Longview in Gregg County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Big Inch Pipeline
Before the United States entry into World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, ninety-five percent of the crude oil delivered to East Coast refineries was transported by tanker ships. Ninety percent of that oil originated from Texas oil fields.
Beginning in February 1942, many U.S. oil tankers en route from the Gulf of Mexico to the East Coast were sunk by German submarines. Recognizing the need to transport oil under safer circumstances, Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes developed a plan for massive overland oil pipeline. Under the auspices of the War Emergency Pipelines, Inc., construction began on the largest pipeline in history up to that time. Measuring twenty-four inches in diameter, the Big Inch pipeline extended from Longview to Norris City, Illinois, and eventually to refineries in the East.
The Big Inch pipeline's impact on the war effort was tremendous, enabling the safe and timely transport of oil products vital to the Allies. During the height of wartime service, over 300,000 barrels of oil were delivered each day over the 1,476-mile line. When the war ended the Big Inch continued in service after conversion to a natural gas pipeline.
Erected 1990 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9934.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Resources • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1942.
Location. 32° 27.273′ N, 94° 42.98′ W. Marker is in Longview, Texas, in Gregg County. Marker is on South Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, 0.1 miles north of Pittman Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3116 South Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, Longview TX 75602, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Robert Gilmour LeTourneau (approx. 1.1 miles away); Harmon General Hospital (approx. 1.1 miles away); Longview Junction (approx. 2.8 miles away); Longview Train Depot (approx. 2.8 miles away); First Baptist Church of Longview (approx. 3 miles away); When Mule Power Moved People (approx. 3 miles away); Site of James S. Hogg Newspaper (approx. 3 miles away); From Subsistence to Cash Crops (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Longview.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the Big Inch pipeline. (Submitted on September 25, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 918 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 25, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.