Oil Industry History Quiz

What were the disadvantages of using gas, fat, whale oil, and camphene to light homes?

• They were inexpensive and safe.

• They spoiled quickly and smelled badly.

• They were easy to produce and store.

• They provided bright and long-lasting light.

Why didn’t Patillo Higgins profit from oil discoveries on Big Hill? Explain.

• He sold his land before oil was discovered.

• He was not interested in oil business.

• He moved to another state.

• He invested in a different industry.

Explain what led to Spindletop’s Boom and Bust.

• Discovery of gold in the area.

• The invention of electric lighting.

• The massive oil gusher in 1901.

• The decline in whale oil prices.

Who was the Spanish explorer mentioned in the early oil discoveries in Texas?

• Christopher Columbus

• Hernando de Soto

• Francisco Pizarro

• Ferdinand Magellan

What was the name of the Texas Civil War veteran who struck oil outside of Nacogdoches in 1866?

• Patillo Higgins

• Armory Starr

• Lyne T. Barret

• Anthony Lucas

What was the name of the oil field that produced almost 900,000 barrels of oil in 1896?

• Spindletop

• Corsicana Oil Field

• Big Hill

• Gulf Oil Field

What was Patillo Higgins known for before he turned his life around?

• Being a successful businessman

• Being an outlaw

• Being a famous explorer

• Being a scientist

What was the main interest of Captain Anthony Lucas when he leased land on Big Hill?

• Finding gold

• Finding oil

• Finding sulfur

• Finding coal

When did Beaumont officially become a town?

• 1824

• 1835

• 1838

• 1892

What was the rate of oil flow when the well was first capped at Spindletop?

• 10,000 barrels a day

• 50,000 barrels a day

• 100,000 barrels a day

• 200,000 barrels a day