When people think of West Virginia, they immediately think coal. West Virginia was also one of the earliest oil and gas producers in the country. Would you believe that none other than George Washington once had a tract of land in the Kanawha Valley that he picked out for its oil fields? It seems that the nation’s first president was also one of its first oil speculators. Little did Washington know that in only a few decades, western Virginia would become a magnet for oil prospectors from around the country.
An Unknown Oily Past
In 1859, the Rathbone family became millionaires practically overnight when they began drilling for oil at Burning Springs, WV. The Oil and Gas Museum in Parkersburg is actually in the process of restoring one of the Rathbone oil derricks and upon completion, it will be the oldest working oil well in the U.S. While patrons to the museum may realize how important oil is now, back then, salt was the major industry in the western part of Virginia and as salt mines were dug, miners would actually be annoyed if they found oil and natural gas instead. As the use of machinery grew in America, demand for crude oil increased as it became the lubricant of choice to keep the machines running smoothly. In 1859, the oil boom hit western Virginia’s Burning Springs and in less than five months the town produced about $60,000,000 worth of oil, (equal to about $4 billion in today’s dollars). This legacy of oil production continues  to this day with West Virginia ranked second in the nation for the number of active gas wells.
A Most Curious Gas
West Virginia’s natural gas industry had a rather ironic beginning as well. Thomas Jefferson once wrote about a curious hole in the earth in western Virginia where when a candle was held nearby it would produce a beautiful flame. By the time of the oil boom in Burning Springs people had begun to realize that this perplexing little gas was actually worth something. Today, West Virginian is ranked 11th in the U.S. for natural gas production. The Oil and Gas Museum in Parkersburg celebrates the relatively unknown history of oil and gas in the Mountain State. Also, Sistersville hosts an annual oil and gas festival to celebrate this important part of West Virginia’s history.
Coal: West Virginia’s Black Gold
While West Virginia’s oil industry’s heyday may have been short, yet brilliant, coal has been with the state since before the American Revolution. In 1742, John Peter Salley discovered coal in present day West Virginia near what he would later aptly name the Coal River. Close to a century later, others began to realize that this heavily wooded state had great potential in its coal fields. In the early 1800s, coal became the fuel of choice for furnaces and fireplaces around the nation and West Virginia had a seemingly endless supply.
 After the Civil War, large-scale mining operations moved in and began expanding the industry. With the opening of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, coal could be mined and transported in the southern counties of West Virginia. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous mine owners refused to provide miners with decent wages or safety necessities. This callousness led to worker-led protests that were put down violently by the mining companies. The most famous was the “Matewan Massacre” in Matewan, on the West Virginia/Kentucky border.
 West Virginia is still one of the nation’s highest producers of coal and coal provides the major source of energy for 32 states. For those interested in touring an old mine, the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine offers a lifelike experience. Visitors tour the old coal town as well as ride into an actual mine to see what the arduous daily life of miners was like. The West Virginia Cultural Center in Charleston also offers a glimpse into the role that coal has played in West Virginia. For an off-the-beaten path use of coal, visit the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce in Williamson and see an entire “house” made of over 65 tons of coal. While coal may not have the dominant role in West Virginia that it once had, it continues to shape the state’s economy and provide power to millions of people around the nation.
The Oil and Gas Museum in Parkersburg
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While most historians believe that the first American oil wells were drilled in Pennsylvania, the founders of the Parkersburg Oil and Gas Museum believe that actually the Mountain State should hold that honor and they have made it their mission to tell the forgotten story of West Virginia’s oil and natural gas heritage. Although West Virginia’s oil boom may have been short-lived, these shallow oil fields made many men into millionaires after they found oil just a few feet below the ground. In fact, it was with the help of these newly rich oil barons that western Virginia was able to break away from Virginia and form a new state.
Soon after the birth of West Virginia, many of its towns became covered with oil pumps and derricks in the 1890s. Many of these old pumps were salvaged by the museum and are now on display. Along with many pumps, the museum also managed to begin reconstruction of a derrick once used by J.C. Rathbone in Burning Springs, WV. Once it is finished, it will be the oldest working oil well in the United States.
Yet not even this historic derrick can tell the full story of West Virginia’s oil-rich past; that is a tale best told by the large collection of photographs forever capturing the oil boom. Seeing the oil derricks tower over the homes in Sistersville in the 1890s makes West Virginia’s oil heritage come alive. The museum hopes that by showing visitors these pictures they will begin to appreciate West Virginia’s early oil prominence and perhaps then the Mountain State will be recognized as the birthplace of the American oil industry.
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Coal, Oil and Gas Activities in West Virginia
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Festivals and Celebrations
West
Virginia Division of Tourism Calendar
of Events
Museums and Attractions
Coal House (Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce) – Made of around 65 tons of coal, this fully functional building is a sight to see. – PO Box 376 - Williamson, WV 25661. Phone: (304) 235-5240
Internet: www.tugvalleychamberofcommerce.com
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine – Tour this underground mine from April 1 to Nov. 1 and see how life in the mines really was. There is also an old mining camp complete with a schoolhouse and numerous miners’ homes. –PO Drawer AJ - Beckley, WV 25802.
Phone: (304) 256-1747
Internet: www.beckleymine.com
Matewan Development Center – It is hard to believe that this peaceful little town played host to both the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud and the Matewan Massacre. – PO Box 368 - Matewan, WV 25678.
Phone: (304) 426-4239
Internet: www.matewan.com
Coal Heritage Trail – This timeless byway takes visitors on a 97-mile trip back into coal-mining history. – Coal Heritage Highway Authority - PO Box 5176 -Beckley, WV 25801.
Phone: (304) 256-6941
Internet: www.coalheritage.org
Coal Heritage Museum – Showcasing mining records as well as mining tools, paintings, and photographs, this museum is a must-see for all serious mining fans. – PO Box 859 - Madison, WV 25130.
Phone: (304) 369-9118
Internet: www.wvcoalmuseum.org
The Oil and Gas Museum – This museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in West Virginia’s relatively unknown oil and gas history. Visitors can see a working pump as well as an old oil derrick on display outside the museum. – PO Box 1685 - 119 Third Street - Parkersburg, WV 26101.
Phone: (304) 485-5446
Internet: www.oilandgasmuseum.com
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