West Kern Oil Museum — Attraction in Taft

Historical plaque inscription: The Jameson # 17 oil derrick, which was drilled in 1917 and produced until the 1980’s, was scheduled to be torn down. In 1974 the local American Association of University Women and several dedicated people convinced Jameson Oil Company to donate the wooden derrick along with three acres of land to give the West Kern Oil Museum, Inc. a promising start.

The Jameson # 17 was the last standing wooden derrick in California, outlasting more than 7000 wooden derricks that covered the Midway-Sunset Field. Due to safety issues the derrick finally had to be torn down in 2003. However, the museum had the original plans, and in 2005 raised an exact replica of the derrick. Today, the replica stands over the original well, and is a part of the museum, which has grown to 8 acres.

The story of the oil companies, of everyday life in early oilfields and camps, as well as the story of oil itself are exhibited and interpreted within the museum.

The museum, run entirely by volunteers, is dedicated to collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting artifacts, books, and equipment that tell the story of oil in California, particularly in West...

Took a different road on the way to L.A. and ended up in Taft (I'm not a big fan of Hwy 5) This was a spur of the moment trip so we ended up staying in Taft. At our hotel, we asked the receptionist what is something cool to do in Taft and the oil museum came highly recommended. On Saturday morning we went to the museum and let me tell you it's a historical treasure. You not only learn about the oil history in the area but you also learn about Taft, Maricopa, and all the nearby towns. The staff, all volunteers, are super friendly and they took the time and explained everything to us. I highly recommend stopping here if you like to learn about history and see the evolution of oil pumping machines. This is a must see...

A must visit when traveling through California's oil country stretching from McKittrick onward through Taft, California. Museum is packed with artifacts, photographs, and models derived from the past and present. Docents are impeccable and steeped in oil field history and lore. The museum is clean and comfortable. Highly recommended as an adjunct to any history class from middle school through University. When visiting, don't forget to say hello too...