Oklahoma Petroleum Museum

[Conan71]

I've been trying to track down two scale models of oil drilling rigs my grandfather built.  One was built in 1959 for the IPE in Tulsa for Kerr-McGee.  The other was built in 1963 and 1964 and shipped to the Smithsonian in Washington where it was on display for a number of years.  I actually did get to see it in 1979.

I've been in contact with the Smithsonian and hopefully on the right path to finding that one.  It was a model of Kermac 54, a working drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico.  The person I've been in contact with at SI said they took down the petroleum exhibit some time ago, so there's a good chance it could have been returned to K-M or might be in storage somewhere in the SI system if it was donated, rather than loaned to SI.

The other was built in 1959 for K-M, after the IPE it was donated, according to my uncle, to "Science and Industry or Petroleum Museum, something like that"

Does anyone know of a "petroleum museum" in Oklahoma?  I was thinking there might be one connected to a University or something in OKC since I'm thinking K-M was HQ'd there at one time.

These were sizeable as I remember, about 4'x4' at the base and 6' to 8' tall, maybe taller.

If anyone has a clue which way to steer me on an Oklahoma petroleum museum, it would be appreciated.

[MacGyver]

Conan,

Very intricate work - your grandfather must have been quite a craftsman.

If you think its in the state you might start at the Oklahoma Oil History Museum in Seminole.  I don't know that they will be much help as the exhibits tend to be geared toward land technology and the 20's and 30's, but they may be able to point you in the right direction.
http://www.seminoleoklahoma.com/museum/

There is also the Kerr McGee Gallery at the OK Historical Center.  The curators that received pieces from KM may be able to put you in touch with someone from KM  who knows someone who knows someone who knows where the model ended up.

Good luck and please post pictures if you find the models.

M

[YoungTulsan]

You don't need much to build a museum.  Give me a toothpick, a paper clip, and some newspapers.

[SXSW]

There is one in Seminole that is small, and frankly, not very nice at all.  It has a nice display of the history of the industry in Oklahoma and some historical equipment but it's in a steel building off the highway there.  When I was in architecture school at OU we did a project to design a new energy museum for them which actually was one of my favorite designs I did while in school.  The site is great because it sits on the edge of a big valley and views from the building overlook an actual oil field with producing wells.  If they could ever get a new building built that takes advantage of that site and the view it could really be an attraction for Seminole.

[Conan71]

Thank you for the tips.  I'd thought about starting with the history museum down in OKC first, but thought if anyone knew of a specialized petroleum museum that would be good as well.

I need to find more info on the first model.  It's been a long time since I saw photos of it and cannot remember if it was a land or off-shore rig.  I can get that info from my uncle in short order.