The Oil City area’s hidden heritage is one filled with ingenuity, largesse, culture and so much more. The city’s incredible success was fueled by great wealth and exceptional talent. Much of our heritage, though, is unknown to many of us. The Oil City Heritage Society and the Oil City Library believe our city’s legacy should be shared and enjoyed. To that end, we will share our community’s stories and pictures on our Hidden Heritage blog. Stay tuned for historic as well as quirky entries that tell our history.

Support the Oil City Library Theater Restoration Project

By donating to this cause, you will be contributing to the revitalization of not just a historic theater, but an entire community. Your generous contributions will enable us to implement vital community programs that inspire & engage people of all ages, fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts.

Donate Now

Utilities

Oil City’s sizzling hustle and bustle as a result of the region’s early petroleum industry drew

Read More

Restaurants

The City of Oil City was booming in the mid-1950s. The population was listed as 18,500-plus

Read More

Library Hall

The Oil City Library, one of 1,412 public libraries built in the United States more than a century

Read More

Wharfs & Steamboats

The Allegheny River was a prime transportation route for all manner of goods for more than 200

Read More

The Parsons Photo Album: 1910

A family’s photograph album, small in size but chocked full of pictures, showcases an earlier time

Read More

Presidential Visitors

The Oil City area has traditionally drawn a wide assortment of politicians in search of voter

Read More

Coreco

The Oil Valley boasted dozens of oil companies and several refineries in its early history. Key

Read More

End of content.

No more posts to load.

Load More

PLEASE NOTE:

Hidden Heritage has produced 61 volumes since its inception in May of 2021. While there are still many more stories to share about Oil City’s eventful past, it is time for a brief intermission. Volume 61 will be the last to publish before Hidden Heritage takes a hiatus until further notice. We want to thank our readers for all the support & encourage you to read published volumes below, where they will remain freely available for the foreseeable future. If you’d like to purchase volumes in bulk, 4 compendiums are available at the Oil City Library. We look forward to bringing you more stories in the future!

– Judy, Kay & Natalie

Share this Page