Photo: © Courtesy of Rails to Trails Conservancy
As the birthplace of the modern petroleum industry, Northwest Pennsylvania’s congressionally designated Oil Region National Heritage Area has a deep history you might expect, but also outdoor recreation, arts, and cultural opportunities that may surprise you.
Fascinating stories of innovation, perseverance, and fortunes won and lost endure here in the quaint communities of Franklin, Oil City, Titusville, and Emlenton, alongside oil field relics and magnate-built Victorian-style mansions.
But this region’s history doesn’t start with the 1859 oil boom.
A History That Runs Deep
Indigenous People left their mark, quite literally, with Indian God Rock, a boulder covered in petroglyphs dating back hundreds of years, located along the Allegheny River.
In the 1700s, this region was the American frontier and was fought over by the French, British, and Native Americans. A 21-year-old George Washington traveled through here, demanding the evacuation of the French, which included Fort Machault. Today, you can follow his journey by car on Washington’s Trail 1753.
Other well-known names connected to the Oil Region include Standard Oil Company founder John D. Rockefeller, famed investigative journalist Ida Tarbell, infamous Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth, folklore legend Johnny Appleseed, and John Heisman, the player and coach who revolutionized football and lent his name to the trophy for the top college athlete in the sport.
The Oil Region draws similar parallels to the Wild West, as lawless towns sprang up around oil wells and thousands of people, many fresh off service in the Civil War, flooded the region to strike it rich or swindle others who had. Petroleum Centre was known as the “wickedest town east of the Mississippi,” but today, you can stop by the Visitor Center with little risk to your life and reputation.
Adventure in the Valley That Changed the World
In time, the boom died down, and nature reclaimed “the Valley that Changed the World,” creating an outdoor recreation paradise with the 6,000+ acre Oil Creek State Park and 35 miles of the Allegheny River at its heart.
More than 70 miles of paved bike trails, many of which are part of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail system, and hundreds more for hiking, gravel or mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, and boating offer adventure for every age and skill level.
Museums, Music, and One-of-a-Kind Attractions
The Artist Relocation Program recruits creatives from across the country and beyond, promising affordable studio space, ample opportunities to exhibit, a high quality of life, and easy access to metropolitan markets.
Scenic grounds and state-of-the-art exhibits on how the PA oil boom grew into a global enterprise await visitors to Drake Well Museum and Park. Historic Pithole City commemorates an oil boomtown turned ghost town whose population rose to 15,000 and all but vanished within 500 days.
The Venango Museum offers changing exhibits and a silent film series scored with its own Wurlitzer organ.
If that piques your fancy, you’ll definitely want to visit DeBence Antique Music World, home to more than 100 mechanical musical instruments from the mid-1800s to the 1940s.
And if the 1940s are more your timeframe, plan a stop at the Vintage Wings hangar museum for displays of WWII artifacts, memorabilia, and the “Beach City Baby,” a C-53 whose cabin and flight compartments serve as a time capsule, complete with crew in period uniforms.
Another unusual mode of transportation is the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad excursion train, which takes passengers through the oil valley from Perry Street Station. It’s home to the only operating railroad Post Office car in the nation and hosts wine tastings and murder mystery dinners, too.
Arts, Entertainment, and Events
If a live performance is what you’re after, look no further than the Barrow Civic Theatre. This 497-seat theater stages a variety of locally cast plays and musicals, as well as some touring
company productions.
Adding to the nightlife is Titusville Iron Works, a former oil boom machine shop turned live music venue, outfitted with clawfoot bathtub fire pits, exhibits of its industrial past, mid-century furnishings, and plenty of neon.
The ever-evolving Wildcat, an oil baron’s mansion built in 1900 and later converted to a convent, is now a unique arts space with lodging, special events, retail, and more on-site.
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Summer festivals, farmers markets, free outdoor concerts, and regular street fairs celebrating a multitude of interests keep things lively.
Competitions including a Boston-qualifying marathon, trail races such as the 100-mile ultramarathon, gravel bike races, an international archery event, and even the state stone-skipping competition call the Oil Region home and make for an unparalleled trip.
Experience the Oil Region
Plan your visit to see why the Oil Region is a museum you can hike, bike, float, and fish!
Plan your getaway at ExperienceTheOilRegion.com or call 814.677.3152.
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Museums, lively local arts, brew pubs, shops, and a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities mean the Oil Region has something for everyone in every season.