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The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism is an economic development agency located in northwest . The organization is also tasked with the development of tourism initiatives and the management of federally designated heritage assets of the Oil Region National Heritage Area, which encompasses all of Venango County and the eastern portion of Crawford County. 3 4

Written by Ryan Cartner

oth Venango and Crawford County were founded in carved out with dozens of biking and hiking trails that attract 1800, but the real significance of the region’s history tourists from across the country. Those who venture onto the Bbegins much later, in 1859, with the story of Edwin trails that span through the oil region will find themselves within Drake. Drake was a former train conductor. He was forced to the Oil Creek and Allegheny River Valleys, often called “The leave this line of work as a result of illness, but he retained the Valley that Changed the World.” Following Edwin Drake’s effort right of free travel on railroads that was granted to conduc- in drilling the first commercially successful oil well, the industry tors of the day. This would prove to be a valuable asset, and exploded and set off on a new course. Oilfield equipment can would help direct the course of his legacy. By 1859, he and his still be seen throughout the region, some old and idle, but some family had found their way to Titusville, just across the Venango still pumping oil for more than 50 independent producers. County line in Crawford County. Today, visitors to and Park can follow the Around the same time, a company called Seneca Rock Oil course of these events through a 240-acre site chock full of Company hired Drake to find a way to get their leased land exhibits hearkening back to Drake’s time. There is a full-sized along Oil Creek downstream from Titusville to yield more oil replica of the original structure that held the derrick, the giant than had been collected from the wood-lined oil pits. Drake machine that pumps the oil out of the well, and the steam identified a number of deposits and began applying tech- engine that powered it. Within the structure, visitors will a find niques that were common in salt well drilling to the collection working replica of that steam engine, the wood-fired boiler that of petroleum. After a lot of problem solving, sheer hard work, ran it, and an explanation of how the system operated. Outside and determination, he and his team of drillers were eventu- the engine house, visitors will find exhibits demonstrating ally successful in their effort to drill for oil, making Titusville a many of the early technologies that were used to drill wells. boomtown and setting a course that changed the world. After seeing how oil wells were drilled, visitors are enlightened Today, Venango County and the surrounding area are well to the ways of every other aspect of the early oil business. This remembered for this rich contribution to the nation’s history, includes the machinery that powered industrial oil production and the Oil Region Alliance is committed to the work of preserv- operations, to the dangers of transporting oil down Oil Creek ing and sharing it. Beyond its oil heritage, the region is also built on skids, all the way up the line to the business offices where oil within a beautiful stretch of the natural Pennsylvania landscape, men bought and sold stock in oil companies.

“Venango County and the surrounding area are well remembered for this rich contribution to the nation’s history, and the Oil Region Alliance is committed to the work of preserving and sharing it.” 5

“Today, the Oil Region is home to a diverse range of industries reaching far beyond oil.”

The success of the oil industry made Titusville prosper and resulted in explosive growth for the community. People built refineries throughout the region. Industrious people knew they could benefit from the oil boom and built businesses. Banks were built to capitalize on the economic upturn, and churches, schools, and mansions were built to accommodate the influx of people.

In 1986, the United States Department of the Interior designat- Emlenton Borough is situated along the Allegheny River, at the ed a large segment of Titusville, including 450 homes, churches, southern tip of Venango County. Oil men of the era, striking and commercial structures, as a protected, historic district. The rich on the success of their industry, wanted to find lodging in National Register of Historic Places currently lists six historic the region, and many of them settled in Emlenton. At one point districts within the Oil Region National Heritage Area – one in its history, the small town had more millionaire residents per each in Emlenton, Franklin and Titusville, and three in Oil City. capita than any other place in the United States. The pictur- Each of these communities has brochures with free self-guided esque Borough of Foxburg, just a short way downriver from walking tours for these districts. Emlenton, boasts the oldest golf course in the nation and the American Golf Hall of Fame. While much of the Oil Region’s legacy has grown out of Drake’s discovery in Titusville, the surrounding region is vast and rich After more than 150 years of growth following so much success with heritage of its own. Oil City was the port through which in industry, the region has undergone a significant transforma- much of the oil collected in the area was transported. Barrels tion. Today, the Oil Region is home to a diverse range of indus- of crude oil were transported by barge to Oil City, and then tries reaching far beyond oil. Local companies include a world- downriver by steamboat to and beyond. wide producer of athletic equipment, one who makes electronic harnesses for the defense industry, a renowned manufacturer of The Venango Museum of Art, Science, and Industry is bursting underground mining equipment, one who supplies major elec- with exhibits demonstrating the many effects the oil industry tronics to power plants and one of the most high-tech facilities has had on modern life. Many obvious, and some not-so- in a rural setting, flourishing by producing printed circuit boards obvious connections are shown, including the work of leg- for domestic and international customers. endary investigative journalist Ida Tarbell, the woman whose research and writing about Standard Oil Company revealed The region also has access to Interstate 80, rail lines, and an their business practices which led to new trust-busting federal airport, making it an ideal location for logistic operations and legislation and a Supreme Court ruling to break this massive manufacturing companies. Complementing these transpor- company into state-sized companies. The oil era touched the tation advantages is a highly skilled and well educated labor world in so many ways, and the Venango Museum is commit- force with a culture of strong work ethic passed down from ted to showing the people its many hands. some of the earliest Pennsylvania settlers.

The Oil Region is a bounty of history and natural beauty. In From the oil boom of days gone by, to the success of its present Cranberry Township, visitors can find beautiful trails with access day, the Oil Region will always be a prominent piece of American to the Allegheny River which was named the 2017 Pennsylvania history. The Alliance works every day to maintain its commit- River of the Year. The city of Franklin is renowned for its many ment to the prosperity of the region. Whether through the festivals, beautiful historic architecture, and its location on the diligent safeguarding of its history and heritage, the promotion river. The Allegheny River Trail and the Sandy Creek Trail are and preservation of its natural landscape, or the active develop- nearby, and provide more than 40 miles of paved rail-trail, one ment of industry and economic progress, the Alliance is working of which was named among the top 10 trails in Pennsylvania. hard toward a booming future, as big as its booming past. 217 Elm Street, Oil City, PA 16301-1412 | P: 800.483.6264 | F: 814.677.5206 www.oilregion.org

As featured in November 2017