Museum of the Southwest

Two girls in aprons paint colorful designs on a glass panel at the Museum of the Southwest.

The perfect marriage of exploration and inspiration, the Museum of the Southwest creates new possibilities for the mind and the imagination. Spread across a nearly six-acre campus, visitors will experience transformative and immersive exhibitions filled with art, science, history, and culture. Offering permanent exhibitions, such as the Historic Turner Mansion, children's exhibitions found in the Fredda Turner Durham Children's Museum, and an outdoor Sculpture Garden, there is a world of engaging artistry to be discovered at the Museum of the Southwest. The museum is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026, having been founded in 1965 and opened to the public in 1966.

Imagine Texas Wealth at the Turner Legacy Galleries

Oil wealth in Texas was not a tall tale for the historic Turner family in Midland, Texas. Explore the intriguing history of the Turner family at the Museum of the Southwest's Turner Legacy Galleries. In fact, the Museum of the Southwest was the former residence of the family before converting into the Midland attraction it is today. In the Historic Turner Mansion, built in 1936, you'll find three areas dedicated to the unique history of the house and the fascinating relationship between the Turner, Durham, and Scharbauer families and the Kentucky Derby.

In the former guest room, captivating equestrian dealings of these families are given their space to shine, including two Kentucky Derby trophies won by the families in 1959 and 1987. Be sure to view them on display, along with an interactive scrapbook and a scale model of the house in the library. More about historic Midland, TX and its vintage structures are explored in this special permanent collection at the Museum of the Southwest.

Captivating Star Shows at the Planetarium

If you truly want a spectacular sight to see, don't forget to claim your seat at the Marian West and William Blanton Blakemore Planetarium at the Museum of the Southwest. Experience exclusive star talks and exciting dome shows, such as Coterra Science on a Sphere, at this 360-degree, high-tech planetarium. Located in the Helen Greathouse Educational Discovery Dome, this state-of-the-art planetarium now uses a Digistar 7 system with 3D capabilities for the most captivating star show this side of the stratosphere!

Kids Get Hands-on Experience at the Children's Museum

Kids reign supreme at the Fredda Turner Durham Children's Museum at the Museum of the Southwest. Find exclusive kid-friendly learning opportunities and engaging, hands-on experiences for all ages, including a Makers Space, toddler room, and paint room. Free classes are offered to children, along with exciting traveling exhibitions and permanent favorites. There is a new picture to paint, a new tool to experiment with, and a new class to take with every visit.

A colorful planetary display featuring Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter is showcased at the Museum of the Southwest planetarium.

Explore the Outdoor Sculpture Garden

Beyond the museum's walls, the Sculpture Garden invites visitors to wander among large-scale outdoor artworks by contemporary Southwestern artists, free and open to the public. It's a peaceful, art-filled complement to a day spent indoors exploring the galleries and planetarium.

Always New Artwork at Special Exhibitions

Rotating special exhibitions at the Museum of the Southwest are destined to keep you coming back for more! Whether it is hand-crafted glass sculptures in Venetian technique, or abstract paintings in a captivating Texas modernist movement style, there is always a new exhibition to entertain your critical eye and to delight your artistic senses.

Learning and Fun Featured Programs

Featuring hands-on learning and family-friendly programs, the Museum of the Southwest continues to offer visitors and the surrounding Texas community countless art workshops, planetarium film nights (Sci-Fridays), Lawn Concerts, craft nights, and science scavenger hunts, as well as annual community traditions like SeptemberFest and Christmas at the Mansion. Its extensive list of featured programs provides all who visit an opportunity to participate in art, science, history, and culture.

Plan Your Visit

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m. (closed Mondays). It's located at 1705 W. Missouri Ave., Midland, TX 79701 (entrance on K Street). Take a fun family road trip from Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, or Houston to experience all the magic the Museum of the Southwest has to offer.