On North Kilgore Street near North Henderson Boulevard (Business U.S. 259), on the right when traveling east.
Founded 1872 with coming of the I.G.N. Railroad. Named for site donor, a Confederate colonel, Constantine B. Kilgore, State Senator and U. S. Congressman.
Geographical center of huge East Texas oil field. World's greatest concentration of steel . . . — — Map (db m138956) HM
On North Commerce Street north of East Main Street, on the right when traveling north.
Commerce Street is jammed with boomers during the thirties. Businesses on this site included a hospital bank, dry goods and drug stores. All buildings along Commerce Street between North and Main Streets were razed.
(Photo faces . . . — — Map (db m139652) HM
On North Commerce Street north of East Main Street, on the right when traveling north.
Derricks topped 1,100 producing wells within Kilgore's city limits. At the back door of these businesses that face Kilgore Street, the photo shows 24 that stood in the world's richest acre – the greatest concentration of drilled wells in the . . . — — Map (db m139588) HM
On North Commerce Street north of East Main Street, on the right when traveling north.
This photo shows all buildings except Kilgore National Bank (which was the last to go) torn down to make way for the derricks. Remnants of flooring from the building behind the bank can be seen under the pumping unit.
(Photo faces . . . — — Map (db m139651) HM
On East North Street at Wood Street, on the right when traveling west on East North Street.
On October 11, 1902, the five charter members of this congregation met and formed the Missionary Baptist Church of Kilgore. They were Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Choice, Mr. and Mrs. J.I. Choice, and Miss Lizzie Clinkscales. The Rev. P.J. Vermillion served as . . . — — Map (db m218686) HM
On Lawrence Street at East Main Street, on the left when traveling north on Lawrence Street.
Organized in 1850 as Gum Spring Presbyterian Church in the rural Danville community, this congregation moved to Kilgore in 1874 and later changed its name to First Presbyterian Church. Built as a result of the 1930s oil boom, this sanctuary replaced . . . — — Map (db m138905) HM
On Wells Street east of Douglass Street, on the right when traveling east.
Formal education of Kilgore’s African American youth is recorded
as early as 1873 through Kilgore Baptist church. On August 27, 1906,
Kilgore residents voted to incorporate the Kilgore Independent
School District (KISD), which included segregated . . . — — Map (db m139140) HM
On North Longview Street, 0.2 miles north of West Lantrip Street, on the left when traveling north.
Public education in Kilgore traces its history to classes held in private homes and the establishment of private institutions, most notably the Alexander Institute. Operated by Isaac Alexander, the school moved to Kilgore in 1873. It continued to . . . — — Map (db m138964) HM
On South Kilgore Street at East South Street, on the left when traveling south on South Kilgore Street.
Led in the town's economic development following the 1930s oil boom. Prosperity in the midst of the Great Depression influenced the board of directors to build this structure in 1937. Designed by Henderson architect James L. Downing, who used art . . . — — Map (db m138970) HM
On West North Street north of North Longview Street.
This bungalow style residence was constructed in 1920 for Lou Della (Thompson) Crim (b. 1868), on the former site of the Hearne Hotel. The farm she owned at Laird Hill (4 mi. S) was part of an oil exploration project headed by her son Malcolm, later . . . — — Map (db m138967) HM
On Mt. Pleasant Road, 0.1 miles south of State Route 135, on the right when traveling south.
At the close of the Civil War, local African Americans, newly freed from slavery, formed the Mt. Pleasant Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. The Rev. M.F. Jamison served as the first pastor for the group, which was part of the East Texas Annual . . . — — Map (db m139138) HM
On North Commerce Street, north of East Main Street, on the right when traveling north.
The invention of mobile workover rigs made standing derricks obsolete. Photographed in 1969 only one well was not cleared. Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation was founded in 1987 to restore the famous skyline. Today, 12 reconstructed derricks . . . — — Map (db m139589) HM
On East North Street at North Martin Street, on the left when traveling east on East North Street.
Before the establishment of public schools, education was provided by small private academies such as the Alexander Institute. a successor to the New Danville Masonic Female Academy, founded in nearby Danville in 1854. The institute was named for . . . — — Map (db m138971) HM
On East Main Street near North Martin Street, on the right when traveling west.
The Kilgore Methodist Society was organized in 1873 after many residents of New Danville (4 mi. NE) moved to Kilgore, founded in 1872 after the railroad arrived in 1871. They erected a school building in 1873 at Martin and North streets (1 blk. N) . . . — — Map (db m218687) HM
On North Commerce Street at East North Street, on the left when traveling north on North Commerce Street.
The town of Kilgore was platted by the International Railroad Company after it purchased land for a townsite from C. B. "Buck" Kilgore, who had donated a 200-foot railroad right-of-way in 1871. Kilgore, a resident of Danville (4 mi. E), recognizing . . . — — Map (db m138965) HM
On East Main Street at North Commerce Street, on the right when traveling east on East Main Street.
Part of fabulous East Texas oil field discovered in 1930. This 1.195-acre tract had first production on June 17, 1937, when the Mrs. Bess Johnson-Adams & Hale No. 1 well was brought in.
Developed before well-spacing rules, this block is the . . . — — Map (db m96134) HM