Westinghouse Gas Wells
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
In 1884, George Westinghouse drilled a natural gas well here on his estate, Solitude, now Westinghouse Park. When gas was struck, an uncontrolled geyser erupted for a week. Within two years, Westinghouse obtained over 30 patents for the distribution and safe use of natural gas for industrial and residential customers. His ingenuity and business acumen were instrumental in the development of natural gas as a significant new energy source.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
In 1884, inventor George Westinghouse drilled a natural gas well on the grounds of his Pittsburgh estate, Solitude, and struck a geyser that roared uncontrolled for a week. Rather than a mishap, it became a laboratory: within two years Westinghouse secured more than thirty patents for safely distributing and using natural gas in homes and factories. His inventive genius and business skill helped transform a dangerous curiosity into a practical new source of energy.
Why it matters
Westinghouse's work here helped launch the natural gas industry, powering American homes and industry with an energy source still central to the nation today.
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Related people
- · George Westinghouse
Themes & tags
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