> Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/petroleum-museum-miri/ — updated 2026-10-22. Markdown mirror generated at build time from the same content as the HTML page. Title: Miri Petroleum Museum 2026: Free Entry, Hours & What to See Asia Specialist Museum ⏱ 1 hour Free entry # Miri Petroleum Museum [Miri](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/miri/) · [Malaysia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/) · Founded 2005 [Baca dalam Bahasa Melayu →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/ms/museums/petroleum-museum-miri/) ![Miri Petroleum Museum in Miri, Malaysia](https://worldmuseumguide.org/images/petroleum-museum-miri.webp) Photo: [Pangalau](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petroleum_Museum_Miri_(2023)_02.jpg) · [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) Oil first struck on Canada Hill 1910 Opened 2005 Recommended Visit 1 hour Admission Free ## Quick answer Miri Petroleum Museum in Miri, Malaysia — the Miri Petroleum Museum stands on Canada Hill (Bukit Tenaga) beside the Grand Old Lady, Sarawak's first oil well, which struck oil in 1910 and produced until 1972. Open Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Admission: free admission for all visitors. Allow 1 hour. Visitor information last reviewed 22 October 2026. Check the official museum site for current details. ## Miri Petroleum Museum at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed - **Opening hours:** Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM - **Closed:** on the first day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai, and on Labour Day, National Day, the Sarawak Governor's birthday and Christmas Day - **Admission:** Free admission for all visitors - **Booking:** Tickets usually available on the day - **Time needed:** 1 hour - **Best time to visit:** Weekday mornings from 9:00 AM, before the heat on the exposed hilltop; at weekends it opens at 10:00 AM and closes at 4:00 PM. - **Getting there:** Taxi: Grab or taxi from central Miri up Canada Hill (Bukit Tenaga) to the museum beside the Grand Old Lady - **Address:** Bukit Tenaga (Canada Hill), Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia - **Official website:** museum.sarawak.gov.my Checked 2026-10-22 against [the official website](https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/97). Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel. ## What is Miri Petroleum Museum known for? The Petroleum Museum sits on Canada Hill, now officially Bukit Tenaga, a limestone ridge overlooking Miri. While mapping the area in 1909 and 1910, the geologist Josef Theodor Erb picked out the hill as a promising place to drill, and Shell began drilling on 10 August 1910. Oil was struck on 22 December 1910 at about 130 metres. That well, Oil Well No. 1, nicknamed the Grand Old Lady, was Sarawak's first oil well; it produced about 650,000 barrels over some 60 years before it was closed on 31 October 1972, and the site is now a protected historical site. With support from Shell and Petronas, the ground-breaking ceremony for the museum was held on 25 April 2003 by George Chan. It opened to the public in 2005, according to Wikipedia on 20 May, and was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Sarawak, Abdul Taib Mahmud. The museum is run by the Sarawak Museum Department, which describes its concept as interactive, letting visitors operate devices as well as look at the artefacts on show. A time capsule buried at the museum, containing a newspaper article of the day and a souvenir book, is due to be opened on 20 May 2105. Inside, the galleries trace the history and technological development of the oil and gas industry in Malaysia, from Miri's first well to the present, with models of oil rigs and an earthquake simulator among the hands-on exhibits. Outside, the main attraction is the Grand Old Lady herself: the 30-metre rig preserved over the original well, which in 1910 was worked with wooden derricks and cable-tool drilling. Sarawak Tourism also recommends Canada Hill for its views over Miri and the surrounding area, so allow time to walk around the grounds. Admission is free. The museum opens Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM and on weekends and public holidays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, closing on the first day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai, and on Labour Day, National Day, the Governor's birthday and Christmas Day. The department encourages modest clothing. Because the museum is on a hilltop above the town, most visitors arrive by car, Grab or taxi, and the outdoor rig and viewpoints are best seen outside the hottest part of the day. Best for: Families · Science Enthusiasts · Budget Travellers ## What are the must-see works at Miri Petroleum Museum? 4 highlights that define the collection: The Grand Old Lady (Oil Well No. 1), Earthquake simulator, Oil rig models and more. 1 ### The Grand Old Lady (Oil Well No. 1) Shell · drilled 1910, closed 1972 📍 Outdoors, on the original well site Sarawak's first oil well, which struck oil on 22 December 1910 and produced about 650,000 barrels before closing in 1972; its 30-metre rig stands beside the museum. 2 ### Earthquake simulator Interactive exhibit 📍 Indoor galleries One of the hands-on exhibits in a museum designed around interactive devices that visitors can operate themselves. 3 ### Oil rig models Oil and gas industry models 📍 Indoor galleries Models of oil rigs used to explain how Malaysia's oil and gas industry developed from Miri's first onshore well. 4 ### Time capsule Buried at the museum · to be opened 2105 📍 Museum grounds A time capsule holding a newspaper article of the day and a souvenir book, due to be opened on 20 May 2105. ## Collections and highlights - • The Grand Old Lady, Sarawak's first oil well (1910) - • History of oil in Miri and Sarawak - • Technology of the oil and gas industry in Malaysia - • Interactive exhibits, including an earthquake simulator - • Oil rig models - • Canada Hill viewpoints over Miri ## Tips for visiting Miri Petroleum Museum 1. ### Best time to visit Weekday mornings from 9:00 AM, before the heat on the exposed hilltop; at weekends it opens at 10:00 AM and closes at 4:00 PM. Avoid the seven listed holiday closures. 2. ### Tickets & booking Free for everyone; no ticket or booking is needed for individual visits. 3. ### Accessibility No accessibility information is published; contact the museum before visiting. 4. ### Photography rules No photography policy is published. The outdoor rig and viewpoints can be photographed freely; inside, follow signs and avoid flash. ## How do you get to Miri Petroleum Museum? - taxi Grab or taxi from central Miri up Canada Hill (Bukit Tenaga) to the museum beside the Grand Old Lady - car Drive up Canada Hill, the ridge overlooking Miri town; the museum and the Grand Old Lady rig stand together on the hilltop Address: Bukit Tenaga (Canada Hill), Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia ## Sources we checked Visitor facts and history on this page come from these sources, checked on the dates shown. 1. [Miri Petroleum Museum - Sarawak Museum Department (Wayback Machine snapshot of the official page, 10 Oct 2026)](https://web.archive.org/web/20261010131523/https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/97) — Sarawak Museum Department (Jabatan Muzium Sarawak), checked 22 October 2026 2. [Petroleum Museum (2018 version of the Sarawak Museum Department page)](https://web.archive.org/web/20181022011053/http://www.museum.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/pages.php?mod=webpage&sub=page&id=97&menu_id=0&sub_id=126) — Sarawak Museum Department (Jabatan Muzium Sarawak), checked 22 October 2026 3. [Canada Hill | Sarawak Tourism Board](https://www.sarawaktourism.com/web/places-to-visit/town-view/miri/major-attractions/canada-hill) — Sarawak Tourism Board, checked 22 October 2026 4. [Petroleum Museum (Malaysia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_Museum_(Malaysia)) — Wikipedia, checked 22 October 2026 5. [Miri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miri) — Wikipedia, checked 22 October 2026 6. [Miri Petroleum Science Museum (OpenStreetMap way 262491617)](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/262491617) — OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 22 October 2026 ## Miri Petroleum Museum: frequently asked questions ### How much is the entrance fee for the Miri Petroleum Museum? Entry is free. The Sarawak Museum Department lists admission to the Petroleum Museum as free for all visitors, so there is no ticket to buy for either the indoor galleries or the Grand Old Lady oil well outside. Individual visitors do not need to book. The department encourages visitors to wear modest clothing. ### Where is the Miri Petroleum Museum and how do I get there? The museum is on top of Canada Hill, now officially Bukit Tenaga, a limestone ridge that Sarawak Tourism describes as overlooking the town. It stands next to the Grand Old Lady, the oil well drilled there in 1910. No public bus route is published, so the simplest way up is by Grab, taxi or your own car from central Miri. ### How long should I spend at the Miri Petroleum Museum? Plan 1 hour for the highlights of Miri Petroleum Museum. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café. ### What are the highlights of the Miri Petroleum Museum? The main attraction, according to the Sarawak Museum Department, is the Grand Old Lady, Sarawak's first oil well, which produced from 1910 to 1972 and stands beside the museum on its original site. Indoors, interactive displays trace the history and technology of the oil and gas industry, with oil-rig models and an earthquake simulator. Sarawak Tourism also recommends Canada Hill for its views over Miri. ### Can I take photos at the Miri Petroleum Museum? The Sarawak Museum Department does not publish a photography policy for this museum. The Grand Old Lady rig and the views from Canada Hill are outdoors and are the most photographed parts of the visit. Inside, follow any signs, ask staff if you are unsure and avoid flash on screens and display cases. ### What is the Grand Old Lady in Miri? It is the nickname of Oil Well No. 1 on Canada Hill. Shell began drilling there on 10 August 1910, after geologist Josef Theodor Erb identified the hill as a promising site, and struck oil on 22 December 1910 at about 130 metres. Over some 60 years the well produced about 650,000 barrels before it was closed on 31 October 1972. The site is now protected. ### Is the Miri Petroleum Museum open on Mondays? Yes. The Sarawak Museum Department's current page lists the museum as open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM, and on weekends and public holidays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Older versions of the page, and some travel guides, said it closed on Mondays, so the 2026 timetable is the one to follow. It closes on seven public holidays, including the first day of Gawai. ### What are Miri Petroleum Museum's opening hours? Miri Petroleum Museum is open Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, and closed on the first day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai, and on Labour Day, National Day, the Sarawak Governor's birthday and Christmas Day. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go. ### Is Miri Petroleum Museum free to visit? Yes — free admission for all visitors. Plan your visit Admission Free admission for all visitors Hours Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Closed on the first day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai, and on Labour Day, National Day, the Sarawak Governor's birthday and Christmas Day) [Official website & tickets](https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/97) [View on Google Maps →](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=4.3894,113.995) We don't sell tickets or take commission — links go to the museum. More in Miri [Niah Archaeology Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/niah-archaeology-museum/) [All museums in Miri →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/miri/) [All museums in Sarawak →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/states/sarawak/) [All museums in Malaysia →](https://worldmuseumguide.org/countries/malaysia/) ## More museums in Miri [![Niah Archaeology Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/images/placeholder.svg) Miri, Malaysia Niah Archaeology Museum](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/niah-archaeology-museum/) Found this guide useful? [Support World Museum Guide](https://worldmuseumguide.org/support/). It is optional, and every guide stays free.