
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum, Galveston (must see)
The Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore the world of offshore oil and gas exploration aboard an actual retired jack-up drilling rig. Formerly active in the Gulf of Mexico from 1969 to 1984, the Ocean Star drilled over 200 wells before being repurposed into an educational museum. Purchased by the Offshore Energy Center (OEC) in 1995 and opened to the public in 1997, the rig now resides on Pier 19 near The Strand, offering an immersive and interactive look into the offshore energy industry.
Visitors can take a self-guided tour across three levels of exhibits, with interactive displays and videos that walk guests through every stage of the offshore drilling process—from seismic surveys and geology to drilling and production. The museum features actual drilling equipment, scale models, and historical information that highlight both the technological advancements and the human effort behind offshore energy production. It’s an informative journey for both curious visitors and industry enthusiasts, taking about 1.5 hours to complete.
To enhance the experience, guests are encouraged to pick up the official Ocean Star Self-Guiding Souvenir Tour Guide Book at the on-site gift shop. Packed with over 150 photos and detailed descriptions of the exhibits, it serves as a helpful companion during the tour.
Visitors can take a self-guided tour across three levels of exhibits, with interactive displays and videos that walk guests through every stage of the offshore drilling process—from seismic surveys and geology to drilling and production. The museum features actual drilling equipment, scale models, and historical information that highlight both the technological advancements and the human effort behind offshore energy production. It’s an informative journey for both curious visitors and industry enthusiasts, taking about 1.5 hours to complete.
To enhance the experience, guests are encouraged to pick up the official Ocean Star Self-Guiding Souvenir Tour Guide Book at the on-site gift shop. Packed with over 150 photos and detailed descriptions of the exhibits, it serves as a helpful companion during the tour.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Galveston. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum on Map
Sight Name: Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum
Sight Location: Galveston, USA (See walking tours in Galveston)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Galveston, USA (See walking tours in Galveston)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Galveston, Texas
Create Your Own Walk in Galveston
Creating your own self-guided walk in Galveston is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Galveston Introduction Walking Tour
Galveston, perched on a barrier island along the Gulf Coast, holds a unique place in Texas history. Its modern chapter began in the early 1800s, when the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte set up a short-lived base here—driven out by the U.S. Navy in 1821. The city itself was officially founded in 1836, soon after Texas won independence from Mexico, and was named in honor of Spanish colonial governor... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Historic Houses Walking Tour
Galveston’s Broadway Avenue is a living corridor of architectural ambition, lined with grand homes that speak to the city’s Gilded Age past. Most of these stately mansions were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, during a period when Galveston thrived as a key Gulf Coast port. Wealthy merchants, civic leaders, and industrialists commissioned elaborate residences here, hoping to place the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles