Drake Well Museum and Park
Drake Well Museum and Park may be the most notable location in the Oil Region since it commemorates the exact location of the first commercially successful oil well. The museum and grounds celebrate “the valley that changed the world” by showcasing the ways the discovery of oil impacts every day and every life since August 27, 1859 as well as exploring the future of energy production and its effects on the environment.
The state-of-the-art facility has orientation films and exhibits inside the museum and demonstrations and operating equipment outside on the grounds. Much of the 240-acre park is open to the public for free recreational use, making it a great place to hike along Oil Creek. Pavilions are available to rent as are other spaces on the property including the museum’s multipurpose room and the depot for the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad Train.
For additional information, please visit DrakeWell.org.
Pithole City
500 Days. 15,000 People. Learn their stories.
Known as the oil boomtown that vanished as quickly as it sprung up, Pithole City still has a lot to share. Though nothing remains of the original city, a Visitor Center contains artifacts and a diorama of the town, which once had the county’s first daily newspaper along with hotels, bars and theaters. Directional and interpretive signage help guests visualize the streetscapes that existed in the 1860s.
The Visitor Center is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in June, July and August. The site is located at 14118 Pithole Road, Pleasantville, PA 16341, which is off of Route 227.
Special events including Wildcatter Day and Lantern Tours are also held here.
Get details at DrakeWell.org.