Spindletop Oil Boom History

The video explores the history of Spindletop, Texas, where the oil boom began. It discusses the near monopoly of Standard Oil in the late 19th century and the growing demand for gasoline. Pattillo Higgins, after studying geology in Pennsylvania, believed Spindletop Hill had oil potential. Despite initial failures, Anthony Lucas struck the largest oil gusher in 1901, leading to a boom in Beaumont. The area became a hub for oil companies, including Texaco and Gulf Oil. Today, the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum preserves this history.

What was the primary use of oil in the late 1800s?

• Lubricating machinery

• Heating homes

• Illumination as kerosene

• Fuel for automobiles

What industry did Pattillo Higgins work in before exploring oil?

• Railroad

• Mining

• Lumber

• Agriculture

Who was the experienced driller that took over the Spindletop project?

• John D. Rockefeller

• Anthony Lucas

• Henry Ford

• Thomas Edison

How many barrels of oil per day were estimated to have flown out of the Spindletop Gusher?

• 200,000

• 10,000

• 50,000

• 100,000

What was the immediate impact on Beaumont's population after the Spindletop Gusher?

• It doubled

• It tripled

• It remained the same

• It quadrupled

Which two major oil companies were founded as a result of the Texas oil boom?

• Shell and BP

• Chevron and Conoco

• Exxon and Mobil

• Texaco and Gulf Oil

What is the current state of Spindletop Hill?

• An industrial zone

• A swamp area with a park

• A residential area

• A bustling oil field

When was the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum opened?

• 1986

• 1956

• 1966

• 1976

What does the replica of the Lucas Gusher at the museum spray?

• Oil

• Water

• Gas

• Sand

What is the significance of Spindletop in Texas history?

• It marked the beginning of the Texas oil boom

• It was the first oil discovery in the U.S.

• It was the first use of oil for automobiles

• It was the largest oil field in the world