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 Texas
There 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.