Special Note for people attending Texas Challenge 2023 in Longview. Museum hours during spring break are Closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (March 14-16). Open Friday and Saturday (March 17-18) Current admission $10 adults, Senior/Military 10% discount, Children 3-12 $7. Last admission time 4 p.m.
Sorry about the admission fee. This has been grandfathered in by Groundspeak. Txoilgas set it up this earthcache as an educational experience inside the museum, and I am going to keep it this way to honor his memory. The following is his original description:
The East Texas oilfield is the largest and most prolific oil reservoir in the contiguous United States. Since its discovery on October 3, 1930, some 30,340 wells have been drilled within its 140,000 acres to yield nearly 6 billion barrels of oil from a stratigraphic trap. This oil gave the Allies the petroleum-reserve stability needed to win World War II. And many of the wells are still pumping.
A visit to the theater brings back actual historical footage of the boom period. Study the geographical exhibits and take the elevator ride to the center of the earth. Let your guides take you thousands of feet below the earth’s surface to where oil deposits lie. It’s fun and informative.
As you pass the barbershop listen carefully for rumors of a new gusher, then pump your own gas outside the gas station. And make sure to go inside and see the movie on drilling an oil well.
To get credit for this Earthcache you must do the following.
1. Take a picture of the thing that most impressed you inside or anywhere in front of the museum.
2. Send an email with answers to these questions.
A. What is the name of the professor that gives the tour to the center of the Earth and what did you learn about the Earth that you did not know before?
B. What is the name of the formation that produces the oil and how deep below the surface is that formation?
C. What is the geological age of the formation?
D. What is the special effect you experience in the movie theater and what does it represent.
Of course if the above is not sent then I have the option to delete any log entries.
Congrats to pearle on FTF
Update - as of 1/28/2012, txoilgas died while caching in Oklahoma. I adopted this cache from him. He was my sweetheart. I know he would want me to keep it alive for him, so I am doing so. He was so proud of this cache and talked about it all the time, and this museum is a lot of fun to visit. It makes the history come alive. So I hope cachers continue to enjoy it. In his honor, I am leaving it exactly as he meant it to be - including admission to the museum. I think it is worth it, and I hope you do too.