Beaumont, Texas

January 10, 1901 was a turning point in Texas history with the discovery of the Spindletop oil well.Pattillo Higgins believed that he could smell natural gas when he took his class on picnics at Spindletop Hill.He convinced a miner, Anthony Lucas, to drill and at 1,139 feet underground they struck oil! Texas would never be the same.

Oil Industry for TexasThere were many uses for oil and there was a high demand for it.Oil refineries became one of the largest industries in Texas. New jobs were created and many people came to Texas.Ports, such as Beaumont and Houston were used to transport oil.Factory owners used oil instead of coal to power their machines.

Transportation and the Oil Industry

• Trains were used to transport people and goods. Oil provided a cleaner and cheaper alternative to coal.

• The demand for oil was great and many people came to Texas looking for jobs and a chance to strike it rich!

How did all this affect Texas?

Oil and Transportation• Spindletop paved the way for the automobile

industry to develop. In 1900, there were just 8,000 automobiles in the United States. These automobiles ran on several types of fuel. Only a few ran on gasoline because the supply was limited. Not any more! Thanks, Spindletop!

• The Model T was one of the first assembly-line vehicle produced in America. It became the American dream to own a car.

What impact did the

discovery of Spindletop

have on Texas?

Impact of Spindletop• By 1928, Texas produced more oil

than any other state in the nation.• This meant more jobs and more

money for Texans.• Today, oil is used to make many

products such as lip balm, lotion, paint and plastic wrap.