Owned and operated by the Midland Historical Society, the Brown-Dorsey House is a historic Victorian home. Erected in 1899 by prominent businessman Zachary Taylor Brown, it is believed to be the oldest home in the city and is still standing on its original location. The house features an asymmetrical design, ornamental jigsaw and turned trim, and a Gothic art glass window in. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. As of October 2019, the house is not open to tours as it is currently undergoing renovation.
This historical marker commemorates the life of master Blacksmith and airplane builder John Valentine Pliska (1879-1956), who, in 1912, was the first local to build and fly an airplane. The marker was placed here because this is where Pliska's Blacksmith shop was once located. Pliska is also notable for being associated with General John J. Pershing (1860-1948), who had Pliska shoe his horses at the shop in 1907.
The Museum is open Thursday-Saturday each week from 11 am to 4 pm. The current exhibits are: From Plan to Plans and Petroleum: Midland During World War II. Paleo-Midland: The Story of the Midland Woman Skull The Midland Historical Society will be developing new exhibits over the next year as funding is available. The Museum also holds a large collection of historical documents including obituaries and newspapers from the Midland Reporter Telegram as well as images related to Midland history. These archives are available to the public by appointment only.
The historic Yucca Theatre is one of Midland's most architecturally unique landmarks. Constructed in 1927, the theater was designed by architect Wyatt C. Hedrick in the Gothic style which had grown popular at this time and was widely used for theater design in major cities. The facade of the building features elaborate stonework and the interior features an elaborate Egyptian/Assyrian design with gilded lions and ornate light fixtures and columns. The Yucca is owned by the Midland Community Theatre company, which offers a diverse lineup of productions each year. The company also puts on an annual vaudeville show called "Summer Mummers."
This downtown office tower was constructed in 1948 and marked a turning point in the mid-century growth of Midland. The building was erected for the express purpose of providing much-needed office space for tenants associated with the oil industry including oil companies, lawyers, engineers, and geologists. The building was so large that, at the time, it contained one quarter of the city's office space. Well-known Texas architect Wyatt Hedrick designed the tower in the Modernistic style with Art Deco elements. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1915 and remains an office building today.
Located in the heart of residential Midland, TX, the George W. Bush Childhood Home and Museum is a non-profit museum focusing on life in the 1950s. Dedicated and opened to the public in April of 2006, it stands as one of a very small number of 1950s residential restorations and is the first 1950s historical Presidential home. In addition to being the home of 41st President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, it was also the home of 43rd President George W. Bush and Presidential candidate and Florida governor Jeb Bush.
The Museum of the Southwest is a history, art, culture, and science museum established in 1965. It is comprised of four buildings: the historic Turner Mansion, the Turner Memorial Art Museum, the Durham Children's Museum, and the Blakemore Planetarium. An accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums, the museum offers a variety of exhibitions, programs, events throughout the year. The museum's collection consists of around 45,000 archaeological artifacts and more than 1,700 works of art. Highlights include lithographs of four-legged animals by John James Audubon (who is famous for his work "The Birds of America"), photographs of Native Americans by Edward Curtis, and art created by contemporary Southwestern artists. The historic Turner Mansion was built in 1937 and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Journey through over 230 million years of history at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. Located in the heart of the Permian Basin, the nation’s most prolific oil producing area, this museum introduces visitors to hundreds of educational, interactive, and engaging exhibits showcasing the natural history of oil and how it is turned into the most commonly used petroproducts around. Additionally, the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum seeks to inform visitors about the dynamic history of oil production and the rugged lives of the men and women who made it possible. The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to the petroleum industry and its pioneering forces, and with over 40,000-square-feet of space that offers visitors a multifaceted and interactive look into oil and the oil industry, this museum allows visitors to be part of the petroleum story and its possibilities in the future.
Located at the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) headquarters, the CAF Airpower Museum seeks to display and educate the public about the airborne military history while also preserving World War II-era combat planes as well as war artifacts. Revered for its wide array of combat planes and history-based exhibits, the 100,000-square-feet at this museum gives the public a hands-on experience with exhibits featuring the military equipment and personnel who fought for both the Allies and the Axis powers in WWII. As an official Smithsonian Affiliate since 2006, this museum seeks to broaden the availability of war memorabilia by showcasing the stories of battle to the public. Known to hold one of the largest and most complete collections of WWII aviation culture, the CAF Airpower Museum introduces visitors to over 4,900 oral histories from both Allied and Axis soldiers, the largest collection of nose art panels in the world, and over 6,000 books and 900 videos pertinent to major and minor battles as well as war culture.
Located on the University of Texas of the Permian Basin campus, the Presidential Museum and Leadership Library is one of the premier repositories and history museums in the state. The museum includes exhibits on each of the presidents, including official portraits, documents, collectibles, and campaign memorabilia. Visitors to this museum can enjoy an immersive and hands-on experience that examines the history of the United States through the lens of the presidency. The present museum and library began operations in this facility in 2003, but the Presidential Museum and Leadership Library dates back to 1963, and was created in response to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Over time, the museum has changed locations and acquired a massive permanent collection, which even includes the restored homes of George H.W. Bush and his son, George W. Bush. In addition to learning about the presidents of the United States, visitors to the museum can also explore political cartoons, defeated presidential candidates, and even an exhibit showcasing Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America.
The Ellen Noel Art Museum carries the proud role of being one of the most beloved and visited art museums in the Permian Basin area, and for over 29 years, this museum has introduced both university students and the public to culturally-diverse American and Texan artists. Furthermore, this museum gives visitors the opportunity to discover American southwest art in an inspirational and engaging hands-on atmosphere that focuses on education and art-based recreation. Admission to the galleries at the Ellen Noel Art Museum are always free to the public, and locals and visitors can always expect a variety of diverse changing exhibitions and outstanding educational programming for all ages. Exhibits change at the museum every 3 to 5 months, and the permanent collection here features a variety of examples of American art dating from the 1860s to the present.
Temple Beth El is home to a Jewish congregation that was founded in 1945. Members built a temple at the intersection of 4th Street and West County Road the following year and moved to this synagogue following the completion of the structure in 1962. At the time of the congregation's founding, Temple Beth El was the only Jewish synagogue within 140 miles. Today, it serves members living in Odessa, Midland, and surrounding Texas communities and the congregation is affiliated with Conservative and Reform Judaism.
The Parker House Ranching Museum is a historic home built in the early quarter of the 20th century. It is a good example of a typical ranching house and is unique in that it was built with stone walls. The home is named after the Parker family, who lived here beginning in 1935 when rancher Jim Parker bought it. Visitors to the home will learn about the Parker family and the history of ranching in the county. Period furnishings are on display as well as early 20th-century photos and memorabilia.
There were relatively few public schools in Ector County prior to 1890 and even fewer options for minority students. In 1890, the county school board created a new public school system for white and Mexican American students. The Ector County Independent School System (ECISD). The students that belonged to the district included Anglos and Mexican-American Students.
Built in 1887, the White-Pool House is the oldest surviving building in Odessa. It is named after two of the families who lived there, the Whites and the Pools. Constructed by Charles White and his family in 1887, the house is a simple but well-designed Victorian home. It has been a historic house museum since 1986 and features many original furnishings on display. Today, the home also serves as an event venue. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
This historical marker, which is located on the grounds of the Ector County Courthouse, commemorates the man for whom the county is named: General Matthew Duncan Ector (1822-1879), who was a Confederate general in the Civil War. The marker is situated in between two other markers; one provides information about the history of the courthouse and the other commemorates the Ector County Land Rush.
This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.
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This drive from Midland to Odessa includes numerous historic homes, museums, and landmarks from the Brown-Dorsey Home and the Midland County Historical Museum to the CAF Airpower Museum and Ellen Noel Art Museum
