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Texas Historical Markers by Theme
Texas Oil Boom Historical Markers
The Spindletop gusher near Beaumont in January 1901 set off the Texas oil boom, and discovery wells from East Texas to the Permian Basin followed for decades. These markers remember the wells, the boomtowns, and the people who came running, each told out loud by Duane.
257 stories across 83 Texas counties, each with the official marker text alongside Duane's telling.
Start with these Oil Boom stories
- Robert E. Lee High SchoolBaytown
After a population increase due to the discovery of oil in 1908, local residents realized the need for permanent school facilities and formed the…
- BridgetownBurkburnett
When the northwest extension of the Burkburnett oil field opened in 1919, prospectors thronged this area.
- Burkburnett ("Boomtown USA")Burkburnett
One of the most famous Texas towns. Name was given to post office at request of President T. R. Roosevelt after his 1905 wolf hunt with rancher Burk…
- City of LulingLuling
Founded when Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad line intersected a main wagon road from South Texas to Austin.
- Conroe Oil FieldConroe
One of the great petroleum areas of the Texas coastal region. Opened December 13, 1931, by the discovery well of George Strake (No. 1 South Texas…
- Cottle No.1, First Gas Well in Shackelford CountyMoran
The appearance in 1908 of oil and gas in water wells in this vicinity prompted the Texas Company (later Texaco, Inc.) in June 1909 to begin leasing…
- Driller ParkKilgore
On April 24, 1947, more than 3,100 fans celebrated the postwar return of baseball as the Kilgore Drillers played the Henderson Oilers on Driller…
- EastlandEastland
County seat, Eastland County. Named for William M. Eastland--Texas War for Independence hero who was in Mier Expedition against Mexico, and was…
Where to find Oil Boom markers
- Corsicana10 stories
- Odessa9 stories
- Kilgore8 stories
- Amarillo7 stories
- Burkburnett7 stories
- Panhandle7 stories
- Longview6 stories
- Beaumont5 stories
- Borger5 stories
- Houston5 stories
By county
Every Oil Boom story, by region
Oil Boom markers in Big Bend (12)
- Church & Fields Oil Discovery WellCrane
- Holman HouseMonahans
- IraanIraan
- Marathon Oil Company Discovery WellIraan
- MentoneMentone
- MentoneMentone
- Million Barrel TankMonahans
- Moorhead Cable Tool RigKermit
- Old Duval TownsiteKermit
- Old Wink CemeteryWink
- WinkWink
- Winkler County Discovery WellWinkler
Oil Boom markers in Central Texas (44)
- Albert R. MaceMexia
- American Well & Prospecting CompanyCorsicana
- Cedar HillSilver
- City of LulingLuling
- City of WorthamWortham
- Comanche CountyComanche
- CorsicanaCorsicana
- Cross Cut CemeteryBrownwood vicinity
- Desdemona CemeteryDesdemona
- Early Texas Natural Gas PipelinesCorsicana
- EastlandEastland
- Eastland County CourthouseEastland
- Edgar B. Davis, Oil Pioneer-PhilanthropistLuling
- Ellison Family GraveyardGorman vicinity
- First National Bank of CameronCameron
- First Oil Well Drilled in Eastland CountyRanger
- First United Methodist Church of CiscoCisco
- Hilton Hotel, EarlyMarlin
- Home of Robert E. HowardCross Plains
- James L. CollinsCorsicana
- Joseph F. Johnston Reunion GroundsMexia
- Joseph S. Cullinan, Pioneer in Texas OilCorsicana
- LinglevilleLingleville
- Magnolia Oil RefineryCorsicana
- Merriman Baptist ChurchRanger vicinity
- Merriman CemeteryRanger
- Mexia Oil BoomMexia
- Mud Creek CemeteryBangs
- New York HillThurber
- Oil City Iron WorksCorsicana
- Old Mobley HotelCisco
- Pioneer CemeteryCross Plains
- Rafael Rios No. 1Stairtown
- Roaring RangerRanger
- Site of J.H. McCleskey No. 1, Discovery Well of the Ranger Oil BoomRanger
- Site of TuckertownCorsicana
- The Birthplace of the Petroleum IndustryCorsicana
- The First National Bank of CorsicanaCorsicana
- The Powell Oil FieldPowell
- The Railroad Commission of TexasAustin
- The Wortham Oil BoomWortham
- ThurberThurber
- Town of FashingFashing
- Wortham SchoolsWortham
Oil Boom markers in East Texas (16)
- BrachfieldMinden
- Capt. Hardy B. PurvisGoodrich
- Carey Lake-Boggy Creek Oil FieldJacksonville
- City of TylerTyler
- Clinton Williams Murchison, Sr.Athens
- HendersonHenderson
- Joiner No. 3 Daisy BradfordHenderson
- Jubal Richard PartenMadisonville
- LivingstonLivingston
- Lou Della Crim No. 1Laird Hill
- Lufkin Foundry and Machine CompanyLufkin
- Pioneer Texas Oil Man: Lyne Taliaferro BarretMelrose
- Rogers-Craig HouseHenderson
- Sid Williams RichardsonAthens
- Tol Barret HouseNacogdoches
- W.C. Trout and the Counter-Balanced Pumping UnitLufkin
Oil Boom markers in Gulf Coast (46)
- 200 Feet North to Site of Hardin County Discovery WellSaratoga
- Barbers Hill Oil FieldMont Belvieu
- BeaumontBeaumont
- BolingBoling
- City of BaytownBaytown
- City of HumbleHumble
- ClemvilleMarkham vicinity
- ConroeConroe
- Conroe Oil FieldConroe
- Crater HillConroe
- Early Oil Tanker ServicePort Arthur
- Early Texas Oil PipelinesPort Arthur
- First National Bank BuildingBeaumont
- Fondren MansionHouston
- Francis John (Frank) Trost (June 24, 1868 - August 4, 1944)Port Arthur
- Galveston County, 1901 - 1965Galveston
- General Braxton Bragg, C. S. A.Kountze
- George RoundsWest Columbia
- Greenvine Gas DiscoveryGreenvine
- High IslandHigh Island
- Home County of William Pinckney McLeanVictoria
- Humble Oil & Refining CompanyBaytown
- James L. Autry HouseHouston
- Jefferson County CourthouseBeaumont
- John Warne GatesPort Arthur
- La PorteLa Porte
- Lambrecht's Artesian WellHumble
- Minchen HouseHouston
- Moonshine HillHumble
- Oilfield CemeterySaratoga
- OrangefieldOrange
- Ott HotelLiberty
- Robert E. Lee High SchoolBaytown
- Roy and Lillie Cullen BuildingHouston
- Spindletop to Port Arthur Oil Pipeline CorridorPort Arthur
- Temple Beth IsraelHouston
- Texas CityTexas City
- Texas City Terminal Railway CompanyTexas City
- The Baytown SunBaytown
- The City of KatyKaty
- The Lucas GusherBeaumont
- Victoria CountyVictoria
- W. H. Abrams Well No. 1West Columbia
- W.C. Williams BuildingPalacios
- Yettie KerstingLiberty
- Young Men's Christian Association of BeaumontBeaumont
Oil Boom markers in North Texas (66)
- Allis-Chalmers PumpsKilgore
- Athletic Park / Spudder ParkWichita Falls
- Big Inch PipelineLongview
- Breckenridge Stephens WalkerBreckenridge
- BridgetownBurkburnett
- Burkburnett ("Boomtown USA")Burkburnett
- C.S. NicksVan
- Cable Tool RigArlington
- Charles Vernon TerrellDecatur
- City of DallasDallas
- Clayco #1 Oil WellElectra
- Cook Ranch Oil FieldAlbany
- Cottle No.1, First Gas Well in Shackelford CountyMoran
- D. W. Stephens No. 1 Discovery Oil WellRoby vicinity
- Dad's CornerHolliday
- Dan LaFayette McDuffieNew Boston
- DeGolyer HouseDallas
- Dixie HotelCanton
- Dr. Anne Elizabeth Davis RoarkWichita Falls
- Driller ParkKilgore
- Dundee Angus Ranch Home, 1859Longview
- Extinct Town of AnareneArcher City
- First Oil Well in Cooke CountyCallisburg
- First Presbyterian ChurchKilgore
- Foshee Family HomesteadGladewater
- Fowler Discovery WellBurkburnett
- General Ernest O. ThompsonAlvord
- Ghost Town of ClaraBurkburnett
- Gregg County Discovery Oil Well, F. K. Lathrop A-1, Aransas Fuel Oil Co.Longview
- Home County of Allison Mayfield, ConservationistSherman
- IbexAlbany
- Jarman No. 1 Discovery WellVan
- Jay Gould Railroad CarJefferson
- John Hart WilsonWichita Falls
- Joseph Sterling BridwellWichita Falls
- Kadane Discovery WellElectra
- KilgoreKilgore
- LongviewLongview
- Lou Della Crim HomeKilgore
- MegargelMegargel
- MuensterMuenster
- North Nocona Oil Field - Montague County Oil Discovery, 1922Nocona
- Northwest Extension OilfieldBurkburnett
- Noted Texas Leader, Developer, Conservationist, Carl L. EstesLongview
- Parks CampBreckenridge
- Pure Oil Company CampVan
- Receiver BridgeBurkburnett
- Rosedale CemeteryGladewater
- Royston TownsiteRoby vicinity
- Shiloh Baptist ChurchWhite Oak
- Sinclair BuildingFort Worth
- Site of Hitson CommunityRotan vicinity
- St. Luke's United Methodist ChurchKilgore
- Stephens County CourthouseBreckenridge
- The Courthouses of Gregg CountyLongview
- The New Deal Era in KilgoreKilgore
- The Red RiverBurkburnett
- The Zale Legacynan
- Thomas G. & Marjorie Shaw HouseFort Worth
- ThriftBurkburnett vicinity
- Town of Iowa ParkIowa Park
- Van Common SchoolVan
- Van School, 1929-1947Van
- Westover ManorFort Worth
- Wichita General HospitalWichita Falls
- World's Richest AcreKilgore
Oil Boom markers in Panhandle (23)
- Dr. Charles Newton GouldAmarillo
- First Baptist Church of PanhandlePanhandle
- First Gas Well in the Panhandle of TexasAmarillo
- First Rotary Drilling Rig Used in Texas PanhandlePanhandle
- General Ernest O. ThompsonAmarillo
- Geological Riches of Moore CountyDumas
- Girl Scout Little HouseBorger
- Grand Hotel and Grand Hardware BuildingBorger
- Gulf Burnett No. 2 (Carson County Oil Discovery Well)Panhandle
- Gulf Dial #1 Oil WellStinnett
- Hemphill County JailCanadian
- HigginsHiggins
- John A. HolmesPanhandle
- Mary (Masterson) and John Fain HouseAmarillo
- Northwest Texas Hospital School of NursingAmarillo
- PanhandlePanhandle
- Plemons BridgeBorger
- Plemons CemeteryBorger
- Potter County CourthouseAmarillo
- Potter County, Establishing ofAmarillo
- Terminus of the Santa Fe Railroad, Panhandle, TexasPanhandle
- Texas Panhandle Pioneers - John F. Weatherlys FamilyPanhandle
- Twentieth Century ClubBorger
Oil Boom markers in South Texas (12)
- Bustamante (Rancho Las Comitas)Zapata
- Casa Blanca Land GrantBanquete
- First Producing Gas Well in McMullen County and First Gas Pipeline to San AntonioMcMullen County
- Flour Bluff Independent School DistrictCorpus Christi
- Hotel ViggoHebbronville
- Lala's CaféMirando City
- Merchants Exchange BankBenavides
- Old LopenoLopeno
- Oliver Winfield KillamMirando City
- Site of Old Crowther RanchMcMullen County
- The King RanchKingsville
- Town of PettusPettus
Oil Boom markers in West Texas (38)
- City of LevellandLevelland
- City of SnyderSnyder
- Cochran CountyMorton
- Crockett County's First Producing Oil WellOzona
- Discovery Well in the Wasson FieldDenver City
- Earl George Rodman, Sr. and William Douglas NoelOdessa
- Early Settlers of Andrews CountyAndrews
- Ector County CourthouseOdessa
- Ector County Discovery WellPenwell
- Ector County's First Dry HoleOdessa
- Ector High SchoolOdessa
- First Commercial Oil Well in Howard CountyGarden City
- Frankel CityFrankel City
- Gaines CountySeminole
- George Bush Family HomeMidland
- GoldsmithGoldsmith
- J. J. Moore No. 1 Oil WellSnyder
- McCamey Junior High SchoolMcCamey
- MidkiffMidkiff
- Midland CountyMidland
- Midland CountyMidland
- OdessaOdessa
- Odessa Petrochemical ComplexOdessa
- PenwellPenwell
- Permian BasinOdessa
- Rankin CemeteryRankin
- Rodman-Noel Oil FieldRankin
- Santa Rita No. 1Big Lake
- Scurry County's Billionth Barrel of OilSnyder
- Scurry County's Canyon Reef Oil FieldSnyder
- T.P. TavernMcCamey
- T&P No. 1 - W.H. Abrams No. 1 Discovery Well of the Permian BasinWestbrook
- The Benedum Oil Field and Benedum TownsiteRankin
- The Cable Tool RigOdessa
- The Petroleum BuildingMidland
- Town of TexonBig Lake
- White-Pool HouseOdessa
- Yoakum CountyPlains
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