California's First Drilled Oil Wells
California's first drilled oil wells producing crude to be refined and sold commercially were located on the north fork of the Mattole River approximately three miles east of here. The old Union Mattole Oil Company made its first shipment of oil from here in June 1865 to a San Francisco refinery. many old well heads remain today.
Marker is on Front Street east of Sherman Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
