MIDLAND

The complete story of airpower before, during, and after WWII is the topic of this museum. As many as 20 of the 150-plane fleet are on display at all times. The collection includes the only flying B-29 and the world’s largest collection of WWII aviation nose art. A must for aviation enthusiasts.

Call for hours.

Admission: $10, seniors and teenagers $9, children 6–12 $7, CAF members and children under 6 free.

The 1930s Turner Mansion, on the National Register of Historic Places, was the first of many homes designed by architects for oil barons. The 50,000-square-foot complex now serves as an ornate setting for traveling exhibitions and permanent collections of art focusing on the Southwest. The Fredda Turner Durham Children’s Museum features “My Town,” “West Texas Keys,” a computer area, and other hands-on educational programs for the young ones. The Marian Blakemore Planetarium offers public sky shows and group shows by reservation.

Open Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 2–5 p.m.

Admission: Free.

Call for tour information.

Wide-ranging exhibits depict the role of oil in shaping culture from prehistoric times to the present. Displays include 1,000-year-old reed maps and woven-fiber articles from prehistoric populations, historical paintings, cowboy tack, and railroad artifacts. Exhibits document the changes that followed the discovery of oil in Texas and offer a crash course in drilling techniques. Especially effective are the 30-foot “underwater” walk through a Permian Age sea of 230 million years ago and a simulated well blowout. The new Chaparral Gallery features science-related interactive exhibits and displays all seven of Jim Hall’s Chaparral race cars.

Open Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed major holidays).

Admission: $8, seniors and children 12–17 $6, 6–11 $5, under 6 free. Group rates available by reservation.

Strollers and wheelchairs available.