[plaque]Grand Carousel Purchased: 1941. Opened: 1942 Previous Location: Riverside Park, Rahway, NJ This large 4 abreast carousel was built by George Kremer in 1913 using a Looff platform and horses carved by Charles Carmel. It features 63 . . . — — Map (db m122649) HM
Hand carved in 1913 by master carver Charles Carmel. This carousel was purchased by Knoebels in 1941 and moved here from Rahway, N.J. Its 63 horses and 3 chariots make it one of the largest remaining carousels in the country. — — Map (db m213064) HM
On Knoebels Road, on the right when traveling west.
Swimming Hole A natural swimming hole on Roaring Creek attracted the first visitors to Knoebels farm. Admission: With bath house 10˘ Visitors Horse Fed & Stabled 25˘ — — Map (db m122641) HM
The newest Old Covered Bridge in the world, built 1975. "The Park's Beginning" was 100 feet upstream where the original Knoebels Groves Covered Bridge and old swimming hole were located. That bridge was replaced by the modern highway bridge in 1940. — — Map (db m122643) HM
On Elk Street south of 12th Street, on the left when traveling south.
Brig. Gen. McCalmont was a Franklin attorney whose law office was at this location. He was the Assistant Attorney General under President James Buchanan, serving from 1858 through 1861. In 1862, as a Captain in the Union Army, he . . . — — Map (db m138137) HM
On 13th Street (U.S. 322) at Franklin Avenue, on the right when traveling south on 13th Street.
Site just west of here. Built in 1787 by United States troops under Captain Heart. First American fort in the region and base for protecting northwestern Pennsylvania's early settlements. — — Map (db m42933) HM
On 8th Street (U.S. 322) at Elk Street, on the right when traveling west on 8th Street.
Built by the French in 1756 to guard the route to the Ohio; it was evacuated and burned by them after the siege and fall of Fort Niagara in 1759. Site of fort is one block south. — — Map (db m42936) HM
On 8th Street (U.S. 322) at Elk Street, on the left when traveling west on 8th Street.
To assert control over the area, Fort Venango was built near this point by the British in 1760. The fort was attacked and destroyed by Indians in 1763 during Pontiac's uprising. — — Map (db m42938) HM
Near Liberty Street (Pennsylvania Route 8) 0.1 miles east of 13th Street (U.S. 322), on the right when traveling east.
A frontier settlement, originally called Venango, was an established community and county seat when the oil boom hit. The town grew and prospered with the influx of speculators and businesses, becoming a center of refining activity in the rapidly . . . — — Map (db m69044) HM
On Liberty Street (Pennsylvania Route 8) at South Park Street, on the right when traveling north on Liberty Street.
Founded 1865. Under the leadership of Charles Miller and Joseph Sibley, it produced high-quality lubricants used by most United States railroads. Purchased 1878 by John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil, which used Galena-Signal products to gain . . . — — Map (db m42939) HM
On South Park Street, 0.1 miles east of Liberty Street (Pennsylvania Route 8), on the right when traveling west.
An attorney and oil industry pioneer, in 1854 with J.G. Eveleth, he purchased the Hibbard Farm, future site of Drake Well. Later that year, they organized Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company, America's first oil corporation. Bissell, with partners, also . . . — — Map (db m42940) HM
On 13th Street (U.S. 322) at Franklin Avenue, on the right when traveling south on 13th Street.
John Chapman, an actual person as well as a folk hero, lived nearby along French Creek between 1797 and 1804. Records indicate he had a nursery there and one near Warren, Pennsylvania, before moving on to Ohio. Born 1774 in Massachusetts, he died . . . — — Map (db m42934) HM
On 13th Street (U.S. 322) at Otter Street, on the right when traveling south on 13th Street.
Jesse Reno's boyhood home was here where his father, Lewis, operated a hotel. He left in 1842 to enter the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1846 as a Second Lieutanant in the Ordnance Corps. After distinguishing himself in the . . . — — Map (db m74627) HM
On Liberty Street (U.S. 322) at 10th Street, on the right when traveling west on Liberty Street.
Built in 1796 to replace Fort Franklin. Commanded both French Creek and the Allegheny River. Occupied until 1799 by United States troops. Was later the first jail of Venango County. The site at the foot of Tenth Street is now under water. — — Map (db m42941) HM
On Liberty Street (Pennsylvania Route 8) at Pennsylvania Alley, on the right when traveling south on Liberty Street.
General solicitor of Standard Oil, 1881-1905, and author of the Standard Oil Trust Agreement (1882). The agreement led to the company’s dominance of the industry and served as a model for other trusts. A Franklin native, his early law office was . . . — — Map (db m42942) HM
On Liberty Street (U.S. 322) at 12th Street, on the right when traveling west on Liberty Street.
Formed March 12, 1800 out of Allegheny and Lycoming counties. The name (an Indian term) refers to French Creek. Franklin, county seat, was laid out in 1795. It became a city in 1868, as did Oil City in 1871. At Drake Well the oil industry was born, . . . — — Map (db m42943) HM
On Liberty Street (U.S. 62) east of 12th Street, on the left when traveling east.
This Civil War Monument commemorates 400 Venango County soldiers who died during the war. These soldiers fought in many battles including Lookout Mountain, Bull Run, Yorktown, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Antietam. . . . — — Map (db m138134) HM WM
On Liberty Street (U.S. 62/322) at Park Street, on the right when traveling north on Liberty Street.
In Memory of
All Vietnam Veterans
This memorial was erected in memory of the young individuals who went to war as kids and lost their youthful dreams, and some their lives, for a cause-freedom and honor-and came back as men with . . . — — Map (db m138173) WM
On Liberty Street (U.S. 62) at 12th Street, on the left when traveling east on Liberty Street.
In Honor of
World War I Veterans
[Photo of troop ship]
In Memory
[Photo of troops in battle]
In Remembrance
[Photo of troops entering "No Man's Land"]
Presented by the
Venango County Historical Society . . . — — Map (db m138115) WM
On Liberty Street (U.S. 62) at 12th Street, on the left when traveling east on Liberty Street.
☆ Died in Service
Raymond Alanzo • Sterling L. Alexander • Leon G. Allen
Earl Ames • Harold P. Anderson • William Angove
George Clair Armitage • Angus G. Armstrong • Ralph F. Banbury
Keey David Barcroft • William F. . . . — — Map (db m138133) WM