Titusville in Venango County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
where through the foresight, energy
and persistence of
Edwin L. Drake
The first well was drilled for oil.
On August 27, 1859 oil was found
at a depth of sixty-nine feet.
This great discovery inaugurated the petroleum industry.
Erected 1914 by Canadohta Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
Marker series. This marker is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution marker series.
Location. 41° 36.65′ N, 79° 39.467′ W. Marker is in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in Venango County. Marker can be reached from Museum Lane, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is located on the grounds of Drake Well State Park. Marker is in this post office area: Titusville PA 16354, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Drake Well Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Roberts Torpedo (approx. 0.9 miles away); Brown Street Bridge (approx. one mile away); Oil Creek (approx. 1.1 miles away); Early Refinery John William Heisman (approx. 1.2 miles away); John A. Mather (approx. 1.3 miles away); Ida M. Tarbell (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Titusville.
More about this marker. The marker is mounted on a boulder at the site.
Also see . . .
1. The Story of Oil in Pennsylvania. The most important oil well ever drilled was in the middle of quiet farm country in northwestern Pennsylvania in 1859. For this was one of the first successful oil wells that was drilled for the sole purpose of finding oil. Known as the Drake Well, after "Colonel" Edwin Drake, the man responsible for the well, it began an international search for petroleum, and in many ways eventually changed the way we live. (Submitted on January 30, 2011.)
2. Drakes Well. An article written by Samuel T. Pees detailing the history of the first oil well. (Submitted on January 30, 2011.)
3. An 1890 Copywrited Drawing of Drakes Well. On file with the Library of Congress (Submitted on January 30, 2011.)
4. The Drake Well Museum. The website of the on-site museum. (Submitted on January 30, 2011.)
Categories. • Environment • Natural Resources •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on January 29, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 615 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 29, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on February 3, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on June 3, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. 6. submitted on January 15, 2015. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.