California Oil Museum

Activity Overview

The California Oil Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum in Santa Paula, California that is dedicated to the history of the oil industry in California. It showcases a number of interactive displays that focus on the oil industry throughout the ages, from Native Americans using natural oil seeps to the modern technology used to drill for oil and make the gasoline that our cars run on. Their informative tours teach visitors of all ages all about this fossil fuel that is an important part of modern society.

Things to Do

• Visit the exhibits in W.M. Keck, Sr. Hall, which explain how oil is extracted from the ground using videos, models, photographs, artifacts, and computer displays. It's informative for both children and adults.
• See an authentic oil drilling rig from the 1890s that was used in California oilfields!
• Explore the second story, which features the restored corporate headquarters of Union Oil Company and a recreated 1930s apartment that shows what life was like during the Great Depression.

California Oil Museum Insider Tips

• Check out the current temporary exhibitions - they're often kid-friendly exhibits that focus on topics related to science, history, and technology.
• Make the most of your visit by going on a guided tour of the second story offices, which will take you back in time to the 1890s, which was early in the state's oil history.
• While the museum is free, it does run on donations, so make sure to give a few dollars if you can afford to.