IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 402 
Recognizing the historical significance of the discovery of oil and the birth 
of the petroleum and natural gas industries on the banks of Oil Creek, 
Venango County, near Titusville, Pennsylvania on August 27, 1859, 
and designating the year 2009 as the ‘‘Sesquicentennial of Oil’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2008 
Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the historical significance of the discovery of 
oil and the birth of the petroleum and natural gas indus-
tries on the banks of Oil Creek, Venango County, near 
Titusville, Pennsylvania on August 27, 1859, and desig-
nating the year 2009 as the ‘‘Sesquicentennial of Oil’’. 
Whereas, on August 27, 1859, ‘‘Colonel’’ Edwin L. Drake 
drilled the world’s first commercial oil well along the 
bank of Oil Creek, Venango County, near Titusville, 
Pennsylvania, striking oil at 691⁄2 feet; 
Whereas the world’s modern Oil and Gas industries were thus 
born, resulting in oil booms, technological and business 
innovations, environmental challenges, and population 
shifts; 
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HCON 402 IH 
Whereas Americans became the pioneers of the world’s oil in-
dustry, creating the first oil tank car, oil pipeline, meth-
ods of refining oil, new products for illumination and lu-
brication and other industry innovations; 
Whereas the entrepreneurial spirit fostered by the discovery 
of oil in Pennsylvania led to the development of major in-
dustries across the Nation, making petroleum a lynchpin 
of modern industry and finance; 
Whereas the development of petroleum and petroleum-based 
products from transportation fuels to modern pharma-
ceuticals have helped make the world as we know it pos-
sible; 
Whereas the concurrent development of the natural gas in-
dustry has improved the daily lives of citizens around the 
world; 
Whereas everyday Americans use oil-based products like gas-
oline, medicine, plastic, cosmetics and others to enhance 
their daily lives; 
Whereas oil continues to play a vital role in the Nation’s en-
ergy economy, providing employment and careers for 
thousands of Americans; 
Whereas approximately 1.8 billion barrels of crude oil are 
produced annually in 31 of the nation’s 50 States, includ-
ing Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Col-
orado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Lou-
isiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ne-
braska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, 
Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Ten-
nessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyo-
ming; 
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HCON 402 IH 
Whereas 146 refineries operate in 33 States, including Ala-
bama, Alaska, Arkasas, California, Colorado, Delaware, 
Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, 
Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, 
Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, 
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, 
Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, 
and Wyoming; 
Whereas everyday hundreds of oil museums and oil-related 
historic sites across the country celebrate 150 years of 
American ingenuity and innovation; 
Whereas, in 2004, the United States Congress designated a 
708-square mile area in northwest Pennsylvania as the 
Oil Region National Heritage Area; 
Whereas the 150th anniversary of Drake Well provides Amer-
icans the opportunity to discuss our Nation’s oil legacy 
and the complex issues of energy use and consumption 
that we face today; and 
Whereas the recognition of the year of 2009 as the sesqui-
centennial of the birth of the oil and natural gas indus-
tries will reaffirm our understanding of the significance 
of the discovery made near Titusville, Venango County, 
Pennsylvania on August 27, 1859: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) recognizes the significance of the discovery 
of oil in Pennsylvania in 1859; 
(2) requests that the President issue a procla-
mation recognizing the ‘‘Sesquicentennial of Oil’’ 
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HCON 402 IH 
and the accomplishments of the petroleum and nat-
ural gas industries; and 
(3) encourages residents of all ages to explore 
the facts of oil history and the legacy this com-
modity and all its products, innovations, and chal-
lenges represent. 
Æ 
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