In 1900 the Texas economy was reliant on agriculture, cattle ranching, and lumber. Just one year later, one of the largest and most significant oil strikes in history occurred on a salt dome formation outside of Beaumont, fueling a major oil rush in Texas and nearly tripling U.S. oil production over the next decade.

This early 20th century drilling operation was led by Anthony F. Lucas, who, along with an experienced drilling team, dug into a salt dome with a heavy, rotary type drill. It took nearly three months before mud began bubbling from the hole, followed by an eruption of six tons of four-inch drilling pipe. And then the oil appeared—gushing oil. For 9 days, this gusher produced 100,000 barrels a day; by year one 3.5 million barrels were produced, and 17.4 million barrels came in year two.

Its formal name is the LUCAS GUSHER but most folks refer to it by another name. Do you know the commonly referred name of this famous gusher?

A. The Beaumont gusher

B. The Spindletop gusher

C. The Salt Dome gusher

D. The Corsicana gusher Click on this link for the answer:

Lucas Gusher photo courtesy of University of Texas at Arlington Library – The Portal to Texas History