Early Oil and Gas Production in California

[hunter]

As idiot young people in Southern California with driver's licences me and my friends and siblings used to explore the abandoned and not-so-abandoned oil fields. Sometimes I'd explore alone.

Safety wasn't a concern, we were immortal then. The worst thing I remember was the ticks. Even if you thought you got them all there would still be one or two in your clothes when you got home.

[MineralMan]

1. Thanks!

There is an oilfield museum in Santa Paula, CA that I have visited many times. Oil wells from as early as the beginning of the 20th century were pretty common where I grew up. That museum documents a lot of the early exploration and drilling. I found it fascinating.

I haven't lived in that area since 1963, though, so I haven't been in that museum since then. Here's its website:

https://www.caoilmuseum.org/

If you ever find yourself on Highway 126, stop in and visit the museum.

[3Hotdogs]

2. Thanks for posting.