Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Odessa
POP 99,300
In contrast to somewhat prim Midland, hardscrabble Odessa has a downbeat feel. It's the
classic split between management and workers, with the latter making their homes here.
The low-rise downtown has some barely perceptible glories left over from the original
boom; most notably, however, it has a very big rabbit.
Sights
White-Pool House
( 432-333-4072; 112 E Murphy St; 10am-3pm Wed-Sat)
Built in 1887, this is the oldest
existing house in Ector County. It had just two owners for nearly a century when in 1973
the Pool family deeded it to the county for preservation. It shows the change in local for-
tunes from ranching in the 1880s to the oil boom of the 1920s.
HISTORIC SITE
Presidential Archives & Leadership Library
MUSEUM
( 432-363-7737;
www.utpb.edu/presidential-archives
;
4919 E University Ave; 10am-5pm Tue-Sat)
This much-lauded museum has had fiscal problems and periodically shuts down.
However, when open it has an interesting collection of items and info on all the presid-
ents. Out back is the very modest 1948 home of the Bush family, which was moved here
and restored.
WHAT THE…? JACKRABBIT
Odessa claims to have the world's largest
jackrabbit statue
. The 10ft-tall photo op is at 802 N Sam Houston Ave
and was built in honor of the first Championship Jackrabbit Rodeo in 1932.
Eating
Ben's Little Mexico
( 432-333-4529; 620 N Grandview Ave; mains from $6; 11am-8pm Mon-Sat)
Like the rest of Odessa,
Ben's doesn't look like much (even in its new location). But from this humble eatery
MEXICAN
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