UPCOMING EVENTS
Winter Academy Virtual Lunch Break
Thursday, January 22, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Stuck inside due to winter weather? Enjoy your lunch break with a virtual program on "The Harmony Society's Economy Oil Company in Tidioute," presented by Sarah Buffington, Curator of Old Economy Village in Ambridge. Session is FREE, but pre-registration is required in order to receive the link to the presentation. Register at ra-phdrakewell@pa.gov.
Pithole Cabin Fever Party
Saturday, February 7, 2026
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Tired of being cooped up in the house? Escape to Historic Pithole City and shake off your winter blues with history and fun. If there is snow, bring your sled! FREE Admission, donations welcome. Historic Pithole City is located at 14118 Pithole Road, Pleasantville, PA 16341.
Winter Academy Virtual Lunch Break
Thursday, February 19, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Stuck inside due to winter weather? Enjoy your lunch break with a virtual presentation on the different events and programs planned for 2026 by the museums and historical societies of Venango County for the America 250 celebration. Session is FREE, but pre-registration is required in order to receive the link to the presentation. Register at ra-phdrakewell@pa.gov.
Winter Academy Virtual Lunch Break
Friday, February 27, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Stuck inside due to winter weather? Enjoy your lunch break with a virtual presentation on the different events and programs planned for 2026 by the museums and historical societies of Crawford County for the America 250 celebration. Session is FREE, but pre-registration is required in order to receive the link to the presentation. Register at ra-phdrakewell@pa.gov.
Wisdom & More: The First Humans & the Birth of Lithic Technology
Sponsored by CSR Services LLC
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Join us for our annual lecture series, Wisdom & More, held every Thursday evening in March! On Thursday, March 5th, local historian and amateur archeologist John Sites will present on humankind's early ancestors from Homo erectus to Neanderthal. There will be actual relics for to see and handle!
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for social hour featuring libations to sample, followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m. Admission is FREE for members of Friends of Drake Well and $5 for non-members. The Wisdom and More Series is sponsored by CSR Services, LLC.
Charter Day!
Sunday, March 8, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Pennsylvania was created when England’s King Charles II granted a charter to William Penn in March 1681. Celebrate Pennsylvania's 345th "birthday" at Drake Well Museum and Park with FREE admission!! Visitors receive a birthday cupcake (while supplies last)!
Wisdom & More: Tanks A Lot: Moving Oil by Rail
Sponsored by CSR Services LLC
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Join us for our annual lecture series, Wisdom & More, held every Thursday evening in March! On Thursday, March 12th, Jesse Shetrom, Museum Educator at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will join us virtually to present "Tanks A Lot: Moving Oil by Rail." Mr. Shetrom's presentation will follow the evolution of moving oil in bulk by rail.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for social hour featuring libations to sample, followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m. Admission is FREE for members of Friends of Drake Well and $5 for non-members. The Wisdom and More Series is sponsored by CSR Services, LLC.
More about Jesse Shetrom...
Jesse Shetrom grew up in Centre County, PA, surrounded by the echoes of coal mines. In 2015, Jesse graduated from Lebanon Valley College where he first interned at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. After several years of leading historic and nature programs for the Delaware State Park systems, he came back to Pennsylvania where he started working for the Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. In 2022, Jesse was hired as the Museum Educator for the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, directing the museum's educational program ever since.
Wisdom & More: The Sagas of Three Oil Dynasties that Changed the World
Featuring Titusville Mill Distilling
Sponsored by CSR Services LLC
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Join us for our annual lecture series, Wisdom & More, held every Thursday evening in March! On Thursday, March 19th, Dr. Barry E. Cressman will present “The Sagas of Three Oil Dynasties that Changed the World," focusing on three of Titusville's most interesting oil families - the Scheides, the Emersons, and the Funks.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for social hour featuring beverage samples from Titusville Mill Distilling, followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m. Admission is FREE for members of Friends of Drake Well and $5 for non-members. The Wisdom and More Series is sponsored by CSR Services, LLC.
More about Dr. Cressman...
Raised in Oyster Bay in Long Island, NY, Dr. Cressman came to Titusville in 1972 to serve as pastor of The First Presbyterian Church. He was Senior Pastor of the church until his retirement in 2014. He was educated at The College of William and Mary, The University of St. Andrews (Scotland), Princeton Theological Seminary, and McCormick Theological Seminary (where he earned his doctorate). He currently serves as President (and founding board member) of the Crawford Heritage Community Foundation and President of the Friends of Drake Well Board of Directors. He is the retiring Chairman of the Board of the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism, and a past President of the Titusville YMCA Board of Directors and the Titusville Woodlawn Cemetery Corporation Board of Directors. Through his position as pastor as well as an active member of the Titusville community, Dr. Cressman had the pleasure of knowing members of the Scheide, Emerson, and Funk families over the years. He looks forward to sharing their stories with you!
Wisdom & More: The Shale Gas Revolution and the Development of the Marcellus Shale
Featuring Side Hustle Brews & Spirits
Sponsored by CSR Services LLC
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Join us for our annual lecture series, Wisdom & More, held every Thursday evening in March! On Thursday, March 26, researcher and geologist Daniel J. Soeder, will present "The Shale Gas Revolution and the Development of the Marcellus Shale." Nobody except a few geologists had ever heard of the Marcellus Shale before 2008. In less than ten years, it went from obscurity to becoming the single largest gas-producing formation in the United States, catapulting Pennsylvania back into the role of a leading energy production state, behind only Texas and North Dakota. Although this may sound like an overnight success, it was far from it. Shale gas development took more than three decades to become successful, beginning with early work funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in the 1970s and 80s, followed by the persistent engineering experiments of George Mitchell at Mitchell Energy in the 1990s, and finally achieving success at the turn of the 21st Century with the application of new technology and new thinking. Bill Zagorski at Range Resources reviewed the old DOE literature and recognized the potential of the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania in 2006. The following year, Range drilled the first modern shale gas production wells in Greene County, applied Mitchell's drilling and fracking production technology, and began the shale gas boom in Appalachia. Mr. Soeder will explore the history leading up to this, describe the massive gas resource and why it was so difficult to produce, explain how shale gas works, and discuss likely future developments for Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for social hour featuring beverage samples from Side Hustle Brews & Spirits, followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m. Admission is FREE for members of Friends of Drake Well and $5 for non-members. The Wisdom and More Series is sponsored by CSR Services, LLC.
More about Daniel Soeder...
Daniel J. Soeder is a geologist with 45 years of professional experience in energy and the environment. This includes a decade as a researcher at the Gas Technology Institute in Chicago, 18 years as a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey on the Yucca Mountain Project and in the mid-Atlantic, and eight years as a research scientist with the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy. He also spent three years directing an energy resource program at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. He has been consulting since 2020 on environmental issues related to shale gas production and fracking, geothermal energy, and carbon dioxide capture and sequestration. He has published five books and numerous technical articles, including the Marcellus Shale discovery paper back in 1988. He has BS and MS degrees in geology and is an adjunct instructor at West Virginia University. More information can be found on his website: https://www.soedergeoscience.com/
Behind the Scenes at Drake Well: Friends of Drake Well Members Only!
Thursday, April 9, 2026
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Current members of Friends of Drake Well are invited for a behind-the-scenes look at Drake Well Museum! More details to be announced, stay tuned!
Engine Start Up Day
Sunday, May 3, 2026 (weather permitting!)
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., regular admission.
Spring is here, and that means it is time to start our engines! Join us as we bring our outdoor exhibits out of winter hibernation, including our replica of Drake Well with its steam engine and our Central Power exhibit featuring a working Olin gas engine with Simplex power.* Volunteers and staff will be on hand to interpret the engines, Drake Well replica, and our Standard Rig exhibit. The day will also feature a special presentation, details to be announced! Regular admission fees apply.
*In the event of cold weather, this event may be rescheduled for May 10th. Be sure to check back on this site as well as our Facebook page for updates!
5th Annual Oil Creek 5 & 13 Stacked Trail Races
Saturday, May 16, 2026
5-Mile Race Starts at 7:00 a.m.
13-Mile Race Starts at 8:30 a.m.
Join us at beautiful Drake Well Museum and Park on Saturday morning, May 16, 2026, for these unique trail races which utilize the Gerard Hiking Trail as well as other trails in nearby Oil Creek State Park. The 5-mile race begins at 7:00 AM at the Jersey Bridge, just outside of Drake Well Museum and Park and ends within the main parking area of the Museum. The 13-mile race begins at 8:30 AM in the same parking area and will end there, too. Race times are staged 90 minutes apart, making it possible for participants to run both for a "stacked challenge!" There will be finisher awards for each race distance as well as for those runners who are able to complete both races for the quickest “stacked” finish time. Registration will be opening SOON, stay tuned!
Discovery Day Camp: Decades of Oil
Sponsored by CSR Services, LLC
July 9, 16, 23 & 30
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Join Drake Well Museum and Park for our fun-filled day camp. Children ages 8-12 can participate in this day long, hands-on program and learn about the Oil Region’s rich history and environment. Registration is FREE but required and limited to 25 participants! There are four different dates to choose from - pick the date that works best for you! Registration opens on June 1st. Space is limited for this FREE event. Register at ra-phdrakewell@pa.gov or (814) 827-2797. Sponsored by CSR Services, LLC.
Drake Day: Celebrate America 250!
Sunday, August 9, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Celebrate the 167th anniversary of Edwin L. Drake striking oil in Titusville on August 27, 1859, along with the 250th birthday of America! The birth of the petroleum industry in Pennsylvania and its subsequent growth into a global enterprise is a hallmark in American history and innovation. This year’s event will once again illustrate life during western Pennsylvania’s oil boom days through various living history activities and presentations, some of which will tie in with the theme of American innovation! Regular Drake Well admission fees apply for the event. Members of Friends of Drake Well receive FREE admission. Admission includes entrance to Drake Well Museum’s indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as all Drake Day activities. More details soon to come.
The Drake Well Marathon & Half, presented by Horn Textile, Inc.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
7:00 a.m. Start
The ever-popular Drake Well Marathon & Half, presented by Horn Textile Inc., is back again for 2026! Participants will experience the beauty of historic Oil Creek and nearby Titusville as they run along shaded streets and creek banks. The community comes together for this event with amazing volunteers and friends to cheer along participants. The Drake Well Marathon is proud to continue as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon! This year's event will also feature a NEW 10K race! All proceeds from the race benefit Friends of Drake Well, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) community-based organization, which partners with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in the administration of Drake Well Museum and Park. Registration for all three races will open in January 2026, check back for updates!
42nd Annual Fall Gas Up
Saturday, September 12, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Visit Drake Well Museum and Park for its 42nd Annual Fall Gas Up, sponsored by the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, and experience the engines and equipment that powered Pennsylvania’s oil fields! Displays will include operating and stationary antique engines, farm and oil field equipment, tractors, models, and more. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, and $5 for children ages 3-11; members of Friends of Drake Well are FREE. Entrance into the Drake Well Museum and its outdoor exhibits is included with admission; the museum will be open to visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Any collector is welcome and encouraged to bring engines and equipment to display at the event! Engines ranging in size from small Maytags used to power washing machines to large oilfield engines that pumped multiple wells will be displayed by exhibitors from across the tri-state area. Members of the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society, based in Saegertown, Pennsylvania, will also feature engines, tractors, and related equipment. Exhibitor registration will take place the day of the event, no pre-registration is required.
5th Annual Oil Boom Historic Dinner
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Join us for an evening of delicious dishes made from authentic 19th century recipes! This year's dinner will once again showcase recipes from the residents of Titusville during its oil boom days. Some of those residents will be on hand at the dinner to talk about their recipes as well as what life was like in Titusville during the late 19th and early 20th centuries! This event benefits the David L. Weber Research Internship at Drake Well Museum and Park. Check back in August for tickets!
Historic Pithole City Lantern Tours
Saturday, October 3, 2026
6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Join us for the Historic Pithole City Lantern Tours and experience history as it comes to life! Visitors will walk the former streets of the legendary oil boomtown, meeting some of Pithole's most famous historical figures along the way. Tours depart every 10 minutes beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the last tour departing at 9:00 p.m. Each tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, wear weather-appropriate clothing, and bring a flashlight. NOTE: the tours cover steep hills and semi-rugged terrain. Please wear sturdy shoes suitable for walking. Tours are walking only; golf carts and other vehicles are not provided. Tickets go on sale September 1, 2026.