California Coastal Chapter of API donates to California Oil Museum fund

April 14, 2000
Santa Paula News
The change back to the original name of Santa Paula’s unique California Oil Museum has already proved positive with a generous donation to the museum endowment fund from the California Coastal Chapter of the American Petroleum Institute. “Now that we’ve had the name change,” from the Santa Paula Union Oil Museum, “the California Coastal Chapter of the American Petroleum Institute can justify the donation,” said museum Executive Director Mike Nelson.Ironically, the original name of the museum, housed in a magnificent century old Queen Anne located on the corner of Main and 10th streets in the historic downtown business district, was the California Oil Museum and been since it was opened in 1950. When the city assumed operation of the museum from Unocal Co., in 1990, the name was changed to the Santa Paula Union Oil Museum. The building was the founding home of Union Oil Co., which later became a giant in the industry.But having the museum coupled with a private oil enterprise tied the hands of many who would like to donate; the change in name back to its original California Oil Museum removes such concerns by possible donors.Nelson said the California Coastal Chapter of the American Petroleum Institute is the “first major one from a professional group since the name change. We also received a donation from the Petroleum Production Pioneers as a memorial, which was very thoughtful.”Nelson has been busy gathering materials to present to different oil companies in preparation of attending an industry convention in June where he is hoping he’ll strike more oil in the form of museum endowment fund donations.
“We’ll have a chance to distribute information and donation materials. . .it will be an opportunity to have contacts with a lot of oil industry people and solicit donations to the endowment fund,” he added.John Tuttle, President of the California Coastal Chapter of the American Petroleum Institute, said he has visited the museum “many times; it’s fantastic, a good indication of the support and history of the oil industry. It’s an excellent place for people to come and see the commitment of the oil industry,” as well as experience the early days of the industry and its evolution.For more information on the California Oil Museum Endowment Fund, call Nelson at 933-0076.



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