Known as "The Valley That Changed The World," the Oil Region National Heritage Area was designated by Congress in 2004 to preserve, interpret, enhance, and promote the area's distinctive legacy as birthplace of the petroleum industry. It was along Oil Creek in 1859 that the well drilled by Edwin Drake began producing oil, thus triggering the dramatic sequence of events and innovations in Venango County and eastern Crawford County in northwestern Pennsylvania which established the modern oil industry.

Today visitors discover first-hand the dimensions of that legacy - lush steep hillsides including oil field artifact equipment and still active pumpjacks, quaint Victorian-era communities along the waterways, places and festivals commemorating oil pioneers and families, excursion railroad rides through Oil Creek valley, friendly hospitality, more than 62 miles of paved bicycle trails, excellent oil history publications galore, and scenic overlooks and numerous exhibits blending past and present, beautiful churches and homes along architectural walking tours.

Projects funded with federal dollars in 2010 in the Oil Region include these: (a) Tarbell House rehabilitation in Titusville as a demonstration of good preservation techniques and site of related workshops; (b) construction of McClintock Bike Trail between Oil City and Oil Creek State Park, thus closing a gap in the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail system; (c) construction of Allegheny Scenic Overlook in Oil City; (d) winding down the nationwide OIL 150 celebration; and (e) and vital technical assistance for municipalities, non-profits, and other project partners for endeavors described in the ORNHA Management Action Plan.

Contact

Marilyn Black, Vice-President for Heritage Development
Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism
217 Elm Street
Oil City, PA 16301-1412
(814) 677-3152, Ext. 105
(800) 483-6264
(814) 677-5206 Fax
mblack@oilregion.org
www.oilregion.org
www.oil150.com

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