Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum and Education Center

Welcome aboard the Ocean Star! Whether charting a course for entertainment or education, visitors embark on an industrial-strength voyage of discovery within a modern museum setting. The only known facility of its type, the Ocean Star offers the opportunity to physically enter the world of the offshore oil and gas industry.

A Retired Rig's Second Life

Built in 1969 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Beaumont, Texas, the Ocean Star worked in the Gulf of Mexico, drilling approximately 200 wells over roughly two decades of active service. Acquired in 1995 by the nonprofit organization then known as the Offshore Energy Center, she was refurbished, rebuilt, relocated to Galveston, and opened as a museum on April 27, 1997. In 2022, that sponsoring nonprofit was renamed the Energy Education Foundation, broadening its educational mission beyond oil and gas to energy sources more broadly.

Why It Matters: Oil in Everyday Life

So much of our modern society relies on oil and things made from it. We all know that oil is an essential ingredient in gasoline and other fuels, but it's also used to build roads, manufacture tires, and is a key component in anti-freeze and brake fluids. In addition to helping us get around, hydrocarbons play an essential role in the production of everything from computers, cell phones, prescription medicines and eyeglasses to shampoos and lipstick. Without a steady flow of oil, we'd lose a lot. Luckily, we have an industry with the tools and technologies to meet the world's demand for oil and gas. At the Ocean Star Museum you can learn how hydrocarbons form and what it takes to extract them from the earth—from people and processes to tools and technologies.

Inside the Museum

Within the renovated three-story interior of the Ocean Star, innovative displays show the evolution of offshore drilling. Technological advances in the exploration for, capture, and transport of oil and gas are illustrated in multi-media presentations and interactive exhibits.

Exciting videos, photographs, and intricate scale models of the various types of ships, drilling rigs, offshore production facilities, and other equipment used to extract hydrocarbons from under the sea dramatically illustrate the when, where, and how of the offshore industry from the late 19th century to modern times. Detailed models of the ocean floor teach Gulf Coast geology, and ecology exhibits illustrate the many steps taken to protect the environment. The Life on a Rig exhibit shows how rig workers live on a daily basis in their floating home, with ship-style cabins, recreational areas, and kitchens known for their exceptional food. A Hall of Fame honors industry pioneers—including Brown & Root founders George and Herman Brown, offshore construction pioneer Ralph Thomas McDermott, rig designer Alden J. "Doc" Laborde, and former President George H.W. Bush—and a careers exhibit includes an interest profile quiz and a hands-on, hats-on display of uniforms.

Outdoors on the Rig

Outdoors at the Ocean Star, metal gangways and decks rattle underfoot, and the heft and height of the rig's decks and on-board equipment are stunning. Standing on the drill floor, it's 193 feet straight up to the top of the derrick. The Pipe Deck displays oversized equipment too large to fit inside, such as a blowout preventer, drill pipe, and cementing unit.

Programs, Tours, and Events

Step aboard for a decidedly unique learning adventure. Audio tours are available for those that prefer a personal tour guide, and offered in English, Spanish, and French. Discount rates are available for groups. Additionally, the Ocean Star offers programs for students (Grades 3–12, aligned to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards), scout troops, and educators, including a monthly Family Day on the second Saturday and an Overnight Program on the fourth Friday or Saturday evening of the month. Please call the museum or visit the official website for additional information, including current hours and admission pricing.