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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.
413 stories across 102 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
- Kilgore15 stories
- Beaumont13 stories
- Corsicana12 stories
- Panhandle12 stories
- Wichita Falls11 stories
- Longview10 stories
- Odessa9 stories
- Port Arthur9 stories
- Borger8 stories
- Burkburnett8 stories
By county
Every Oil Boom story, by region
Oil Boom markers in Big Bend (11)
- Church & Fields Oil Discovery WellCrane
- Curry, Charles BootheCrane
- Holman HouseMonahans
- IraanIraan
- Marathon Oil Company Discovery WellIraan
- MentoneMentone
- MentoneMentone
- Million Barrel TankMonahans
- Oil and Gas Industry in Pecos CountyFt. Stockton
- One Hundred Million Barrels of Oil From Block 31 UnitCrane
- Pecos CountyFort Stockton
Oil Boom markers in Central Texas (57)
- Albert R. MaceMexia
- American Well & Prospecting CompanyCorsicana
- Cedar HillSilver
- City of LulingLuling
- City of WorthamWortham
- Comanche CountyComanche
- CorsicanaCorsicana
- Cross Cut CemeteryBrownwood vicinity
- Desdemona CemeteryDesdemona
- Desdemona First Baptist ChurchDesdemona
- Early Banking in EastlandEastland
- 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 Producing Oil Well in Coke CountySilver
- First United Methodist Church of CiscoCisco
- First United Methodist Church of EastlandEastland
- Hilton Hotel, EarlyMarlin
- Home of Robert E. HowardCross Plains
- Hopewell CemeteryEureka
- James Emerson WhiteselleCorsicana
- James L. CollinsCorsicana
- Joseph F. Johnston Reunion GroundsMexia
- Joseph S. Cullinan, Pioneer in Texas OilCorsicana
- LinglevilleLingleville
- Linne Oil FieldSutherland Springs
- 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
- Old Welding Shop of H. C. NicolCorsicana
- Pioneer CemeteryCross Plains
- Prairie Oil and Gas Company HousingEastland
- Rafael Rios No. 1Stairtown
- Roaring RangerRanger
- SilverSilver
- Sipe Springs CemeterySipe Springs vicinity
- Site of Blackwell HospitalGorman
- 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
- WintersWinters
- Wortham SchoolsWortham
Oil Boom markers in East Texas (19)
- BrachfieldMinden
- Capt. Hardy B. PurvisGoodrich
- Carey Lake-Boggy Creek Oil FieldJacksonville
- City of TylerTyler
- Clinton Williams Murchison, Sr.Athens
- First Christian Church of CarthageCarthage
- Gaston Public School ComplexHenderson
- HendersonHenderson
- Joiner No. 3 Daisy BradfordHenderson
- Jubal Richard PartenMadisonville
- LivingstonLivingston
- London Baptist ChurchNew London
- 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 (76)
- 200 Feet North to Site of Hardin County Discovery WellSaratoga
- Anahuac Oil and Gas FieldMonroe City
- Barbers Hill Oil FieldMont Belvieu
- Baytown Mexican SchoolBaytown
- BeaumontBeaumont
- Bellville General HospitalBellville
- Birthplace of Governor Ross Shaw SterlingAnahuac
- BolingBoling
- C. Homer and Edith Fuller Chambers HomeBeaumont
- Caroline Gilbert Hinchee HouseBeaumont
- City of BaytownBaytown
- City of HumbleHumble
- ClemvilleMarkham vicinity
- ConroeConroe
- Conroe Oil FieldConroe
- Crater HillConroe
- Early Oil Tanker ServicePort Arthur
- Early Texas Oil PipelinesPort Arthur
- El CampoEl Campo
- First Baptist Church of BeaumontBeaumont
- First National Bank BuildingBeaumont
- First National Bank of El CampoEl Campo
- First Producing Gas Well in Colorado CountyGarwood
- First Security National BankBeaumont
- First Texas City Refinery, TheTexas City
- First United Methodist Church of HumbleHumble
- Fondren MansionHouston
- Francis John (Frank) Trost (June 24, 1868 - August 4, 1944)Port Arthur
- Galveston County, 1901 - 1965Galveston
- Gates Memorial LibraryPort Arthur
- General Braxton Bragg, C. S. A.Kountze
- George RoundsWest Columbia
- Greenvine Gas DiscoveryGreenvine
- High IslandHigh Island
- Holmes Duke HouseBeaumont
- Home County of William Pinckney McLeanVictoria
- Humble Oil & Refining CompanyBaytown
- James L. Autry HouseHouston
- Jefferson County CourthouseBeaumont
- John Warne GatesPort Arthur
- K'Nesseth Israel SynagogueBaytown
- La PorteLa Porte
- Lambrecht's Artesian WellHumble
- Leonard Frederick BenckensteinOrange
- Mildred BuildingsBeaumont
- Minchen HouseHouston
- Moonshine HillHumble
- North End Methodist ChurchBeaumont
- Oilfield CemeterySaratoga
- OrangefieldOrange
- Ott HotelLiberty
- Robert E. Lee High SchoolBaytown
- Roy and Lillie Cullen BuildingHouston
- Saint Anthony's CathedralBeaumont
- South County Office BuildingPort Arthur
- Spindletop to Port Arthur Oil Pipeline CorridorPort Arthur
- St. John's Lodge No. 5, A. F. & A. M.West Columbia
- Temple Beth IsraelHouston
- Texas CityTexas City
- Texas City Terminal Railway CompanyTexas City
- Texas Company Refinery at Port Arthur (Port Arthur Works)Port Arthur
- The Baytown SunBaytown
- The City of KatyKaty
- The Governor Ross Sterling MansionMorgan's Point
- The Lucas GusherBeaumont
- The Port Arthur RefineryPort Arthur
- The W. A. "Bay" Evans HomeConroe
- Town of NeedvilleNeedville
- Trinity Lutheran ChurchGroves
- VictoriaVictoria
- Victoria CountyVictoria
- W. H. Abrams Well No. 1West Columbia
- W.C. Williams BuildingPalacios
- Wooster CommunityBaytown
- Yettie KerstingLiberty
- Young Men's Christian Association of BeaumontBeaumont
Oil Boom markers in North Texas (103)
- Allis-Chalmers PumpsKilgore
- Archer County Discovery WellArcher City
- Athletic Park / Spudder ParkWichita Falls
- Bethania HospitalWichita Falls
- Big Inch PipelineLongview
- Birthplace of Miss Ima HoggMineola
- Breckenridge Stephens WalkerBreckenridge
- Breckenridge Stephens Walker HomeBreckenridge
- BridgetownBurkburnett
- Bridwell ParkWindthorst
- BrysonBryson
- Burkburnett ("Boomtown USA")Burkburnett
- C.S. NicksVan
- Cable Tool RigArlington
- Cashion SchoolWichita Falls
- 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
- Davenport GroceryWichita Falls
- Dean-Keener-Crim HouseKilgore
- DeGolyer HouseDallas
- Delta Drilling CompanyLongview
- Dixie HotelCanton
- Dr. Anne Elizabeth Davis RoarkWichita Falls
- Driller ParkKilgore
- Dundee Angus Ranch Home, 1859Longview
- Extinct Town of AnareneArcher City
- First Baptist Church of KilgoreKilgore
- First Oil Well in Cooke CountyCallisburg
- First Presbyterian ChurchKilgore
- First United Methodist Church of GladewaterGladewater
- Foshee Family HomesteadGladewater
- Fowler Discovery WellBurkburnett
- General Ernest O. ThompsonAlvord
- Ghost Town of ClaraBurkburnett
- GilmerGilmer
- GladewaterGladewater
- Gregg County Discovery Oil Well, F. K. Lathrop A-1, Aransas Fuel Oil Co.Longview
- Home County of Allison Mayfield, ConservationistSherman
- IbexAlbany
- J. A. Kemp Wholesale Grocery BuildingWichita Falls
- Jarman No. 1 Discovery WellVan
- Jay Gould Railroad CarJefferson
- John Hart WilsonWichita Falls
- Joseph Sterling BridwellWichita Falls
- Kadane Discovery WellElectra
- KilgoreKilgore
- Kilgore College Administration BuildingKilgore
- Kilgore High SchoolKilgore
- Kilgore National Bank BuildingKilgore
- KMA OilfieldElectra
- Liberty CityKilgore
- LongviewLongview
- Longview Municipal Building and Central Fire StationLongview
- Lou Della Crim HomeKilgore
- MegargelMegargel
- MoranMoran
- MuensterMuenster
- North Nocona Oil Field - Montague County Oil Discovery, 1922Nocona
- Northwest Extension OilfieldBurkburnett
- Noted Texas Leader, Developer, Conservationist, Carl L. EstesLongview
- O'Donohoe, John F.Wichita Falls
- Old First National Bank BuildingBreckenridge
- Parks CampBreckenridge
- Pure Oil Company CampVan
- Receiver BridgeBurkburnett
- Rosedale CemeteryGladewater
- Royston TownsiteRoby vicinity
- Sabine River Off Shore WellsLongview
- Shiloh Baptist ChurchWhite Oak
- Simon Peter HawkinsBurkburnett
- Sinclair BuildingFort Worth
- Site of Hitson CommunityRotan vicinity
- Site of Valley View SchoolKamay
- Site of Wichita Valley Refinery and Texas Oklahoma FairIowa Park
- St. Luke's United Methodist ChurchKilgore
- Stephens County CourthouseBreckenridge
- Stephens County CourthouseBreckenridge
- Strawn City HallStrawn
- Temple Emanu-ElLongview
- The Courthouses of Gregg CountyLongview
- The Kilgore I&GN-Missouri Pacific Railroad StationKilgore
- The New Deal Era in KilgoreKilgore
- The Red RiverBurkburnett
- The Zale Legacynan
- Thomas G. & Marjorie Shaw HouseFort Worth
- Thomas HouseStrawn
- ThriftBurkburnett vicinity
- Town of Iowa ParkIowa Park
- Upshur County Discovery WellUnion Grove
- Van Common SchoolVan
- Van School, 1929-1947Van
- Van United Methodist ChurchVan
- Weeks MansionWichita Falls
- Westover ManorFort Worth
- White Oak Independent School DistrictWhite Oak
- Wichita General HospitalWichita Falls
- World's Richest AcreKilgore
Oil Boom markers in Panhandle (41)
- 1934 Pampa Post Office BuildingPampa
- Ace Borger HomeBorger
- Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroad DepotPanhandle
- Carson CountyPanhandle
- Carson CountyPanhandle
- City of DumasDumas
- Combs-Worley BuildingPampa
- Dr. Charles Newton GouldAmarillo
- East Ward Elementary SchoolBorger
- First Baptist Church of PanhandlePanhandle
- First Gas Well in the Panhandle of TexasAmarillo
- First Methodist Church of BorgerBorger
- First Rotary Drilling Rig Used in Texas PanhandlePanhandle
- FollettFollett
- 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
- Hutchinson County CourthouseStinnett
- John A. HolmesPanhandle
- Mary (Masterson) and John Fain HouseAmarillo
- Moore CountyDumas
- Northwest Texas Hospital School of NursingAmarillo
- Oldest Bank in the Texas PanhandlePanhandle
- PampaPampa
- Pampa City HallPampa
- PanhandlePanhandle
- Plemons BridgeBorger
- Plemons CemeteryBorger
- Potter County CourthouseAmarillo
- Potter County, Establishing ofAmarillo
- Santa Fe Railroad Stationmaster's HouseSpearman
- Terminus of the Santa Fe Railroad, Panhandle, TexasPanhandle
- Texan HotelPanhandle
- Texas Panhandle Pioneers - John F. Weatherlys FamilyPanhandle
- Twentieth Century ClubBorger
- White DeerWhite Deer
Oil Boom markers in South Texas (26)
- Bee CountyPettus
- BruniBruni
- Bustamante (Rancho Las Comitas)Zapata
- CallihamCalliham
- Casa Blanca Land GrantBanquete
- Duval CountySan Diego
- Felipe Valerio Store and GarageSan Diego
- First Producing Gas Well in Kleberg CountyKingsville
- First Producing Gas Well in McMullen County and First Gas Pipeline to San AntonioMcMullen County
- Flour Bluff Independent School DistrictCorpus Christi
- Grossman-Graham HouseCorpus Christi
- Hidalgo County's First Oil WellLa Joya vicinity
- Hotel ViggoHebbronville
- Jim Wells County CourthouseAlice
- Lala's CaféMirando City
- Merchants Exchange BankBenavides
- Old LopenoLopeno
- Oliver Winfield KillamMirando City
- Plymouth Oil Company and Plymouth OilersStinton
- Radcliffe KillamLaredo
- Refugio County CourthousesRefugio
- Site of Old Crowther RanchMcMullen County
- The King RanchKingsville
- The Laredo National BankLaredo
- TildenMcMullen County
- Town of PettusPettus
Oil Boom markers in West Texas (80)
- Andrews County Discovery WellAndrews County
- Big Spring School DistrictBig Spring
- Billionth BarrelAndrews
- Bobcat HillsMcCamey
- City of LevellandLevelland
- City of SnyderSnyder
- City of Sundown CemeterySundown
- Cochran CountyMorton
- Col-Tex RefineryColorado City
- Coleman Ranch Field Discovery WellWestbrook
- Crockett County's First Producing Oil WellOzona
- DermottSnyder
- Discovery Well in the Wasson FieldDenver City
- Earl George Rodman, Sr. and William Douglas NoelOdessa
- Early Humble Camp in Permian BasinMcCamey
- Early Settlers of Andrews CountyAndrews
- Ector County CourthouseOdessa
- Ector County Discovery WellPenwell
- Ector County's First Dry HoleOdessa
- Ector High SchoolOdessa
- First Baptist Church of MidlandMidland
- First Commercial Oil Well in Howard CountyGarden City
- First Oil Well in Hockley CountySundown
- First State Bank of RankinRankin
- Florey ParkAndrews
- Frankel CityFrankel City
- Gaines CountySeminole
- Gaines CountySeminole
- Garza County's First Oil WellJusticeburg
- George Bush Family HomeMidland
- GoldsmithGoldsmith
- J. J. Moore No. 1 Oil WellSnyder
- John H. ReaganBig Lake
- KermitKermit
- Martin CountyStanton
- McCameyMcCamey
- McCamey Junior High SchoolMcCamey
- MidkiffMidkiff
- Midland CountyMidland
- Midland CountyMidland
- Midland County's First Producing Oil WellMidland
- Midland National BankMidland
- Moorhead Cable Tool RigKermit
- O. W. Parker Ranch HeadquartersIraan
- OdessaOdessa
- Odessa Petrochemical ComplexOdessa
- Oil Industry in Gaines CountySeminole
- Old Duval TownsiteKermit
- Old Wink CemeteryWink
- Original Townsite of AndrewsAndrews
- Ozona Hotel, OldOzona
- PenwellPenwell
- Permian BasinOdessa
- PostPost
- Rankin CemeteryRankin
- Rodman-Noel Oil FieldRankin
- Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific Railroad CompanySnyder
- Santa Fe Railway in Scurry CountySnyder
- Santa Rita No. 1Big Lake
- Scurry County's Billionth Barrel of OilSnyder
- Scurry County's Canyon Reef Oil FieldSnyder
- SeminoleSeminole
- Settles HotelBig Spring
- 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 Community ChurchKermit
- The Petroleum BuildingMidland
- The Sand HillsKermit
- The Yucca TheatreMidland
- Town of TexonBig Lake
- Upton CountyRankin
- Weir No. 1 Oil WellRankin
- White-Pool HouseOdessa
- WinkWink
- Winkler County CourthouseKermit
- Winkler County Discovery WellWinkler
- Yates HotelRankin
- Yoakum CountyPlains
More Texas history themes
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