Sunniland oil field
Collier County, Collier County, Florida
Marker Inscription
Sunniland oil field. The first commercial oil well in Florida, located just east of this site, was drilled in 1943 by Humble Oil and Refining Company. The discovery of oil at a depth of over 11,500 feet proved that there was oil in Florida. Seventeen wells were subsequently drilled near here. Sunniland was the state's only commercial oil field until 1964 although there had been extensive drilling since 1900. A vision of Barron Gift Collier was thus fulfilled.
Erected by Collier County Historical Society
The Story
Just east of this site, Humble Oil and Refining Company drilled Florida's first commercial oil well in 1943, striking oil at more than 11,500 feet and proving the state held petroleum after decades of fruitless exploration dating to 1900. Seventeen more wells followed nearby, and the Sunniland field remained Florida's only commercial oil producer until 1964. The discovery fulfilled a long-held vision of developer Barron Gift Collier.
Why it matters
Sunniland launched Florida's oil industry, adding an unexpected chapter to the economic development of the Southwest Florida frontier.
Own a business near here? Add it to the map.
Related people
- · Barron Gift Collier
Related events
- · Discovery of oil at Sunniland (1943)
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Tin City
Naples, FL
Tin City traces its roots to 1920s Naples, when property leased near the Gordon River drew pioneering commercial fishing families to the waterfront. They raised docks and tin-roofed sheds to clam, fish, and process their catch, giving the humble district both its livelihood and its name. Those weathered buildings later found new life as one of Naples' distinctive shopping and dining destinations.
Back Bay — Naples' First Mooring
Naples, FL
Settled in 1915, this "Back Bay" district gave the young town of Naples its first sheltered mooring, making it the natural gathering place for the community's pioneers. From here workers helped push through the Tamiami Trail linking Tampa and Miami across the Everglades, while the local fishing industry, the first pharmacy, and the first newspaper all took root nearby. It was, in effect, the working heart of frontier Naples in the decades before the city became a resort destination.
King-Cromartie House
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Built in 1907 by Edwin T. King—Fort Lauderdale's first builder, a boatwright and early citrus grower—this Dade County pine house stood on the New River as the young town took shape. It remained in the King family until 1968, sheltering King's daughter Louise and her husband, a brother of the noted civic figure Ivy Cromartie Stranahan. In 1971 the Junior League floated the house upriver by barge to save it from demolition.
Former Site of Fleischer Studios
Miami, FL
From 1938 to 1943, the pioneering animation house Fleischer Studios operated from Miami, having relocated south from New York. Founded by brothers Max and Dave Fleischer, the studio was Walt Disney's chief early rival, known for Betty Boop, Popeye, and a landmark series of Superman cartoons whose lush, rotoscoped style influenced animation for decades. Their Miami years produced ambitious feature work before the studio was absorbed by its parent company and the operation wound down.