excellent displays of all kinds of old derricks, and oil pumps of every size and age. I love the history and mechanical side of things. Next to the parking lot for the Harvest Hosts, there is a old wooden oil derrick and a 1930’s model metal one. It was a great photo opportunity for our motorhome. I did take advantage of that! It was a great overnight for us here in Midland, TX. Here is a link to our Permian Basin Petroleum Museum album.
This will be our last Harvest Hosts for a while as we will be in a RV park and then at our projects for the next 3 months.
