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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Historical Opportunities

    The primary purpose of Oil Creek State Park is to tell the story of the changing landscape. The early petroleum industry’s oil boom towns and important oil well sites are in contrast with clean trout streams and forested hillsides seen today throughout the park. The events of the exciting 1860s, the time of the original oil boom, receive special emphasis.

    Train Station Visitor Center

    Historical displays and an exciting diorama provide a glimpse into oil history.

    A train still chugs through the valley and stops at the Train Station in Petroleum Centre, just as it did more than 100 years ago!

    The train station is open 12:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M., Saturdays and Sundays, June through October.

    Historical Tableaus

    These full-scale, three-dimensional landscapes contain buildings, machinery, equipment, and materials that replicate the historic landscape.

    Similar to a movie set, the buildings are empty and the machinery does not work, but the tableaus give an idea of historic periods at Oil Creek.

    Hunt Farm Tableau: 

    This site has an engine house, various pumping jacks, and stock tanks.

    From the 1940s until the 1960s, “Ma and Pa” oil operations drilled and pumped oil using a gas engine to pump several wells -- with the wells supplying gas to run the engine.

    The long rod lines carried the power from the central engine to the distant wells.

    Benninghoff Farm Tableau: 

    This site has six 35-foot-tall oil derricks, an oil barge, and an engine house.

    The first oil operators thought that oil could only be drilled on flat, level terrain. In the autumn of 1865, the famous Ocean Well was sunk on the steep hillside.

    When the well began producing 300 barrels of oil a day, oil opportunists flocked to lease part of the farm and soon Mr. Benninghoff earned about $6,000 a day.

    Waterfalls

    Oil Creek is home to four beautiful waterfalls. The best time to view the falls is early to late spring.

    For safety reasons, visitors are encouraged to stay on the trails while viewing the falls. Additional information can be obtained at the park office.