Drilled in 1917 and producing until the 1980's, the wooden derrick was the last of its kind in Kern County. In 1974 Jameson #17 was scheduled to be torn down too. The local American Association of University Women and some dedicated people organized and with the Jameson Company donating the derrick and 3 acres of land, the West Kern Oil Museum, Inc. was born. As the years have gone by, additional acreage and exhibits have been added to the Museum but always at the center was the wooden derrick.

November 2005 - The Dedication of the new Derrick on Friday, October 21, was a wonderful celebration. Those taking part in the program included Pete Gianopulos, master of ceremonies, Larry Peahl, historian and member of the very first Museum Board of Directors, Ron Bracken, current Board chairman, Don Kinzel and Keith Bracke, the men who built the new derrick, and Dorothy Gardner, Museum treasurer and Board member. Huell Howser, of Public TV Channel KCET in Los Angeles, was a special guest and he, along with about 300 others, enjoyed the beautiful day, the happy crowd, the program, ribbon cutting, and ice cream social that followed. Mr. Howser and Cameron (his camera man) recorded several interviews and pictures of the derrick. they will be included in a program to be shown on KCET sometime in January. Sorry, we don't yet know the exact date. Every night during the ten days of Oildorado, the derrick was lit from the floor up with a very bright single bulb halogen light. It was indeed a spectacular sight.