Taft in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
West Kern Oil Museum
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 11, 2025
1. West Kern Oil Museum Marker
The Jameson # 17 oil derrick, which was drilled in 1917 and produced until the 1980s, was scheduled to be torn down. In 1974 the local American Association of University Women and several dedicated people convinced Jameson Oil Company to donate the wooden derrick along with three acres of land to give the West Kern Oil Museum, Inc. a promising start.
The Jameson # 17 was the last standing wooden derrick in California, outlasting more than 7000 wooden derricks that covered the Midway-Sunset Field. Due to safety issues the derrick finally had to be torn down in 2003. However, the museum had the original plans, and in 2005 raised an exact replica of the derrick. Today, the replica stands over the original well, and is a part of the museum, which has grown to 8 acres.
The story of the oil companies, of everyday life in early oilfields and camps, as well as the story of oil itself are exhibited and interpreted within the museum.
The museum, run entirely by volunteers, is dedicated to collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting artifacts, books, and equipment that tell the story of oil in
this page online
Erected 2015 by Peter Lebec Chapter 1866, E Clampus Vitus.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.
Location. 35° 7.993′ N, 119° 26.894′ W. Marker is in Taft, California, in Kern County. It can be reached from Wood Street, on the right when traveling east. Located on the grounds of the West Kern Oil Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1168 Wood Street, Taft CA 93268, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley, specifically in the Central Valley, and in the Sierra Nevada. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
Photographed by Alan Price
2. West Kern Oil Museum Marker
Regarding West Kern Oil Museum. All of the equipment at the Jameson # 17 oil derrick is original, only the 106 foot high derrick has been replaced for safety concerns. The derrick has the original "crown block," which is the assembly of sheaves mounted at the top of the derrick to handle the various cables or ropes needed to operate the well. Steam supplied the power to the engine, which was later converted to gas supplied from the nearby wells. This same machinery was then used to operate a pump when the well ceased to flow naturally. When completed in November, 1917, the well flowed 958 barrels of oil per day at a depth of 2,495 feet.
Also see . . . West Kern Oil Museum.
Photographed by Alan Price
3. West Kern Oil Museum Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 11, 2025
4. West Kern Oil Museum Marker
circa 2006
5. Oil Derrick Replica
circa 1994
6. Original Oil Derrick in 1994
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2015, by Alan Price or Jayne Hotchkiss-Price of Caliente, California. This page has been viewed 957 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 11, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3. submitted on September 13, 2015, by Alan Price or Jayne Hotchkiss-Price of Caliente, California. 4. submitted on October 11, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on February 27, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on April 4, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
