CITY SPOTLIGHT:

Your Guide to Midland

oil rig in Midland

Know Before You Go: About Midland

The spirit West Texas' Southern Plains comes alive when visiting the city of Midland.

The discovery of oil in 1923 transformed Midland, Texas, from a Southern Plains railroad town into a boom town. Along with this change in fate came skyscrapers and big business. Couple that with a range of interesting museums, some excellent cultural institutions and a wealth of hospitality, and you have much to see in the heart of Texas. Traverse through history as you make your way through a city built with the blend of old and new.

A Semi-Arid Climate

Midland has a semi-arid climate, with long, hot summers and short winters. Temperatures range from the mid-30s to high-90s during the year. Expect temps in the low- to mid-90s throughout the May-to-September warm season. During the colder months—late-November to late-February—expect average temperatures below 65. December is the coldest month, when average lows dip to freezing. Midland has an average annual snowfall of 2 inches and experiences an average of 355 rain-free days each year.

History and Petroleum

Although it lacks any single stand-out tourist attraction, Midland offers a range of interesting museums, historic homes and a state-of-the-art planetarium. Take in works by regional and national artists at Midland College's McCormick Gallery, and see more fine art at the Turner Memorial Art Gallery, part of the Museum of the Southwest. The latter is housed in a historic mansion listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Experience a place of importance in the nation's political history at the George W. Bush Childhood Home, restored as it was in the early 1950s, long before its residents became ambassadors, governors, presidents and the First Lady. At the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, discover how a 230-million-year-old sea that once covered the Permian Basin became today's oil fields, forever transforming the region and its people.

Oil and Gas Industries

With a location near the center of the Permian Basin oil fields, Midland's economy is dominated by the oil and gas industry. The city hosts the operations of such oil giants as Chevron and ExxonMobil. Its top public sector employers are the school district and Midland Memorial Hospital as well as Midland College. Smaller industry sectors represented in Midland include aerospace, manufacturing, health care and transportation. Ranching and agriculture also play a part.

Fly, Drive and Ride

Midland is almost exactly midway between El Paso and Fort Worth on I-20, a highway that will take you west to Kent, Texas, or as far east as South Carolina. You can fly daily to and from Dallas, Houston, Denver and Las Vegas through Midland International Airport, which is served by American, Southwest and United airlines. For local transportation, use the EZ-Rider public transportation system; its six fixed routes cover all of downtown Midland and also connect Midland to Odessa.

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Things to Do in Midland

Museums, art galleries, nature centers, planetariums and, of course, barbecue joints. Don't miss some of our favorite must-see attractions.