Midland, Texas: The Culture of the Tall City

Midland, Texas, nicknamed “The Tall City” for its tall downtown buildings, is located in West Texas in the Permian Basin. With a population around 140,000, Midland is the largest city in the Permian Basin and serves as the economic center for the booming oil and gas industry in the region.

While the oil business brings a flood of transient workers, Midland has developed a distinctive culture all its own. This guide will give you an in-depth look at Midland’s cultural offerings.

Music and Performing Arts

Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale

The crown jewel of Midland’s music scene is the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale (MOSC). This full symphony orchestra and chorale group give classical concert performances from September through May each year at the 1,800 seat Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center at the University of Texas Permian Basin. The MOSC features internationally renowned guest artists and brings a touch of big city culture to West Texas.

Live Music Venues

Midland has an emerging indie music scene centered around a few small live music venues:

• The Destination: Focusing on Texas country, Americana, and red dirt music acts. Also home to Monday night open mic nights.
• Rockin Rodeo: Large venue for regional and national country music performers coming through Midland.
• Yucca Theater: Historic downtown theater that regularly hosts smaller national touring indie rock, pop, and alternative bands.

Community Theater

Midland Community Theater, one of the oldest and largest community theaters in Texas, puts on big musicals, dramas, and comedies throughout the year at their historic downtown theater. Recent shows have included Mamma Mia!, Steel Magnolias, and Elf the Musical.

Museums and Attractions

Museum of the Southwest

This museum has an impressive collection of traditional Native American and Hispanic art and artifacts from the Permian Basin region. Exhibits highlight the different cultures that have inhabited the region, like the Jornada Mogollon and Antelope Creek peoples. The museum also has a large collection of paintings by historical Western artists.

Permian Basin Petroleum Museum

Located at the base of Midland’s tallest building, this museum covers the science and history of the Permian Basin oil and gas industry. Exhibits include antique drilling rigs and pump jacks, minerals, petrified wood, dinosaur fossils, and simulated geology cores. A great spot to learn how oil built Midland.

Midland County Centennial Library

Midland’s public library has an extensive Texana collection covering the history and culture of the Lone Star State. The library also hosts regular cultural events like author talks, children’s programs, genealogy workshops, book clubs, and English language classes.

Parks

Midland has over 50 parks for recreation and culture, including a botanical garden, a Japanese garden, and a large pedestrian plaza downtown for local events.

Food

Midland has a number of tasty dining options that give you a flavor of West Texas culture:

Steak and Barbeque

Being Texas cattle country, steakhouses like The Ranchland Hills Golf Club and barbecue joints like Smokin’ Joes are plentiful. Big cuts of Texas beef and smoky brisket, ribs, and sausage are always on the menu.

Tex-Mex Favorites

Popular Tex-Mex spots like Gerardo’s Casita, Dos Compadres, and Luisito’s serve up cheesy enchiladas, sizzling fajitas, puffy tacos, and other Lone Star Mexican food favorites. The tasty trifecta of cumin, cayenne, and cilantro season these dishes.

Food Trucks

Food trucks have become part of the culture across Texas, gathering in “pods” around Midland to offer quick bites. Favorites include stuffed burritos from Frontera Food Truck and shawarma wraps at The Rolling Grill food truck. Many trucks stay open late to serve the night owl oilfield crowd.

Craft Breweries

A growing craft beer culture brings tasting rooms like The Field’s Edge Brewing Company, Basin Burger House Bar and Brewery, and Tall City Brewing Co. Unique West Texas-themed brews like Mesquite Bean Blonde Ale and Black Gold Stout reflect Midland’s culture.

Annual Events

Midland has some beloved annual events that bring the community together to celebrate different aspects of Tall City culture:

Midland Rodeo

Each June, the Permian Basin Fair & Expo puts on the Midland Rodeo, featuring bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling and women’s barrel racing by professional cowboys and cowgirls. A true Texas rodeo steeped in Western culture.

Summer Mummers

For over 70 years, the Midland Community Theater has produced outrageous original melodramatic musical comedies known as “The Summer Mummers”. Complete with colorful costumes and vaudeville schtick, it’s wacky summer entertainment for all ages.

Celebration of the Arts

Each September, Celebration of the Arts takes over Downtown Midland with artists, makers, performers, authors, and chefs celebrating Permian Basin culture across painting, sculpture, jewelry, live music, food, and more.

Ironman 70.3 Texas

Midland has hosted the Ironman 70.3 triathlon for years. Every October, over 3,000 athletes from across the globe swim 1.2 miles in open water, bike 56 miles through West Texas roads, and run a half marathon to the finish line. Spectators line the course to cheer them on.

And More Culture…

Beyond the major attractions and events, there are other slices of Tall City culture new visitors should experience:

• Attend a Friday night high school football game to participate in this classic Texas fall tradition
• Check out the iconic four-story jackrabbit statue made of oilfield pipes outside the Petroleum Building downtown
• Order the “West Texas Mess” breakfast special of eggs, potatoes, bacon, beans, tortillas, and gravy at a local diner
• Take a selfie with the larger-than-life cowboy statue by local sculptor Robert Bruno on Wall Street downtown

Midland has culture and community at every turn. With oil money flowing through the Permian Basin, Midland’s arts, food, attractions, and events continue to expand. Come visit and experience Midland’s unique culture for yourself!