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Oil rig museum.

Tour a Famous Oil Rig

Field review by the editors.

Morgan City, Louisiana

"Mr. Charlie" was the world's first transportable, submersible drilling rig when it was built in 1953. (For a time it had a rival, "Mr. Gus," but Gus sank in a storm.) Mr. Charlie kept drilling until 1986, and was retired only because it had sucked all of oil that could be sucked out of the Gulf of Mexico within waters 40 feet deep, which was the length of Mr. Charlie's legs. The success of this rig made possible the entire offshore oil-drilling industry, so your opinion of Mr. Charlie will probably depend upon your politics.

Mr. Charlie was offered to the Smithsonian, but it didn't have the room to exhibit a drilling rig hundreds of feet long. So a museum was built around Mr. Charlie. Tours are given twice a day, and take anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes.

Tour a Famous Oil Rig

International Petroleum Museum

Address:
111 First St., Morgan City, LA
Directions:
International Petroleum Museum. On the banks of the Atchafalaya River. Exit US Hwy 90 at Berwick, then take Hwy 182 east across the river into Morgan City. Make a quick right onto First St. Mr. Charlie is around a half-mile south, on the south side of Railroad Ave. and the river side of the levee.
Hours:
M-Sa, 2 hr. tours at 10 and 2 (call in advance). (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
985-384-3744
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

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