The idea originated as early as the end of the 19th century, however, its realization was commenced only in 1960, when the Museum Guardian

Committee was set up, on the Millennium of the Polish Statehood. The Committee was made up of the directors of major companies and institutions comprising the petroleum sector as well as a group of volunteers who set about collecting the exhibits and documents. Individual entities of the petroleum sector contributed the necessary funds.
Soon, such a spontaneous mode of operation turned out to be insufficient. At the end of 1961, the project, supervision was taken over by the Association of Engineers and Technicians of Oil and Gas Industry.

In 1972, the Association bought 20 hectares of land from private proprietors.

The Museum is located in a scenic woody valley, 12 km from Krosno, 6 km from Dukla and 15 km from the Polish-Slovak border checkpoint at Barwinek, on the tourist trail offering the following sights:

In the 20-hectare park, exhibits representing the oil and gas production, as well as the refinery and distribution sectors, have been put on display.
Of the historical objects illustrating the origins of the Polish petroleum industry, the following are worth special mention:

• Obelisk commemorating the Bobrka oil plant establishment, erected by I. Łukasiewicz in 1854.
• Two operative hand-sunk oil wells, called "Franek" and "Janina", as well as a number of remnants of similar facilities dating from 1854 -1880.
• Eight wooden buildings from the 19th century, former workshops, smithies, boilers, pumping gears, warehouses, office and residential rooms.
• Operative wells from the 1890s.
• Transmission systems to power oil well pumps, ancient oil pipelines and oil storage facilities.

The Museum archives preserve documents such as books, journals, maps, photo albums, share certificates, technical documents and drawings. There are also photocopies of rare documents, dating back to the lifetime of I. Łukasiewicz as well as other pioneers of petroleum industry.
   The scientific and historical journal "Wiek nafty" ("Oil Age") is being edited on the museum premises.
   Of the several video films shot at the museum, the one titled Ignacy Łukasiewicz has been honoured by the National Council for Radio and Television.
   The Museum keeps close contacts with its counterparts in America, Germany, Norway, Romania and Hungary. 

The pavilon, whose total area amounts to 1500 sq meters, has been adapted to the needs of the handicapped people.
   An important function of the Museum is to acquaint young people with the tradition of Polish oil industry and with the Polish contribution to the origins and development of petroleum industry.