Drumright developed as an oil boom town. For visitors interested in industrial and local history, this development can be traced through specific names and different kinds of evidence: early drilling in the Cushing Oil Field, a natural gas processing plant, a museum in a 1915 depot, and a mural depicting downtown in 1920. These stories do not tell the same tale. They take you from the development of the oil field through its technology to depictions of urban life during the boom.

Drilling and Industrial Processing

The WHEELER NO 1 OIL WELL was the first well drilled in Oklahoma’s Cushing Oil Field. The JACKSON BARNETT NO 11 marks a different milestone: it was the first well in the Cushing Field to produce one million barrels. The site is not currently in use. The comparison puts the two facts in context: Wheeler’s distinction is being the first well, while Jackson Barnett’s is reaching the production figure. The DRUMRIGHT GASOLINE PLANT NO. 2 adds processing to the story of drilling: it is the oldest natural gas processing plant of its kind in the United States. This industrial perspective therefore covers both extraction from an oil field and natural gas processing.

Museum, Depot, and Mural

The Drumright Historical Museum is housed in a 1915 Santa Fe depot listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the Oil Room, an extensive collection displays memorabilia and tools used to develop productive oil fields. The museum thus offers two distinct perspectives: the depot is a historic building, while the collection focuses on the tools and work behind oil production. Unlike the individual drilling records, the building and tools take center stage here.

Another picture of the boom years is offered by the mural “Drumright Street Scene of 1920.” It was painted by artist Darren Maine. It shows what downtown Drumright looked like in 1920, when the city had a population of 18,000 thanks to the booming oil industry. This figure describes Drumright during the oil boom, not its current population. The cityscape of that time thus complements the technical perspective of the Oil Room.

Market and Tidewater

A different story of how a building is used can be found at Tidewater Winery & Event Center. The center is housed in a historic school building with an area of 8,000 square feet. Wine tastings and tours have been offered at the center. If you plan to include these activities in your stay, check in advance whether they are taking place on your travel dates.

The Drumright Monthly Market offers a different focus: local vendors sell produce and goods, including fresh fruit and vegetables as well as baked goods. The vendors and products on offer may vary. If the market is an important part of your plans, check the date and current offerings in advance.

As a guide to choosing, you can distinguish between the technical and urban perspectives: drilling, natural gas processing, and tools tell the story of industrial development; the depot and mural turn the focus to buildings and the cityscape. The market and Tidewater offer other points of interest. This makes it possible to distinguish the historical topics from activities whose schedule or availability you should check in advance.

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