A Sightseer's Guide to EngineeringNational Society of Professional EngineersNational Engineer's Week
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In 1892, Pattillo Higgins, a self-taught geologist, helped form the Gladys City Oil, Gas, and Manufacturing Company, one of the earliest oil companies incorporated in Texas. The company was the first to drill on Spindletop Hill in 1893, but the technology proved inadequate. History's most famous oil field remained undiscovered until 1901.


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TEXAS Printable version
Texas Energy Museum
600 Main St
Beaumont, TX 77701
409/833-5100
Web Site
Learn about the evolution of the petroleum industry. Admission based on age. Call for details. 
Hours of Operation: Open Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Closed on major holidays. Need a map?
In 2001, Texas is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of the Spindletop oil field, which was the first to yield such quantities of oil that it became industry's fuel of choice. The famous 1901 Spindletop gusher was named for mining engineer Capt. Anthony Lucas, who was backed by wildcatters James Guffey and John Galey and financier Andrew Mellon. The Hamill Brothers of Corsicana, Texas, considered the best rotary drillers of the day, were hired to drill the well. At 1,006 feet, their drill got stuck and, while attempting to free it, the first gusher blew in. Within a year, there were 285 active wells on Spindletop Hill.