Adventure 051, Site 156 – Pioneer Oil Refinery

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 156 – Pioneer Oil Refinery

California Landmark Number: 172

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  October 6, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 4° 22.696′ N

Longitude: 118° 33.83′ W

Address: State Plaque at Lyon Boulevard Exit of I-5

Description:

We got back onto I-5 with the idea of visiting other plaques in Newhall. So after a minute on I-5, we took the Lyon Boulevard exit and there is was, right before our eyes. This plaque is only a marker for the area where the first commercial oil refinery stood.



NO. 172 PIONEER OIL REFINERY - In 1875 the Star Oil Company, one of the predecessors of the Standard Oil Company of California, drilled its first Pico Canyon well, which yielded about one hundred barrels per day. The discovery resulted in the erection of the first commercial oil refinery in California the following year.
Location: Site and private plaque at 238 Pine St, Newhall - state plaque at Lang Blvd exit of I-5



According to HMDB: The site of the refinery does not have an actual marker that can be seen. The location is fenced off and access is not allowed but you can get a decent view looking through the fence. The site is located at 238 Pine Street, Newhall, California. This is the oldest still standing oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere (perhaps World)






References:

• Historical Marker Database (HMDB.org)
  
• Santa Clarita Valley History
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)