In observance of the Christmas holidays, Railroad Commission of Texas offices will be closed December 23-27. The offices will re-open at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 30 for regular business. Expedited Drilling Permits will be processed within standard processing times. If assistance is needed, please email Drillingpermits-info@rrc.texas.gov. RRC maintains a 24-hour emergency phone line to report any leaks or spills. That number is 844-773-0305
The Railroad Commission at Conference in 1908. Texas State Library. Archives Division. W.D. Hornaday Collection
Governor M. Ferguson signing the Hot Oil Bill, 1934. Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Chalberg Photo Collection
Engineering Division of the Railroad Commission office. Capitol Building in the early 1900s. Texas State Library. Archives Division.
Site of Texas' first producing oil well. In the Big Thicket area near Nacogdoches, Lyne T. Barret used an auger to drill his way down in the earth 106 feet to a pool of oil.
The Pick and Shovel Crew digging a pipeline ditch Courtesy of the Petroleum Museum
The Old Way and the New Way of the Galveston Causway. Courtesy of the Barker History Center, UT Austin.
Downtown Kilgore, Texas. Within a little more than a year after the discovery well was drilled on October 6, 1930, an additional 3,400 had been drilled. The number kept rising as shown here, a sign on the 25,000th well.
The Texas Oil & Land Company's Santa Rita No. 1 discovery well on the university lands in Reagan County, Texas Courtesy of the Petroleum Museum.