Boom or Bust Byway
1969 Louisana State Oil & Gas Museum
— Oil City, Louisiana —
Early on, most settlers were fishermen, trappers, and farmers. Others took part in the timber industry, and another group harvested fresh water pearls after they were discovered in mussels living in Caddo Lake. All this changed with the discovery of oil in 1905. The population of the sleepy town now boomed and the town became the first "wild cat town" in the Ark-La-Tex.
A Texas oil man named Howard Hughes—the father of the famous Howard Hughes—convinced the federal government to located a post office in the town. He is also given credit for changing the name to Oil City.
In 1911, Louisiana's first over water well, the Ferry Lake No. 1, was completed over Caddo Lake. This technology led to the offshore production in the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more about the history of this area at the Louisiana State Oil and Gas Museum. The Museum interprets the fascinating drama of Louisiana's early oil industry history through photographs, films and life-size dioramas.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1969.
Location. 32° 44.514′ N, 93° 58.248′ W. Marker is in Oil City, Louisiana
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Trees City Office & Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Oil City (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter (approx. one mile away); Caddo Lake (approx. one mile away); First Over Water Oil Well (approx. one mile away); The Historic Caddo Lake Drawbridge (approx. 3.3 miles away); Potter's Point (approx. 6.8 miles away in Texas); Horseshoe Bayou Bridge On LA. 530 (approx. 7.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oil City.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2021, by Jason Armstrong of Talihina, Oklahoma. This page has been viewed 191 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 4, 2021, by Jason Armstrong of Talihina, Oklahoma. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
