Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry

08/26/2026

What did it mean to grow up while Pennsylvania’s Oil Region was still taking shape? Through Ida Tarbell’s memories and records of Petroleum Centre’s schools and shops, this episode explores how children learned, played, and made a childhood among derricks, busy streets, and the uncertainty of the oil boom.

Sources / further reading:
- Tarbell, Ida M. All in the Day’s Work: An Autobiography. New York: Macmillan, 1939, Chapter 1, “My Start in Life.”
- Petroleum Centre Daily Record, February 13, 1869, p. 4. Library of Congress
- Petroleum Centre Daily Record, February 24, 1870, p. 2. Library of Congress
- Petroleum Centre Daily Record, January 16, 1873, p. 3. Library of Congress
- Petroleum Centre Daily Record, February 19, 1873, p. 3. Library of Congress
- Petroleum Centre Daily Record, September 17, 1873, p. 2. Library of Congress
- Tarbell, Ida M. The History of the Standard Oil Company. New York: McClure, Phillips & Co., 1904.
- Library of Congress. “Ida Tarbell, Author of The History of the Standard Oil Company.”
- Brady, Kathleen. Ida Tarbell: Portrait of a Muckraker. New York: Seaview/Putnam, 1984.
- Allegheny College. “Ida M. Tarbell.”

08/25/2026

If you’ve purchased a Best Sandwich card from the Museum this summer, this is the last week to use them!

You can still try the sandwiches entered into this year’s contest and receive the 50% OFF discount at our participating restaurants until August 31.

When you’ve tried all the sandwiches you like, be sure to vote for your favorite sandwich and return your entry card to the Museum by September 19. Winner of the contest to be announced in October!

08/24/2026

In October 1870, a rumor circulated through Petroleum Centre: an oil tank had burst on the McCray farm. There was only one problem: no tank had actually burst.

Our newest blog post explores how information traveled through Venango County’s early oil boom. News could move faster than a barrel of oil. Confirmation did not always move as quickly.

Read “The Oil Boom Ran on Rumor”: https://www.venangomuseum.org/post/the-oil-boom-ran-on-rumor

08/22/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for our third silent film program of the season!

We had a great time with our guest organist, Walt Strony, who accompanied the feature film "The General" live on our 1928 Wurlitzer Theatre Organ, originally from Oil City's Latonia Theatre.

We're looking forward to our next silent film program:

- "The Lost World" (1925)
- Saturday, September 12 at 1pm
- Guest musicians: Pittsburgh Film Orchestra - A Silent Film Ensemble

Tickets are limited and available here: https://www.venangomuseum.org/event-details/the-lost-world-1925

08/21/2026

We have another full house for tonight's silent film program. Tonight’s showing of “The General” (1926) is sold out.

Please note that the museum is closed to visitors today as we prepare for this evening's event.

For ticket holders: doors open at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 PM. We look forward to seeing you tonight!

08/19/2026

Oil brought thousands of people into Pennsylvania’s Oil Region, but the boomtowns grew faster than sanitation could keep up. Crowded streets, contaminated water, and poor living conditions made sickness another danger of life in the oil boom.

08/12/2026

Limited seats remain for our next silent film screening!

See Buster Keaton's "The General" (1926) at the Venango Museum on Friday, August 21, with live musical accompaniment on our 1928 Wurlitzer theatre organ.

A classic silent comedy, live music, and a great night out in Oil City.

・"The General" (1926)
・Friday, August 21
・Venango Museum, Oil City, PA
・Tickets: https://www.venangomuseum.org/event-details/the-general-1926

This event is made possible in part by a Venango County Tourism Event Support Grant.

Buster Keaton’s legendary comedy follows a determined locomotive engineer who pursues his stolen train deep into enemy territory.

08/12/2026

What happened in the Oil Region after the sun went down? The oil boom didn’t simply stop. Watch our newest “A Minute In History” episode where we glimpse a region where transportation, services, and even the need for safer lighting appeared at night.

08/11/2026

There’s only a few more weeks left for this year’s Best Sandwich in the County contest! We’re sharing some more entries in this year’s contest.

From left to right, top to bottom:

• Wanango Country Club — Piggy Mac Melt
• Strawberry Delight (Oil City) — Pizza Burger
• Haggerty’s Ice Cream and More — Pulled Pork

You can get 50% OFF all 17 contest sandwiches by picking up an entry card for just $10 at the museum’s front desk. The contest runs through August 31, so there’s still some time to finish your way through the lineup.

Remember to vote for your favorite sandwich with your entry card and return it to the museum by Friday, September 19 for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to this year’s winning restaurant. Winner of the contest and gift certificate will be announced in early October.

08/10/2026

Clothing in the Oil Region had to balance two realities. The first was practical: mud, oil, and grease. The second was social: hats, ready-made clothes, custom tailoring, and the latest styles.

Clothing changed depending on work, travel, money, and the occasion. No matter how carefully someone dressed, the tough conditions of the oil boom were always close by.

A merchant could promise clothing in the latest style, but the street might cover it in mud before the customer even crossed it.

Read our newest blog post here: https://www.venangomuseum.org/post/oil-boom-fashion