The Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau recently released a promotional video, “Penn Brad Oil Museum-Explore the Gold Rush of the Billion Dollar Oil Field,” which is designed to help inform the public and motivate visitors to explore the history of the Bradford Oil Field and learn about the creativity and tenacity of the independent oil producers showcased at the Penn Brad Oil Museum.
The video highlights the rich oil history of Bradford, once the “High Grade Oil Metropolis of the World,” producing 81% of the oil and gas used in the United States in 1800, and 70% of the world’s oil. Fran Bottone, director of the museum, who assisted the videographer Ashley Baron of ABCinematography, stated, “This video celebrates the history of Bradford, a city built by oil, and its oil men.”
View the Penn Brad Oil video at: https://youtu.be/6TEEs0l6d38. Soon, the video link will also be available on VisitANF.com, Lumberheritage.org, and penn-bradoilmuseum.org.
The video is part of an ongoing effort to promote the history and heritage of the region. Funding for the project was provided by the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, with additional funding support from the Lumber Heritage Region and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Holly Komonczi, executive director of the Lumber Heritage Region, explained, “the Lumber Heritage Region sees the strong connection between the lumber and oil industries in our region. The benefits of doing mini grant projects that include both industries are crucial to teaching future generations about the opportunities in their own backyard.”
The new Penn Brad Oil Museum video will be used to help promote the upcoming event Oil 150/50. This landmark event will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Bradford Oil Field-the first billion-dollar oil field in the world, and the 50th anniversary of the Penn Brad Oil Museum.
“Currently the Oil 150/50 committee is working diligently to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Bradford Oil Fields,” explained Heidi Scrivo Passmore, executive director of the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce.
“The history of the oil fields brings such nostalgia to our community, but also heart-warming gratitude for making Bradford what it is today,” Passmore said. “We look forward to the future, but we celebrate the wealth of our history. For additional information on the Oil Field Anniversary Celebration, to be held on September 18, 2021, follow the Facebook Page @BradfordPAOilField150.”
