The Ocean Star Offshore Oil Rig was built in Texas in 1969. Over the course of about 20 years it drilled over 200 wells in the Gulf of Mexico. For the past 20 years it has served as a museum in Galveston.

Touring the Ocean Star is something I have wanted to tour for awhile but haven’t had the time. I found the time to visit their first weekend open following the COVID-19 shut down.

The Ocean Star is a short walk from the cruise port. In this case I was coming from a hotel about five miles away. It was a $12 Uber/Lyft each way or $10 to park for the day. I went with the parking.

The first parking lot is $10/day. They have parking spaces where you can plug your car in if you have a car that plugs in. I did see a guy plug his car in when I left.

Walking over from the first parking area you have Harbor House on the left and Katie’s Seafood House on the right.

This is the second parking area which is right next to Katie’s. That is the Ocean Star gift shop up in front of us. This parking area costs the same and is a little closer but has fewer parking spaces. Right now they’re all full.

On the left side is where you pay for parking here. It’s the same machine they have in the first parking lot.

Inside the museum gift shop is where you purchase your ticket. During my two Galveston trips during the COVID-19 reopening, this is the only place I’ve been where everyone is required to wear a mask. The guy in front of me was turned away for not having a mask.

Here is a look at the hours and admission prices.

I wish this were taking me to a ship. But this is the ramp that takes you to the oil rig.

Off to the right we can see the patio at Katie’s Seafood.

When you enter there will be an information desk and someone to greet you. They will give you a quick introduction on how the self-guided tour works.

The first stop is a theater which shows a 15 minute video that runs on a loop so you can join it at any time.

When we exit the theater we see a personnel basket which is used to transfer personnel and equipment between a boat and the rig.

Directly across from the personnel basket is an example of a drill bit.

Next you have the power tongs. You can also see different types of drill bits in the background on the left.

This next room is dedicated to the various diving suits.

Moving outside we find ourselves on the pipe deck.

Moving back inside. They have an elevator or stairs to take you up to the second level. I took the elevator up and the stairs down. The elevator is located by the information desk near the entrance.

Inside the elevator they have a safety rules poster.

And we are now on the second level of the rig.

Here is a peek outside from the second level.

On this level they have something called the Sea Scape where you can step up and look at various type of oil rigs from the the sea floor level.

You can also look down on on this area from the third level.

Safety starts with you!

We’re coming up on the driller’s chair. I believe this would actually be on the rig floor which we will visit shortly.

A peak outside reveals an escape pod hanging off the side just like the one we saw earlier on the drill deck.

Now we’re moving into the “Life on a rig” section.

Here’s a peek outside from up here. Katie’s, Harbor House, and the ramp up to the rig.

We’re outside on the third level and about to cross over to the rig floor.

On the way out we pass through the hall of fame.

We are heading off of the rig.

And we’re back in the parking lot.

I was hoping the rig would look more like it did when it was operational. I would’ve liked to have seen the museum on land or a barge next to the rig rather than gutting it and making it into a museum. But overall I enjoyed the tour. I think this would be a good way to kill time before or after a cruise.

• Galveston