The Birthplace of the Oil Industry...
Take a guess where the first oil well was drilled - no, not Texas - it was right here in a picturesque valley in Venango County, PA! The discovery shaped the nation and changed the world. Visit the birthplace of the worldwide oil industry at the Drake Well Museum outside Titusville, with its full-size replica of Edwin Drake's first successful oil well, drilled in 1859.

With Oil Came the Boomtowns...
In places like Pithole City and Petroleum Centre get a closer look at valleys where vanished oil boomtowns that seemingly sprung up overnight, sparkled briefly and then faded into folklore.

History Well Preserved...
There are a number of great sites to visit throughout this park where history is kept alive - the Venango Museum of Art, Science and Industry in Oil City, the Venango County Historical Society in Franklin, DeBence Antique Music World with its mechanical musical devices, and the Old Emlenton Mill just to name a few.

Trails, Water and Views Galore…
Today, bass anglers and fly fishermen wet their lines in the scenic Allegheny River and Oil Creek, where oil coated waterways and derricks dotted the hillsides more than a century ago. In all the Oil Heritage Park has over 70 miles of hiking trails and 27 miles of paved bike trails. Look for trailheads near Franklin and Petroleum Centre. Walking tours in Emlenton, Franklin, Oil City and Titusville let you take a leisurely look at historic sites and great Victorian buildings; self-guided brochures are augmented with signage along the way.