A partnership between the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, City of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College, and the Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame, funded by the JF Maddox Foundation and the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association

HOBBS, N.M. — A groundbreaking partnership between the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation and Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall brings the wonder of prehistoric New Mexico to life in Southeastern New Mexico. The Permian Basin Natural History Project highlights a first-ever collaboration with the two museums, the City of Hobbs, and New Mexico Junior College, and generous funding from the JF Maddox Foundation and the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA). The exhibit will connect communities across Lea County, southeastern New Mexico and West Texas, to science, discovery, and our region’s ancient past.

At the heart of the exhibit will be Stan the T. rex, a full-size cast of one of the most complete and scientifically important Tyrannosaurus rex fossils ever found. Stan’s arrival in Hobbs marks a first for the region, a world-class paleontological icon that will inspire local families, students, and visitors from across the Southwest.

The project, which is set to open in mid-December,  will also debut the Southern Seas & Permian Basin Fossil Exhibit, exploring the region’s transformation from an ancient tropical sea teeming with life to the modern global energy center it is today. The exhibit will feature fossil specimens, dynamic displays, and hands-on learning opportunities that highlight the deep connections between geology, energy, and life on Earth.

In addition to the exhibit, the initiative will include:

A public lecture series featuring Museum scientists and local geologists, exploring topics from prehistoric life to the geologic forces that shaped the Permian Basin.
STEAM Trek outreach kits delivered to classrooms across Lea County, providing hands-on science experiences for students who may not have access to the Museum.
Educational programs and partnerships designed to support STEM learning and workforce development, fostering curiosity and scientific literacy among the next generation.
“This project connects the story of the land - its fossils, its geology, and its people,” said Dr. Tony Fiorillo, Executive Director of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. “By bringing Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex to the Western Heritage Museum in Hobbs, we’re amplifying our own museum’s reach and linking other parts of New Mexico to Earth’s extraordinary ancient past to its scientific and economic future.”

“It is truly an honor for NMJC to host this exhibit at our Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame, where our community can experience the richness of our ancient history firsthand,” said NMJC President Cathy Mitchell. “We are so appreciative of New Mexico Natural History Museum Foundation, the City of Hobbs, the Maddox Foundation and NMOGA for seeing the value in this project and providing their capital support for this endeavor."

The Permian Basin Natural History Project reflects the Museum Foundation’s enduring mission to ignite curiosity and expand access to science across New Mexico, bringing discovery to communities statewide and inspiring the next generation of scientists and explorers.

For more information or to learn how to support the project, visit www.NaturalHistoryFoundation.org or contact Sarah Bush, CEO of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, at SBush@NaturalHistoryFoundation.org.

Media Contact:
Sarah Bush, CEO, New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation
(505) 841-2851, SBush@NaturalHistoryFoundation.org