The pennsylvania railroad museum, in strasburg, pa, houses the historical equipment of. We hope this upgrade provides a more enjoyable and efficient avenue for you to experience library services. From the two green posts at drake well downstream to the oil creek state park hiking trail footbridge public ownership. Western pennsylvania s oil heritage postcard history. In april 1865 booth solidified his role in history by assassinating president abraham lincoln at fords theater in washington, d. Beautiful in the fall we spent the weekend camping in the area. Simons wonderfully illustrated and written book should serve as the entry into philadelphias history for a variety of audiences. His worldfamous well was drilled in titusville, pa, a small town in crawford county. Pennsylvania museums offer a trip to the very beginning of u. Western pennsylvania refers to the western third of the state of pennsylvania in the united states. This beautiful park had a great view of the sunset and a lot of geese and ducks. True, oil creek might not be the most beautiful of pennsylvanias state parks, but it is quite lovely, and the regions amazing history propels this park to mustvisit status.
Fly fishing oil creek pennsylvania oil creek begins at canadohita lake in northwestern pennsylvania. To fill a transportation need, the oil creek railroad line was completed from corry to titusville in 1862. These vintage postcards provide a glimpse into the wideranging history of western pennsylvania s oil region, from the cradle of the industry at oil creek, to the immensely productive bradford oil field, and on to cities and towns like oil city, built largely by the black gold. The discovery of oil along a small creek in titusville, pennsylvania, in august 1859 launched the american petroleum industry. In fact, western pennsylvania produced half of the worlds oil until the east texas oil boom in 1901. The well is the centerpiece of the drake well museum located 3 miles 5 km south of titusville. Jan 11, 2018 edwin drake first hit oil in titusville in august of 1859, signaling the start of the oil boom in pa that would last until the beginning of the 1870s. As production moved elsewhere in the 1870s, both cities were abandoned and soon vanished completely. Drakes well on oil creek, near the little town of titusville. Aug 18, 2008 as production moved elsewhere in the 1870s, both cities were abandoned and soon vanished completely. Under a series of mergers, it became part of the pennsylvania. Using vintage images from the unmatched collection of the drake well museum, oil boom architecture. Their exhibits feature an industry that brought kerosene to lamps, gasoline to autos, and. The institute stipulated that when the commonwealth of pennsylvania took ownership of the site during the diamond jubilee of drake well in 1934, it was to be made a state park.
Refined as kerosene for lamps, a lubricant for home and industrial needs, and ultimately as a fuel for transportation in the form of gasoline, oil literally changed the world and defined global economics and politics. Theyve been contested ever since in the 19th century, reformers were happy to have oil come out of the ground. Pennsylvania geological survey historical photographs. The keystone state museums linked below exhibit technological and environmental advancements, discoveries, products and local pioneers. A threehour round trip along oil creek takes riders through oil creek state park through what was probably one of. News soon spread along oil creek and into titusville, but drake did not get the word until monday morning when he arrived at the well and saw smith surrounded by barrels, tubs, and jars of oil. The oil rush in america started in titusville, pennsylvania, in the oil creek valley when edwin. Though oil is found in many places around the globe, this network of streams in pennsylvania introduced it to america. These seeps were well known to the seneca indians, one of the iroquois nation tribes, who used the oil as a salve, mosquito repellent, purge and tonic. Scenic oil creek carves a valley of deep hollows, steep hillsides and.
Choose our history of pennsylvania books at arcadia publishing. He went on to explain that he and his fellow soldiers had felt the need of a summer outing, and thought we would take it at the north. Pennsylvania oil rush news newspapers books scholar jstor august 2019 learn how. Bedford county pennsylvania history and genealogy source. Edwin drake first hit oil in titusville in august of 1859, signaling the start of the oil boom in pa that would last until the beginning of the 1870s. The stream is approximately thirty miles in length and has a good population of trout.
It was composed of extensive bottom flats and the hillsides of the valley flanks. Western pennsylvaniaas oil heritage profiles the history of. John wesley owen wrote in 1975, in his volume, trek of the oil finders, the inception of the modern petroleum industry can be fairly said to have occurred at oil creek. Although crude oil had been found and bottled for medicine as early as 1814 in ohio and in kentucky in 1818, these. The history of oil creek state park is tied to the rise and fall of the oil industry in northwestern.
Pennsylvanias oil boomtowns of 150 years ago built on fuel. This truly unique place and its history are captured in this longawaited volume. Without giving much up to tributaries, oil creek then joins thompson creek and church run before draining into pine creek near titusville. Read about the early history of pennsylvania, its oil history, its cultural evolution, and much more. They leased land along oil creek, a pennsylvania site known for oil seeping to the surface of the water. Oil creek state park oil city 2020 all you need to.
Edwin drake and the oil well drill pipe pennsylvania. Oil creek in western pennsylvania abounds in oil seeps that ooze thick black crude into the stream. List of books and articles about pennsylvania history. Oil creek state park is pennsylvania state park on 6,250 acres 2,529 ha in cherrytree. The rail station in titusville has a great gift shop with lots of good local history books as well as railroad related items. Historical photography from the collection of the pennsylvania historical and museum. These maps located in the library of congress show major landowners and geographic sites at. Twelve years before crawford county was partitioned from allegheny county, david mead and his nine adventurers arrived in french creek valley and camped on the shore of mill run. Apr 05, 2020 ive been to a lot of state parks in pennsylvania, and one of my favorites has been oil creek state park in venango county. The story farm consisted of 501 acres, all but 100 acres being on the west side of oil creek, venango county, pennsylvania. Where can find venango county birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Jonathan titus made a permanent settlement of oil creek four years before the division. Oil creek township venango county pennsylvania genealogy. History of the petroleum industry in the united states ohio oil rush texas oil boom north dakota oil boom. The phillips well was the most productive oil well of its time, initially at a rate of 4,000 barrels of oil per day in october, 1861. Oil quickly became one of the most valuable commodities in the united states and. Stocked brown and rainbow trout northeast corner venango county just south of titusville. Discover librarianselected research resources on pennsylvania history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. We are pleased to present this section of the book freewheeling easy in western pennsylvania. Oil region alliance the valley that changed the world. Plumer, pithole, and oil city pa images of america 9780738504940.
American oil history began in a valley along a creek in remote northwestern pennsylvania. Prior to drake striking black gold in oil creek near titusville, other investors had. Petroleum centre, a company town of the central petroleum company, was staked out in. Titusville and other towns on the shores of oil creek expanded rapidly as oil wells and refineries shot up across the region. The landscape of americas first oil boom creating the north american landscape. Were always looking to improve our services and identify better ways to meet community needs. Pennsylvania s oil boomtowns of 150 years ago built on fuel of industrial age. Chief cornplanter lost the area in a land deal in 1818, and prospectors soon built a furnace, mill, and foundry on the site. Books on oil venango county pennsylvania genealogy. Pittsburgh is the regions principal city, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.
These vintage postcards provide a glimpse into the wideranging history of western pennsylvanias oil region, from the cradle of the industry at oil creek, to the immensely productive bradford oil field, and on to cities and towns like oil city, built largely by the black gold. Aug 08, 2011 when titusvilles last railroad was about to be abandoned, the oil creek railway society formed and saved the line. A history and guide to the early oil industry in pennsylvania. My friends, he began with good cheer, how do you like this way of coming back into the union. Seeking to meet growing demand for kerosene, the petroleum industry began in northwestern pennsylvania. It was within the oil region that, in 1859, colonel edwin drake drilled the worlds first commercial oil well, initiating a chain of events that literally changed the world. Like many other americans, booth was allured by the possibilities of wealth in pennsylvanias oil region. Like many other americans, booth was allured by the possibilities of wealth in pennsylvania s oil region. If you happen to be in northwestern pennsylvania, fly fishing oil creek is a very worthwhile adventure. Books on oil oil wells in the woods 1905 by john oday, md. Heydrick and hunts improved map of venango county oil regions, published by john p.
Along oil creek, just south of titusville, colonel edwin drake struck oil at a depth. Through vintage photographs, oil creek and titusville railroad relives the railroad history of a valley that has become a lovely wilderness served by an important railroad. The history of oil creek state park is tied to the rise and fall of the oil industry in northwestern pennsylvania. The pennsylvania center for the book edwin drake and the. Oil creek library district, oil city, pennsylvania. Pretty little park we found this pretty park while driving around the area looking for. Edwin drake was born on march 29, 1819 in greenville, new york. A narrow oil creek then winds 35 to 40 miles to the allegheny river at oil city. Western pennsylvanias oil heritage postcard history. Titusville, to the north of oil creek state park, was a slow. Pennsylvanias oil boomtowns of 150 years ago built on. But oil citys more famous history begins in 1859, when colonel edwin drake became the first to drill the towns precious natural resource oil. The woodford came in at 1,500 barrels per day in july, 1862.
Oil city began as a settlement of the seneca tribe in the early 1600s. Development of the pennsylvania oil industry national. The landscape of americas first oil boom creating the north american landscape black, prof brian on. The oil rush in america started in titusville, pennsylvania, in the oil creek valley when edwin l. For this reason, oil creek 100 trail runs will allow headphones on the course only if it does not pose a safety risk. Edwin drake and the oil well drill pipe pennsylvania center. A history and guide to the early oil industry in pennsylvania mcelwee, neil on. When titusvilles last railroad was about to be abandoned, the oil creek railway society formed and saved the line. Erie, altoona, and johnstown are its other metropolitan centers. In petrolia, brian black offers a geographical and social history of a region that was not only. The oil creek library district is an administrative.
Oil creek and titusville railroad relives the railroad history of a. Fly bargain bin fly rod clearance fly reel clearance fly tying clearance fly box clearance rod blank clearance books cddvd misc weekly specials pennsylvania. Drakes well of 1859, many attempts to retrieve oil at a seep site on the east side of oil creek near titusville, pennsylvania, had taken place. Maps of pennsylvania 16731878 ancestor tracks has posted free, downloadable images of the 1857 map of venango county, pennsylvania compiled from official surveys by r. Todays exploration and production industry was born on august 27, 1859, near titusville when a well specifically drilled for oil found it. Biographies of cornplanter 10821099 biographies of oil creek 11041111.
A story based on oil country events 359 pages hard cover, several pictures possibly out of print i have my grandfathers copy purchased in 1905 from henry kleid the oquaga press, deposit, n. Smith discovered that the hole located close to the creek and below the level of the stream kept filling with water. Oil creek township was formed when a petition from citizens of the northern part of cornplanter twp. Local history books on pennsylvania arcadia publishing. The volume is part of the pennsylvania history series published by the pennsylvania historical association in partnership with temple university press. Drake oil wells the pennsylvania center for the book. The boom also led the oil creek railroad company to build a railway line that connected the town with other points east and west. Oil creek state park oil city 2020 all you need to know. What is now a wild second growth forest with several cold water fishery creeks flowing through it, was once the site of the vast oil industry that changed the landscape and water quality of the oil creek valley. The discovery of oil flowing from a well in the wilds of northwestern pennsylvania shook the modern world in 1859. As of the 2010 census, western pennsylvanias total population is nearly 4. Backpackers delight in the 36 mile long gerard hiking trail.
The route along oil creek is beautiful and i loved seeing. Across susquehanna at gap of second mountain showing massive ledge below retaining wall and lack of ridges in river in line with this ledge. Oil creek state park tells the story of the early petroleum industry by interpreting oil boomtowns, oil wells and early transportation. Within weeks, oil derricks and boom towns sprouted. Venango county vital records can be found at the pennsylvania office of vital records has copies of birth and death records since 1906 and death records. Titusville, pithole, and petroleum center documents the rich architectural history of these three boomtowns. Beginning with nearby pits by native americans in the deep past, infrequent gathering of it. His innovative method of drilling for oil using an iron pipe not only caused a black gold rush but also placed him in the books of oil industry history. Steel tower in pittsburgh, pennsylvania, and august 27, 2009, at the drake well museum in titusville, pennsylvania, during the 150 th anniversary of the discovery of oil by edwin drake. The oil business was wide open, especially for those determined to strike it rich. Smart news keeping you current oil companies first built pipelines in the 1860s.
Pennsylvanias oil boomtowns of 150 years ago built on fuel of industrial age. Ive been to a lot of state parks in pennsylvania, and one of my favorites has been oil creek state park in venango county. Indian eve and her descendants an indian story of bedford county, pennsylvania source. The worlds first commercially successful oil well struck black gold on august 27, 1859, in titusville in venango county. The oil creek valley is the site of the worlds first commercial oil well. The landscape of americas first oil boom creating the. The woodford left and phillips right wells in the oil creek valley of pennsylvania about 1862 oil creek flows just to the right of the phillips well.