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DHAHRAN: Across a smooth road, overlooking the rows of identical clapboard houses and manicured lawns of Aramco Camp, lies a tranquil time capsule where heritage meets nostalgia.

Located at 12th Street and Ibis Avenue, the renovated historic homes known as House 1220 and 1222—among the first to be built in the Dhahran camp in 1938—now house the Community Heritage Gallery.

You feel like you’ve been invited into someone’s home.

Originally home to Dr TC Alexander and his family in the 1940s, he was perhaps best known as one of the first permanent doctors to move to Dhahran to work and live.

He helped launch a regional vaccination program and helped Aramco’s health system flourish during his tenure. His wife, Alexandra, eager to forge a path for herself in the community, hosted the inaugural meeting of the Dhahran Women’s Group at her home in 1946, a group that continues to this day.

Later, Fouad Saleh, executive director of community services, became an advocate for the creation of what he called a “Saudi Aramco museum”—a place where the history of Aramco and its people would be preserved and displayed for the community to enjoy in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Saleh’s vision came true long after the Alexanders moved out. Their former home officially became a gallery focusing on Aramco heritage and artifacts, opening to the public in 1992.

The opening was attended by Hisham Nazer, then Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Board of Saudi Aramco, as well as Aramco’s first Saudi chairman, Ali Al-Naimi, who also served as CEO at the time.

Al-Naimi joined the company in the late 1940s and rose through the ranks to become Aramco’s chairman from 1984 to 1995. His 2016 autobiography, “Out of the Desert: My Journey from Nomadic Bedouin to the Heart of Global Oil,” is on display on a bookshelf in the Heritage Gallery.

There are other books on the shelves as well, many of them donated.

Hassan Bouholaigah, a Saudi artist who grew up in Dhahran and now lives in Riyadh, was walking around the area during his free time when he accidentally stumbled upon the Heritage Gallery.

“I’m on vacation, visiting family here. I grew up in Aramco, so walking around was very nostalgic,” Bouholaigah told Arab News. “I just happened to see a classic red car parked outside, so I was a little intrigued and decided to just go inside.”

As he entered, he noticed framed photos of former Aramco CEOs on the wall.

“For me, it was really interesting, just watching that change. And then my attention was drawn to the library, which had a lot of yearbooks,” he said. Although he didn’t go to Aramco School himself, he happily pulled out his 7th-grade yearbook from 2008, which had pages of photos of friends he used to play soccer with after school. He quickly took photos to send to those friends, some of whom he still keeps in touch with to this day.

He also appreciated how the gallery had diversified its activities, going beyond the obvious corporate exhibits to showcase the culture of the local community and its wider contribution to local society.

“I love that it’s not just about oil. You can see pictures of the first house built for Saudis. You can see pictures of high schools — the first girls’ school built in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

The combination of modern elements with historical artifacts and memorabilia creates a unique atmosphere that serves as a time capsule for the local community and country.

Aramco is known for the discovery of black gold there in the 1930s, which changed the course of history of the Kingdom and the world overnight. The gallery showcases the various milestones the company has achieved over the decades.

Walking around the area, it’s clear that Aramco’s influence extends beyond the oil sector, contributing significantly to the social and cultural fabric of the region and beyond.

Watching the community evolve through these artifacts must have been a poignant reminder of how the company has shaped lives and broader social changes over the decades. The nostalgic feelings shared by the “Aramco boys”—those who grew up in the camp—reflect a strong sense of identity and community that has been cultivated over the years. Many have returned to pay homage to the space that helped shape them, donating a gallery of books and yearbooks.

There is also a majlis at the rear that can be hired for private functions or to watch an Aramco-produced film from its film library.

The Heritage Gallery is located across the street from the Dhahran Leisure Library and is ticket-free.

The gallery is open from Sunday to Wednesday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., on Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.