Ohio Open Doors at Thorla McKee Oil Well and Narrow Guage Railroad

Explore Two Stories That Helped Shape Ohio’s Industrial Past

Discover the Thorla-McKee Well, an early Ohio oil and gas site where Silas Thorla and Robert McKee unexpectedly discovered oil and natural gas while drilling for salt brine in 1814. The site represents one of the earliest documented examples of oil production in North America and offers visitors an opportunity to learn about Ohio’s role in the history of energy production.
Visitors may also explore Caboose #33 and a flag station located on the original narrow-gauge railroad bed. Friends of the O.R. & W. Railroad will be on hand to share the history of the railroad and its role in connecting communities and supporting commerce in southeastern Ohio. The site preserves the history of the Bellaire, Zanesville & Cincinnati Narrow Gauge Railroad, which operated through the area from 1883 to 1928.

Together, these historic resources tell the story of early energy production, transportation, and settlement in Noble County and Ohio.