Bradford Oil Refinery
Bradford, McKean County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
One of the oldest refineries in continuous production in the US was founded near here in 1881 by pioneer independent oilmen Robert Childs, Eli Loomis, and William Willis. The original refining capacity was 10 barrels a day. One-hundred twenty-five years later, the refinery processed over 9000 barrels daily, purchasing more than three million barrels of Pennsylvania Grade crude oil annually, most of it from wells within 125 miles.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Northwestern Pennsylvania was the cradle of the world's oil industry, and in 1881 independent oilmen Robert Childs, Eli Loomis, and William Willis founded a refinery near here to process the region's prized Pennsylvania Grade crude. It began modestly at ten barrels a day; more than a century later it was refining thousands of barrels daily, drawing from wells across the surrounding hills. It remains among the oldest continuously operating refineries in the United States.
Why it matters
The refinery embodies the enduring legacy of Pennsylvania's oil boom, the region that launched the petroleum age that would transform the American economy.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Food & drink
- Randy's Up The River10.7 mi away · 3767 Nine Mile Road, Allegany, NY
- Mangia's 2.010.9 mi away · 71 West Main Street, Allegany, NY
- The Other Place10.9 mi away
- The Burton10.9 mi away · 1 East Main Street, Allegany, NY
- The Hickey Tavern11.0 mi away · 96 West Main Street, Allegany, NY
- Dunkin'11.0 mi away · 3242 NY-417, Olean, NY
Places to stay
- Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Olean/Allegany11.0 mi away · 3234 West State Street, Olean, NY
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Olean11.0 mi away · 3270 West State Street, Olean, NY
- Best Western Plus University Inn11.2 mi away · 3057 Route 417, Olean, NY
- Hampton Inn & Suites12.5 mi away · 110 Jack Murphy Boulevard, Olean, NY
- Old Library Inn B&B12.7 mi away · 120 South Union Street
- Holiday Inn Express13.2 mi away · 101 Main Street, Olean, NY
Places data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hours and details change — call ahead.
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Related people
- · Robert Childs
- · Eli Loomis
- · William Willis
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Holley Motor Company
Bradford, PA · est. 2008
In 1899, brothers George and Earl Holley began building engines and cars in Bradford, and the carburetor on their Motorette caught the eye of Henry Ford. Specializing in that technology, the Holley Motor Company became a leading supplier to Ford and, in time, to the aircraft industry and the U.S. military. The name endures today as a byword for high-performance carburetors.
Tidewater Pipe Co.
Keating Township, PA · est. 1949
In 1879, at the height of the northwestern Pennsylvania oil boom, the Tidewater Pipe Company achieved something engineers had doubted was possible: pumping crude oil over the Allegheny Mountains through a long-distance pipeline. Beginning May 28 of that year, its line pushed oil 109 miles east to Williamsport, deliberately breaking the transport stranglehold that John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil held through the railroads. Station No. 1 stood opposite this spot, the first pumping point in a bold experiment that proved oil could flow uphill and across a continent.
McKean County
Smethport, PA · est. 1981
Formed in 1804 from Lycoming County and named for Pennsylvania governor Thomas McKean, this northern county long drew its living from oil, gas, and timber. In 1861 the county seat of Smethport became a mustering ground when the celebrated "Bucktails" gathered here, a hard-fighting Civil War regiment known for the deer tails pinned to their caps. The name marked a rugged frontier people answering the Union's call.
Kinzua Viaduct
Hamlin Township, PA · est. 2011
Begun in 1881 to carry coal, lumber, and oil across a deep Pennsylvania valley, the Kinzua Viaduct rose as the highest and longest railroad bridge in the world. Rebuilt in 1900 to bear ever-heavier loads, it served until 1959 and became the centerpiece of a state park. In 2003 a tornado tore through and toppled much of the span; the surviving towers were stabilized and topped with a dramatic skywalk in 2011.