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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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 Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This tour of Midland begins at the Museum of the Southwest and stops by the George W. Bush Childhood Home and Museum before making its way downtown to include Midland Tower, Yucca Theatre, Midland County Historical Museum, and other landmarks.
