The Oil Museum of Canada, is a petroleum heritage museum in Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada. The museum is located on the site where James Miller Williams dug the first commercial oil well on the continent in 1858.[1][2]
The museum's property, and the lands surrounding it were designated as the "First Commercial Oil Field National Historic Site of Canada" in 1925.[3] The museum itself was opened to the public in July 1960 and renovated from 2021 to 2022.
Interest for an oil museum that paid tribute to Canada's early oil history in Lambton County began to surface in 1955 when Canadian Oil Companies Ltd. purchased the land where James Miller Williams established North America's first commercial oil well.[4][5] In 1957, a panel made up of members of the Lambton County Historical Society and the Oil Springs Centennial Committee developed plans for a $100,000 Museum that would preserve the site of the first commercial well and tell the stories of the oldest oil-producing area in North America.[6][4] The County of Lambton, Oil Springs and various local petrochemical companies financed the project, and Canadian Oil Companies Ltd donated William's former property to the museum committee.[7][6] Construction began in 1959, and the museum officially opened on July 1, 1960.[7][8] Lieutenant- Governor John Keiller MacKay hosted the museum's opening ceremony, noting that "we should hold an enduring reverence and respect for the pioneers, who laid the foundations for the oil development in this area."[8]
In 2021 the museum was closed to the public to allow a $1-million renovation of the main building. The museum reopened in May 2022.[9]
Collectionedit
A drilling rig and historic building at the museum's outdoor exhibit
The Oil Museum of Canada's exhibits contain petroleum industry artifacts, historic photographs, geological displays and the souvenirs of the 'foreign drillers' who roamed the world in search of oil.[10] The outside exhibits include Canadian drilling rigs, a demonstration of the jerker line pumping system, a nineteenth century oil wagon and original buildings from the boom period.[10]
The Oil Museum of Canada's website includes a virtual exhibit that allows users to explore Lambton County's early oil history through the stories of Oil Springs and Petrolia's prominent historical figures.[11]
^"About Us - Oil Museum of Canada". Lambton County Museums. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
^"Oil Museum of Canada to Officially Open July 1". The Windsor Star. March 10, 1960.
^"First Commercial Oil Field National Historic Site of Canada". www.historicplaces.ca. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
^ ab"$100,000 Project: April Start on Oil Museum". The Windsor Star. March 12, 1959.
^"Canadian Oil Companies Buys First Well Site". The Windsor Star. October 22, 1955.
^ ab"Wait Word on Project: Plans Discussed for Oil Museum". The Windsor Star. November 22, 1957.
^ ab"Clearing of Site Under Way: $100,000 Project to Show History of 'Black Gold'". The Windsor Star. May 14, 1959.
^ ab"Mackay Opens Museum: Building Houses History of Oil in Lambton". The Windsor Star. July 2, 1960.
^"Provincial recognition earned by Oil Museum of Canada". The Courier Press. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
^ ab"Permanent Exhibits - Oil Museum of Canada". Lambton County Museums. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
^"Black Gold: Canada's Oil Heritage". Lambton County Museums. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
External linksedit
Official website
December 15, 2023
museum, canada, petroleum, heritage, museum, springs, ontario, canada, museum, located, site, where, james, miller, williams, first, commercial, well, continent, 1858, establishedjuly, 1960, years, 1960, location2423, kelly, road, springs, ontario, canadan0n, . The Oil Museum of Canada is a petroleum heritage museum in Oil Springs Ontario Canada The museum is located on the site where James Miller Williams dug the first commercial oil well on the continent in 1858 1 2 Oil Museum of CanadaThe Oil Museum of CanadaEstablishedJuly 1 1960 63 years ago 1960 07 01 Location2423 Kelly Road P O Box 16 Oil Springs Ontario CanadaN0N 1P0Coordinates42 46 24 N 82 07 15 W 42 77333 N 82 12083 W 42 77333 82 12083TypeHistory museumWebsitehttps www lambtonmuseums ca oil The museum s property and the lands surrounding it were designated as the First Commercial Oil Field National Historic Site of Canada in 1925 3 The museum itself was opened to the public in July 1960 and renovated from 2021 to 2022 Contents 1 History 2 Collection 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editInterest for an oil museum that paid tribute to Canada s early oil history in Lambton County began to surface in 1955 when Canadian Oil Companies Ltd purchased the land where James Miller Williams established North America s first commercial oil well 4 5 In 1957 a panel made up of members of the Lambton County Historical Society and the Oil Springs Centennial Committee developed plans for a 100 000 Museum that would preserve the site of the first commercial well and tell the stories of the oldest oil producing area in North America 6 4 The County of Lambton Oil Springs and various local petrochemical companies financed the project and Canadian Oil Companies Ltd donated William s former property to the museum committee 7 6 Construction began in 1959 and the museum officially opened on July 1 1960 7 8 Lieutenant Governor John Keiller MacKay hosted the museum s opening ceremony noting that we should hold an enduring reverence and respect for the pioneers who laid the foundations for the oil development in this area 8 In 2021 the museum was closed to the public to allow a 1 million renovation of the main building The museum reopened in May 2022 9 Collection edit nbsp A drilling rig and historic building at the museum s outdoor exhibitThe Oil Museum of Canada s exhibits contain petroleum industry artifacts historic photographs geological displays and the souvenirs of the foreign drillers who roamed the world in search of oil 10 The outside exhibits include Canadian drilling rigs a demonstration of the jerker line pumping system a nineteenth century oil wagon and original buildings from the boom period 10 The Oil Museum of Canada s website includes a virtual exhibit that allows users to explore Lambton County s early oil history through the stories of Oil Springs and Petrolia s prominent historical figures 11 See also editList of museums in Ontario List of National Historic Sites of Canada in Ontario List of petroleum and gas museumsReferences edit About Us Oil Museum of Canada Lambton County Museums Retrieved 2020 06 23 Oil Museum of Canada to Officially Open July 1 The Windsor Star March 10 1960 First Commercial Oil Field National Historic Site of Canada www historicplaces ca Retrieved 2020 06 23 a b 100 000 Project April Start on Oil Museum The Windsor Star March 12 1959 Canadian Oil Companies Buys First Well Site The Windsor Star October 22 1955 a b Wait Word on Project Plans Discussed for Oil Museum The Windsor Star November 22 1957 a b Clearing of Site Under Way 100 000 Project to Show History of Black Gold The Windsor Star May 14 1959 a b Mackay Opens Museum Building Houses History of Oil in Lambton The Windsor Star July 2 1960 Provincial recognition earned by Oil Museum of Canada The Courier Press Retrieved 2022 11 29 a b Permanent Exhibits Oil Museum of Canada Lambton County Museums Retrieved 2020 06 23 Black Gold Canada s Oil Heritage Lambton County Museums Retrieved 2020 06 23 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oil Museum of Canada amp oldid 1135193748, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
