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North America > United States of America > Mid-Atlantic > Pennsylvania > Erie Region > Titusville (Pennsylvania)

Drake Well

Titusville is a city in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, with a population of about 5,400 in 2017. Titusville is where the modern oil industry began.

Understand

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Titusville was a small growing community throughout most the 1800s. Titusville took another twist from lumber and hired Colonel Edwin L. Drake to find the oil that is thought to be under its surface. After days and nights of hard work and cold chills, it was hit. On August 27, 1859, Edwin Drake became the first person to ever discover oil inside North America. Titusville grew larger than ever, and went from 247 residents to almost 12,000, from the poor farming community to rich houses and large mansions. So much was going on in Titusville, that people moved in to become wealthy from oil; many succeeded. Titusville was the richest city in America from 1860 to 1919. President Grant once visited Titusville. The Liberty Bell also took a stop on April 26th before going to Philadelphia. From huge lumber mills to large steel factories, many companies were being created. But what kept Titusville different is the reservoirs of oil beneath its surfaces. Businesses like Pennzoil and Quaker State made their headquarters in a city about 15 miles south, known today as Oil City. Titusville is still a historic city today.

Get in

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Map
Map of Titusville (Pennsylvania)

By car

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Titusville (Pennsylvania)
Climate chart (explanation)
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Titusville can be reached via Route 8 from the north or south and Route 27 from east and west.

Get around

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CATA Bus (Crawford Area Transportation Authority)

  • 1 Drake Well Museum, 202 Museum Lane, ☏ +1 814 827-2797. M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM (closed on Tuesdays from Nov to Apr). The site where Colonel Edwin Drake struck oil on the banks of Oil Creek in 1859. He invented the first oil drill, and the museum grounds feature a replica of his drill. At the end opposite the museum building you'll find ancient pits dug by the Native Americans to scoop oil, which they used for medicines and ointments. Drake well includes a museum, outdoor exhibits, picnic area, and several hiking trails. A 9-mile bike trail connects with the Oil City side of Oil Creek State Park. It is a beautiful bike ride on a paved trail. The museum is open year round, but the outdoor exhibits are only open from May through October. $6 adults, $5 senior citizens and AAA members, $3 children. Drake Well Museum (Q5305630) on Wikidata Drake Well Museum on Wikipedia 
  • Woodlawn Cemetery, 892 W. Spring St. A quiet little cemetery containing the graves of many famous Titusville natives from the heyday of the oil industry. Among them are Ida Tarbell and Edwin Drake. 
  • Ida Tarbell House, 324 East Main St. Built in 1870 by the Tarbell family after relocating from Pithole. Ida Tarbell was raised here and went to school at Titusville High School, graduating in 1875 with honors. Later in life, after writing biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte and Abraham Lincoln, Ida Tarbell wrote her most famous book about the Standard Oil Company. Her publication was so influential that it eventually helped lead to the dissolution of the Standard Oil Company as it was a monopoly. To this day, Ida Tarbell is considered to be one of America's most famous muckrakers. The house remained in the Tarbell family until 1918. 
  • Great Eastern Cutlery, 701 E Spring St.. A manufacturer of traditional pocket knives. Founded in 2006, it has quickly gained a reputation for producing fine cutlery. Factory tours are available M-F 7AM-2PM. (updated Apr 2019)
  • Titusville Historic District, 389-301 PA-89. Includes 472 contributing buildings in the central business district and surrounding residential areas. (updated Apr 2019)
  • 1 Oil Creek State Park. Oil Creek State Park (Q7081325) on Wikidata Oil Creek State Park on Wikipedia 
  • Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad, 409 S. Perry Street (on Truck Rt. 8 in the center of town), ☏ +1 814 676-1733. 1PM departure. Vintage 1930 train that travels a 26-mile round-trip through Oil Creek State Park June through October. Special events (Santa Express; Peter Cottontail Run). Has the only operating Railway Post Office (RPO) in the U.S. Mail a postcard every time the train travel the tracks. Special Fall Foliage times in October with an extended schedule. $17 adult; $15; $11 kids (3-12). 
  • Unlock the Adventure Escape Experience, 118 W Spring St, ☏ +1 814 516-3349. Features highly-detailed sets complete with theatrical lighting, special effects, immersive sound and a variety of puzzle styles. (updated Apr 2019)
  • The Rink Family Fun Center (The Roller Rink), 45314 State Highway 27, ☏ +1 814 827-3412. Roller rink and arcade with nice people and fun employees. (updated Apr 2019)
  • The Burgess Park Splash Pad. (updated Mar 2020)

Events

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  • Titusville Oil Festival (Oil Fest). Celebrates the heritage of the oil industry in the area. The festival features a parade, games, food, arts and crafts fair, fireworks, and more. Come and experience the fun. (updated Apr 2019)
  • HOTAfest (Heart of the Arts Folk Music Festival). F noon-9PM, Sa 10AM-9PM, Su 9AM-noon. Features hands‑on workshops, jam sessions and public performances celebrating the Bluegrass, Irish Celtic, Gospel, Scottish, Civil War, Folk and Mountain genres. In addition to music, The festival also includes workshops. $1-10. (updated Apr 2019)
  • Titusville Summer Theater. (updated Mar 2020)
  • Home for the Holidays. Christmas festival and activities. (updated Mar 2020)
  • Drake Well Experience Day. (updated Mar 2020)
  • Togs - Route 8
  • Hanley's Corner Shoppe- 741 W Spring St
  • Stonehouse Jack - 112 West Spring Street
  • Titusville Dairy Products Company - 217 South Washington
  • The Ribbon Factory - North Brown Street
  • H&E Treasure Barn - William Flinn Highway
  • Titusville Market Square, 101 N Franklin St, ☏ +1 814 775-0020. (updated Feb 2020)
  • Boonies Sports Bar, Diamond Street. (updated Mar 2020)
  • Warners Bakery, 115 N Franklin St. (updated Mar 2020)
  • Scoops Ice Cream & Food, 109 S Brown St, ☏ +1 814 373-9047. (updated Mar 2020)

Budget

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  • Missy's Arcade Restaurant, 116 Diamond St, ☏ +1 814 827-8110. (updated Dec 2019)
  • Sam's Restaurant, 425 E Central Ave, ☏ +1 814 827-7780. M-Sa 5:45AM-9PM. Pastas, steaks, other home-style favorites. Dinners $9.50-15.00. (updated Dec 2019)
  • Bunyan's Bar & Grill (Bunyan's), 144 Diamond St, ☏ +1 814 827-4866. 11AM-2AM. (updated Dec 2019)
  • Pasquale's Pizza & Subs, 423 E Central Ave, ☏ +1 814 827-6123. (updated Dec 2019)
  • Diamond Bar & Grill, 130 Diamond St, ☏ +1 814 775-0650. (updated Dec 2019)
  • King Buffet, 225 W Spring St, ☏ +1 814 827-9830. (updated Dec 2019)
  • Rustic Inn Restaurant and Bar, 12685 Main Street. (updated Mar 2020)

Mid-range

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  • Maria's Italian Restaurant, 111 W Spring St, ☏ +1 814 827-8800. (updated Feb 2020)

Splurge

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  • Timber Lake Lodge, 4286 PA-8, ☏ +1 814 827-8863. Set in a cattle milking & birthing barn that used to be part of Windy Hill Farms, this re-purposed building is furnished with antiques and memorabilia from the region, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Erie, Baltimore, Louisiana and other places. It houses a restaurant, nightclub and banquet and conference center. (updated Dec 2019)

Drink

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  • Orr’s Brewing Company, 109 S Franklin St, ☏ +1 814 827-0000. (updated Dec 2019)
  • Lavery Brewing Lager Haus, 113 S Franklin St, ☏ +1 814 775-0406. (updated Dec 2019)

Sleep

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  • Caboose Motel, ☏ +1 814 676-1733. A train turned into a hotel. Each car has the name of a railroad company on it, so you can see the history and significance of your car on the website. All cars have heating, air conditioning, and televisions. Only open from May 1 through October 25. $90/night. 
  • McMullen House Bed & Breakfast LLC, 430 E Main Street (on the corner of Brown and Main Streets across from UP-Titusville), ☏ +1 814 775-0005, . Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Authentic 1870 Italianate villa with three themed rooms, serves a French-inspired breakfast in the morning. Tours of the historic neighborhood and wildflower walks, during the season, are offered for guests. $110-145. (updated May 2019)
  • Quality Inn and Suites, 511 West Central Ave, ☏ +1 814 827-0041. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. $75-120. (updated Mar 2019)
  • Cross Creek Resort, 3815 PA-8, ☏ +1 814 827-9611. Golf resort with a 27-hole course, low-key guest rooms, banquet facilities & a heated outdoor pool. (updated Dec 2019)

Go next

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Routes through Titusville
Erie ← Jct W E ←  N  S  → Oil City → Franklin


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