R.C. Baker Memorial Museum, Inc.
297 W. Elm St. Coalinga, Ca 93210
(559) 935-1914 Fax: (559) 935-2339
Toll-Free 1-877-416-5849

All Rights Reserved © 2007-2010
The Coalinga Iron Zoo

Created in the very early 70’s by a woman named Jean who had come with her husband and two kids to purchase a business
and live in Coalinga.  She had never seen an oil well except in pictures or books.
Being the artist she has always been. Her artistic mind saw the oil pumps not only as a creature or an animal and many other
things.

After she and her husband Art bought the Cambridge Inn/Restaurant. Jean spoke to someone about possibly allowing her to
paint an oil pump into a bird. It was a red bird that was located right off the highway. It got so much attention, and was drawing
outsiders into town. (which also benefited their new business), that she just had to paint another and another and….

After time, the painted oil pumps were such a big attraction that the demand for Jean to paint more became very hard for her to
do.

She had some help from some young men that were going to West Hills College, and even her two kids helped as much as they
could, but the demand was still too much for them alone.

Jean had an idea and made it a reality. She decided that she would hold an Oil Well Drawing Contest. Anyone with a new idea for
an oil pump to be painted would submit their idea with a drawing to her by a deadline and after the deadline the best and most
creative pump designed would win. The winners would not only get their pump designed but would also get to come out to the oil
fields and paint the pump themselves.

The ad went into Coalinga Record, Jean had hundreds of entries.

It was a big success lots of new pumps were painted into many different animals, creatures, and characters.
The proud creators of some of those wells had become a part of which is now a legacy for Coalinga
“Jean Dakessian’s Iron Zoo”

There were over 150 painted oil pumps done. Jean was getting recognition from newspapers and news stations from all across
the Country, and even around the world. Jean was noticed by a show called “Real People” and was asked to be on their show.
She was also on another show called “Animals Animals Animals” which was hosted by Lauren Green. Later, should would also be
entered in the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Book.

It’s been many years since these pumps have been painted. These days as you drive down the highway you will see a mere few.
Some have been moved way back in the hills, and some may not even exist any longer. The pumps that you can still see are
faded now, and because of new laws and for liability reasons it seems as though the chance to paint is not a reality.

To this day Jean still paints. But the oil pump painting days are done.

Jean does local murals for Coalinga such as at the R.C. Baker Museum, Fat Jacks Diner, and some of the locals have murals on
their walls of their homes there is also a mural of the Last Supper in one of the local churches.
Jean still stays busy and enjoys painting especially for anyone in Coalinga.

Jean now resides in Clovis, Ca with her husband Howard Jones.