If you’re a fan of West Virginia history, it can feel like you’re always discovering something new. Did you know the oldest oil well in West Virginia is also the oldest oil well in the world? When many outsiders think of our state, they immediately think of coal, not oil. However, many people who grew up in The Mountain State remember our fathers, brothers, and grandfathers working in either the oil or coal industry. West Virginia has a long history of producing both commodities – but one of those histories may be much longer than most realize. Prepare to take a trip back through West Virginia history, because this surprising story will show you a side of our state you probably haven’t seen before.

The very first oil-producing well in the world is located in West Virginia approximately five miles southeast of the tiny town of Elizabeth.
Google Maps/satellite view
In the late 1700s, it was discovered that when the waters of a certain spring came into contact with fire, a magical thing happened: they ignited. Appropriately, the area came to be known as Burning Springs.
Early settlers set about drilling a well for salt brine and found the same thing: a brown, slick substance (oil) mixed in with the water and salt.
Flickr/Anne
By the early 1800s, the community had grown considerably, although some historians believe the population was mostly comprised of extended members of the same family.
One of them discovered that in addition to helping light a fast fire, the oil had a medicinal purpose.
Nan Fry/Flickr
He packaged it and sold it at half price to area residents and full price to out-of-town folks who came to test out this new healing oil. Most people claimed that rubbing it on their painful joints helped cure their rheumatoid ailments. After that, word spread fast!
Both the spring and the little resort town surrounding the healing attraction would soon become known as Burning Springs.
Google Maps/Lmohr Mohr
After a while, the family who built the salt and oil business (the Rathbones) would have the town renamed in their honor (Rathbone City) for a short while. But after West Virginia became a state, it was changed back to Burning Springs.

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Long before the steam-powered drill was put in place at this oil well in West Virginia, the Rathbones would extract the oil from the water by throwing blankets over the oil at the top of the water and then squeezing it out of the blankets into a large container.
Google Maps/Lmohr Mohr
This went on for some time. Long after the Rathbone family in Burning Springs began to extract oil in this manner, a family by the name of Drake had begun pulling oil out of the ground in Pennsylvania using a steam-powered drill. This fact is only important due to establishing a timeline. Sorry, Pennsylvania: the West Virginia well was indeed the first oil-producing well, even if it had no heavy-duty equipment at the start.
Eventually, the Rathbones acquired a drill that had been used for extracting salt on a nearby property.
Google Maps/Lmohr Mohr
Once in place, the Rathbone oil drill produced 50-100 barrels of oil per year. This was sold as lamp oil. The medicine business continued to thrive. Some accounts say the Rathbones built up a sizable town to accommodate the weary travelers seeking a cure from drinking the elixir or from rubbing it on their sore joints.
As some accounts go, the Rathbones built a general store, a grist mill, and a saw mill that sold lumber to new settlers.
Google Maps/Lmohr Mohr
The old mill and oil well are remembered in a roadside park on Route 5, just south of Elizabeth.
History is very much alive in the Mountain State, you just need to be willing to adventure out to discover the goodness. Did you know about the oldest oil well in the world?
TripAdvisor/Visit Parkersburg

You can learn more about this oil well in West Virginia at Burning Springs Park. Admission is free, so stop on by!

Admittedly, there was well activity in Poland around this same time. However, the oldest oil well in West Virginia is still regarded by many to be the oldest in the world. It has a rich and fascinating history that delights visitors to this day. Have you ever paid it a visit? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

For more West Virginia history, keep reading through Only In Your State’s West Virginia archives! You’ll find that our state and its residents have been trailblazers in many ways.

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More to Explore

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Nikki Rhoades | September 20, 2020

What are the most well-known historic sites in West Virginia?

Love The Mountain State? Our history offers a glimpse into its core. History comes alive at fascinating landmarks like the infamous Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, which was overcrowded by people suffering in a variety of ways. It was said to be lacking in furniture, lighting, and other luxuries in certain wings, but it is most remembered for its use of the lobotomy. Other fascinating landmarks include The Greenbrier, the Palace of Gold, and Historic Harpers Ferry.

What are the oldest businesses in West Virginia? 

Shepherdstown was the first permanent settlement in West Virginia, attracting interest as early as 1709 and eventually attracting settlers circa the 1730s. Believe it or not, The Greenbrier is one of the state's oldest businesses. Dating back to 1778, this gorgeous hotel is chock full of history.

What are the most unique landmarks in West Virginia?

There are so many unique addition to the landscape in West Virginia. The aforementioned Palace of Gold is a magical temple that appears to be transported here straight from India, and it glitters with gold leaf. There are also a variety of bizarre landmarks in West Virginia, like The Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant and The Coal House in Williamson.

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