Oil Tanker Service

Part of the huge transportation complex that moves petroleum to world markets. Traffic in oil tankers and barges in Texas mushroomed two months after the state's first oil gusher, "Spindletop," roared in. On March 11, 1901, the first boat to transport the Spindletop product, "The Atlas," left Sabine Pass with about 3,000 barrels of crude oil. Port Arthur exported one of the earliest large shipments of oil about April or May, 1901, on the "Atlas" and two other vessels. The cargo was bound for the refineries of Standard Oil company of Philadelphia to be tested for "illuminating" purposes. Many persons then scoffed at the idea of using oil as a fuel. One year after Spindletop, Texas commerce, formerly based on "cattle and cotton," had been vastly changed by petroleum. More than half of all ships entering Sabine Pass and Port Arthur were connected with the oil industry. By April of 1902, shipments had already exceeded the 1,750,000 barrels exported in 1901. By 1902, steamers were burning Texas oil as fuel and the Guffey Petroleum Company had begun to build Texas' first tanker fleet-- five ships. Today the value to Texas' economy of crude oil alone totals more than three billion dollars yearly. (1968) Early travel, transportation, and communication series erected by the Moody Foundation.

Oil Tanker Service is a historical marker in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, dedicated in 1968. It is one of 109 historical markers documented in Jefferson County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 137 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.8487, -93.9725 near Port Arthur. The nearest cataloged historic site is Rock Island Baptist Church (historical marker), about 2.0 miles away. Others within a short drive include Israel Chapel A. M. E. Church, The Kansas City Southern Railway in Port Arthur, and US Post Office and Federal Building.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5245010548. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.