Drake Well Marker

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Titusville in Venango County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Drake Well

By Mike Wintermantel, August 5, 2007

1. Drake Well Marker

Inscription. This native boulder marks the plot
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, and the Markers with Artwork 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. Click 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, as the crow flies. Drake Well Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Roberts Torpedo (approx. 0.9 miles away); Oil Creek (approx. 1.1 miles away); Early Refinery (approx. 1.1 miles away); John William Heisman (approx. 1.2 miles away); John A. Mather (approx. 1.3 miles away); Ida M. Tarbell (approx. 1.3 miles away); Titusville Oil Exchange (approx. 1.4 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Titusville.

By Mike Wintermantel, August 5, 2007

2. Drake Well Marker

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.)

Drake Well (Replica) Photo, Click for full size

By Mike Wintermantel, August 5, 2007

3. Drake Well (Replica)

Edwin L. Drake Photo, Click for full size

By Unknown

4. Edwin L. Drake

Credits. This page originally submitted on January 29, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 337 times since then. 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. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.