California Oil Museum, Santa Paula

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Ventura, CA
California Oil Museum, Santa Paula
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A trip to California Oil Museum makes for a great weekend outing with your kids. The museum is housed in a gorgeous Victorian building in walkable downtown Santa Paula, the town where Union Oil Company of California began. There is a garden out back and a Rig Building with a working 1890s oil rig. Kids love to watch it go up and down! The rig is made of cast iron and timber and a fake man stands working the rig. Throughout the Rig Building and the main building are some fantastic vintage gas pumps with logos you might recognize from the past. There are some interesting exhibits on the science and geology of petroleum and historical exhibits about the families and companies that made it big. Kids of all ages will enjoy the sights.
Afterwards, walk a block south on 10th St to Veterans Memorial Park where there's a playground and a wonderful skate park for older kids. Bliss! Both kids can be happy at the same time! From there, take a walk north on Mill St past historical buildings and the pretty Danish-style Glen Tavern Inn to the red railroad depot. Check out Main Street, where you feel you've stepped back in time. Drive along Santa Paula Street to see some beautiful homes.

Continue to directions...

See the clear cylinders filled with oil of different shades.

Learn about lubricity.

Exhibit on oil company marketing.

Old Chevron gas pump.

Gas pumps: Shell, Conoco, Richfield.

Impressive formation bits.

Fossils.

History of petroleum in California.

My son was captivated by this rotary bit!

Phillips vintage gas pump.

Gas pumps in the Rig Building, which is a wonderful building made almost entirely of windows on one side.

Dixie New Orleans pump.

Those were the days...

The garden beside the Rig Building is pretty.

I love the building the museum is housed in!

The front of the building- Queen Anne style.

California Oil Museum building- a beauty!

Directions

California Oil Museum is located at 1001 E. Main St, on the corner of 10th St and E. Main St in downtown Santa Paula.
From Highway 101, take Highway 126 to Santa Paula. Exit at 10th St and head north two blocks. Park along the road once you pass Main St. The museum is on your right.
Open 10-4. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Suggested donation $4.

map

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Last Updated: Wed, 28 Feb 2018 16:36:40 GMT

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