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When Oklahoma fueled America: Looking back at the history of oil in the state
The Nellie Johnstone No. 1 sparked 900 million barrels of production and helped make Oklahoma a top U.S. oil producer.
- In 1897, 10 years before Oklahoma became a state, The Nellie Johnstone Number One well in Bartlesville struck oil, launching the state's historic oil boom. Kay Little, a historian with Little History Adventures, said, "This was the first commercial oil well in Oklahoma."
- Prospectors sought land in Indian Territory allotted to Nellie, a member of the Delaware Nation. Frank Phillips later drilled in the region, establishing Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville.
- Between 1900 and 1935, Oklahoma produced about 900 million barrels of oil worth more than $5 billion. Petroleum was found in 66 of the state's 77 counties, with dominance beginning 45 miles north of Tulsa.
- Cushing is known as the "Pipeline Crossroads of the World," and an oil well still stands on the grounds of the state Capitol. Oklahoma remains a major producer, ranking sixth in the U.S. in 2025.
- As America celebrates its 250th birthday, historians examine state history, including the "Reign of Terror" in Osage County. These events involving The Osage were the focus of the book and 2023 film, "Killers of the Flower Moon.
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When Oklahoma fueled America: Looking back at the history of oil in the state
Tulsa was once known as the oil capital of the world, with petroleum production beginning even before statehood. But it is a town 45 miles north of Tulsa where Oklahoma's oil dominance actually began.
·Oklahoma City, United States
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