Petroleum Museum

Mission: To teach the story of petroleum and the rugged lives of men and women who sought a better life.

The Petroleum Museum, founded in 1975 by community leaders under George T. Abell, is the nation’s largest museum dedicated to the petroleum industry and its pioneers. Located in the Permian Basin, the museum has welcomed over one million visitors from around the world. It tells the story of petroleum’s history and its impact on daily life through educational programs, interactive exhibits, an archives center, and the Petroleum Hall of Fame. Spanning over 230 million years of history, the museum offers 40,000 square feet of engaging exhibits that inspire adventurers of all ages.

The Museum is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

We have opportunities for any schedule or interest!

Art enthusiasts can guide visitors through world class paintings; history buffs can help preserve and catalogue historical documents and artifacts; animal lovers can socialize an iguana or pet a prairie dog; dramatists can bring history to life through an interactive puppet show; educators can help with tours and programs; and socialites can greet guests from all over the world.

The Museum also hosts special educational programs throughout the year!

• Family Science Nights are free to the public and you can help by facilitating a themed activity or experiment. Halloween Tricks & Treats is a fun evening event for the entire family in October. Summer Science Classes are great opportunities to get involved during the summer and educate kids of all ages! Building Bots is our newest program that combines creative thinking with robotics and engineering.

Docents: Do you want to be part of a powerful learning experience? From Geology to Physics to Texas History to Animals, help us educate the community! Come give tours once a month or every day, whatever your schedule allows. You can also help with our educational outreach programs. Become a docent and make learning fun!

Volunteers in the Archives & Collections Department help preserve the rich history of the petroleum industry and the Permian Basin. We will help match you to your perfect job depending on your abilities, interests, and schedule. Photographic cataloguers, archives processors and scanners are always needed and we love to teach new skills!

Meet and greet visitors from all over the world in our Museum Store! Volunteers welcome visitors, work the cash register and help re-stock merchandise. You can work once a month or once a week, whatever fits your schedule!