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Things to Do in Galveston
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum

Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum, Galveston: Hours, Address, Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum Reviews: 4.5/5

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Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum

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Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum
4.5
1,011
#4 of 77 things to do in Galveston
Speciality Museums • Science Museums
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
The Ocean Star is a retired jackup drilling rig that offers a fun, hands on way to learn about the offshore oil and gas industry in a comfortable and accessible facility. The museum features three floors of models, exhibits, equipment and interactive displays illustrating the story of offshore exploration and production. This self guided museum offers visitors the unique opportunity to board an actual offshore rig. While ticket sales halt at 4:00 PM, visitors can remain until the site closes at 5:00. Welcome Aboard!
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,011 reviews
Excellent
582
Very good
345
Average
71
Poor
13
Terrible
1
melwashere81
Cleveland, TX989 contributions
Interesting
Couples
I've seen this place every time I go to Galveston for the past few years and I've always wondered what it was. Decided to check it out and was pleasantly surprised. It is a retired oil rig that has been transformed into a museum with lots of hands on interactive exhibits. There are 3 floors and a few exhibits outside as well. Price of admission was $10 and we thought it was well worth the price for the size of the museum. They have a nice gift shop as well so be sure to stop by on your way out to grab a souvenir or two. I would definitely recommend this to anyone visiting Galveston....especially if you're wanting to get away from the crowded beaches.
Written May 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Michael W
Waco, United States30 contributions
Well Worth the Time and Highly Educational
The Ocean Star Rig/Museum was on our list of things to see when we recently visited Galveston. It was not high on our list but moved up when we bought a Galveston City Pass tour ticket package, which offered discounted admission to several places in town. I think I can best describe what this place has to offer by using Mr. Spock's favorite word: Fascinating. There are numerous exhibits and pieces of equipment to see. We were fortunate while we were visiting to come across a man who worked on such a rig. He was telling his son about all of the different pieces of equipment so we kind of tagged along behind to listen to him! Now so you know, you can go through this museum in an hour or two, but if you really want to take your time and view each of the exhibits and get a detailed view of the offshore Oil and Gas industry, this will take you several hours, but it will be worth it. The staff are friendly as well. About the only criticism I had was that parking is limited. The museum is at the end of a pier and parking near it is a flat rate of $10 per day. You can park at an hourly rate several blocks away and walk. This is NOT the museum's fault, but rather the City of Galveston not offering free parking much anywhere downtown. If you are in town and want an educational experience, you must visit here. You will not be disappointed.
Written January 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Chuck M
San Diego, CA222 contributions
Fascinating Study Of An Important Industry! Very Educational.
I really enjoyed my visit to the Ocean Star Museum. The curators and staff do an excellent job informing visitors about the complexities of exploring/drilling for oil and gas. I had no real idea about the science, engineering and technology that goes into producing the energy needs of a modern (and developed) nation such as the United States. I certainly came away from my visit with a much greater appreciation of VERY hard work the men & women in the energy industry do to make our lives easier and more comfortable. Truly fascinating!

The museum is expertly laid out and easy to navigate. The displays are comprehensive and very well done. I was particularly impressed with the information provided about how the industry focuses, as a critical priority, on safety and environmental protection. I think it is very important for people to know and understand just how seriously the energy industry takes these two priorities.

The museum consists of three display floors, and outdoor displays. During these COVID-19 times, the museum adheres to health & safety protocols. You must wear a mask and practice proper social distancing. Not a problem! It didn't slow us down at all. In fact, it even made the visit more enjoyable as we could take our time and learn from the displays without feeling rushed or crowded.

Just one word of caution. If you visit on a rainy day, be very careful while exploring the outside areas. The walkways are very slippery when wet.

In sum, the Ocean Star Museum is well worth an investment of a couple hours. Very informative and interesting. I would visit again! Museum admission is about $10,00, and these is a small gift store at the reception area. However, there is no food/drink concessions at the museum.
Written December 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Texasgal1517
Nashville, TN49 contributions
Solid intro into the oil industry
Solo
Whether you have prior knowledge/experience with the oil industry or are a complete newbie this museum has something for everyone. From history of the industry, basic science of the industry, a day in the life, and real-life equipment both inside and outside. I would recommend going on a calm weather day so you can enjoy all of the outdoor events (some are on a 3rd story platform).
Written September 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bob G
Grand Rapids, MI45 contributions
Very Informative
It doesn't look very big on the outside, but it thoroughly covers the offshore drilling history and varieties. The static displays are very well done. It is very impressive to see the scale models of the different types of drilling rigs. I highly recommend a visit if you want to learn about how oil is recovered from under the seafloor.
Written April 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ksufan88
Wichita, KS4,498 contributions
Interesting and educational
We found free street parking about three blocks from this attraction (versus the $10 for all-day parking in the lot for Katie’s Seafood and this attraction). You buy your tickets in the gift shop (face masks are required currently), and then walk out to the museum that is housed in a converted oil rig. Allow 60 to 90 minutes since the audio tour is not being offered (audio tour normally takes 2 hours). Also, a number of interactive exhibits have been removed due to the current COVID issue.
Written July 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
houstonnative47
54 contributions
Lots to see about drilling
I have lived in the Houston area all of my life and hadn't known a lot about the petrochemical business. We thought it was about time to learn more about it so visited this museum. It is loaded with lots of models of drilling equipment, rigs, and anything else drilling related on three floors. It was quite overwhelming for one who didn't know a thing about the subject. To be honest it was boring. Great setup but boring. We did enjoy going outside on the rig and seeing an escape pod, hyperbaric chamber and other items. I'm sorry but we just found the whole subject uninteresting.
Written June 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mrs. Bunny
Boquete, Panama32 contributions
A must visit!
What a wonderful find while exploring Galveston! I think everyone should visit this museum to learn and understand how oil is extracted from the ocean. They did a fantastic job maintaining this retired oil rig and elaborating the process it undertook from understanding rocks, using different drill bits and much more! Prepared to be blown away and overloaded with information. The staff Jose and Rachel were very friendly and accommodating. Jose patiently answered all our questions and he was very well informed about the rig and its history. A must stop when visiting Galveston!
Written March 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
CharlieV2011
Chicago, IL1,543 contributions
Interesting Facts About Hydrocarbons!
Solo
This is an interesting museum that will teach each visitor about where oil and gas originate, extraction, uses, and environmental impact. I learned a lot about how oil and gas are made and extracted. Along with interesting facts displayed throughout the museum, visitors can also venture out on two floors and learn about the various machines that aid in the extraction process. I enjoyed my visit and learned quite a few interesting things!
Written April 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robin B
Phoenix, AZ1,226 contributions
Interesting if you are into oil exploration
I really don’t want to rate this attraction poorly just because it held no interest for me. If you are fascinated about the oil industry, you will probably find the museum interesting. It is pretty inexpensive as far as museums go. The ticket office is in a trailer type building then you walk up a long ramp to the rig. There are two floors of displays and you can walk out onto the top level of the rig.
Written February 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum tours on Tripadvisor