The Stage as a Starting Point
The historic Globe Theatre is a landmark of West Texas, inspired by Shakespeare’s original Elizabethan playhouse. It seats 410 and hosts theatrical performances. Its annual season includes productions by students and the community, concerts, and special events for students and the community. In this way, the historic connection to theater architecture and a recurring annual program come together in one place.
History in Several Stages
Odessa’s development can be traced through two economic stages: first, the town developed into a livestock shipping center; then oil was discovered in 1926. The Historic White-Pool House, the oldest surviving building in Ector County, represents the pioneer era and the oil boom. The Parker House Ranching Museum is an important historic museum building dating from 1935. The Bush Home also recalls the late 1940s: George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush lived there at that time. Together, livestock shipping, the pioneer era, and the oil boom form a thread running through different periods of local history.
Art, Campus, and Stage
The Stonehenge Replica on the UT Permian Basin campus offers another perspective. Members of the art department built it in 2004; it became a gathering place for students and community members. A permanent exhibit is on display in the Keith Family Gallery at the Ellen Noël Art Museum. The Odessa Spire rises more than 112 feet above the city, adding a focal point of public art. The Ector Theatre offers live entertainment in Odessa. Here, you’ll encounter different forms of culture: a replica on a university campus, a gallery exhibit, public art, and live entertainment.
Bike Trails and Regional Orientation
Cycling enthusiasts can explore the Odessa Mountain Bike Park, with more than 11 miles of marked trails on 95 acres of leased land. The trails are designated for beginners, intermediate riders, and experts. Another geographic point of reference is the Odessa Meteor Crater in southwestern Ector County. While the bike park is described in terms of trail length and difficulty levels, the crater marks a location in the southwest of the county.
Events Throughout the Year
The SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo takes place every January in Odessa. The Permian Basin Fair & Expo has been a tradition since 1976; at the fairgrounds, livestock shows feature award-winning livestock, alongside exhibits of creative and artistic works awarded blue ribbons. The Ector County Coliseum’s annual program includes sporting events, concerts, and large-scale exhibitions on a 42-acre site. From October through March, the Odessa Jackalopes play hockey there. If you’re planning to attend a game, check the current schedule and the team’s operations before your trip.
Beyond individual venues, Odessa promotes cultural tourism to its museums and other historic sites through Texas Historical Commission initiatives in the Pecos Heritage Trail region. This places the historic sites in a regional context.
Discover more destinations: Odessa, Milam County, Nueces, Wichita, Bandera, Chambers, Tom Green, Reeves County
For the main travel overview: Texas.
