On May 27, 1923, the discovery of oil changed Midland from a railroad and ranching town to one of the largest oil production centers in the nation. Midland has weathered oil industry booms and busts and its most prominent buildings reflect the architecture of the boom periods of the 1950s and 70s. Over time, the Bankhead Highway took several routes through downtown, but most structures directly associated with travel along the Bankhead can be found on the west side of the city along Front and Wall Streets. Today, travelers can satisfy a variety of interests when visiting Midland. For history buffs, the CAF Airpower Museum has the world’s largest collection of World War II aviation nose art, and the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum blends natural history and oil production for young and old. Culture lovers can enjoy the symphony or take in a play at the Yucca Theatre. Find yourself a hotel room and stay awhile.
More Locations in Midland
Overpass
W. Front St. at Hwy. 158
Overpasses or bridges, known in the road construction industry as grade-separation structures, changed in many ways over time and terrain. This overpass, built in 1954, is typical of post-WWII road expansion and features concrete construction, an aesthetically pleasing appearance, and a minimum 14-feet vertical clearance over the crossing road. Look for it in Midland at the intersection of Front Street and Hwy. 158.
Desert Motor Inn
3103 Bankhead Hwy.
To keep up with the booming oil industry and growing tourism, motels sprouted up along the Bankhead Highway in Midland throughout the 1950s and 60s. Though this one has lost some of its luster, its 1950s charm still shines, even without the swimming pool.
Big Sky Drive-In Theater
W. Wall St. west of Hwy 158
Load the car and head down the road to one of the few drive‐in theaters still in operation along the Bankhead. Tune in, sit back, relax and get transported to the 1950s and the heyday of the drive‐in theater.
Tourist Court
3500 S. CR 1307 ½ (private property)
As you approach Odessa driving west from Midland, note the tourist court on West County Road 122. The A-frame form is indicative of the ca. 1970 time period, but the spatial arrangement of detached cabins with carports between follows patterns established by earlier tourist courts. Individual cabins with carports are arranged in a linear pattern along a private drive to maximize visibility from the road while maintaining privacy.