Can we go to McDonald’s?
Two final pictures from my anniversary trip to Los Angeles last week.
First, LIKE if you know what this is:
That’s right boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, dogs and cats! That’s an oil well!
Oil was discovered in the Los Angeles area in 1892 by Edward Doheny and was the start of the oil industry in Los Angeles. In 1923, Los Angeles was the world’s fifth largest oil producer. The oil well above is in the Wilmington Oil Field, discovered in 1932, and currently the third largest oil field in the United States.
The Wilmington Oil Field originally contained about three billion barrels of oil. About 90% has been recovered, leaving only about 300 million barrels. There are 1,228 oil wells currently operating in the Field, most of them similar to those shown in the picture. They are alongside the road, on beaches, in yards and parking lots…. It’s quite a sight to be driving along at 65 mph and suddenly come upon an oil well seemingly in the middle of the road.
Hundreds of these operating oil wells are visible on the drive along Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) from around El Segundo to Seal Beach:
It’s a great little drive if you have time to stop and see the sights (otherwise take Interstate 405).
South of El Segundo are the beach volleyball and surfing communities of Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach.
Take a tour of Torrance if you want to see huge (i.e., really really big) oil refineries. I grew up in Texas where oil refineries here and there is the norm, but Torrance probably has the most oil refineries per capita, or at least the highest number of oil refineries per square mile. Whenever you hear of a California oil refinery going off line or being shut down for maintenance, it always seems to be located in Torrance.
Rancho Palos Verdes is an affluent city of 41,600 people. Virtually every home has views of the Pacific Ocean with appropriate dollar values attached to those views.
In Long Beach, stop to see the RMS Queen Mary which sailed the Atlantic Ocean from 1932 to 1967, at one time being the world’s largest, fastest, and most luxurious cruise ship. The City of Long Beach, flush with oil money in 1967 and looking for a way to get out from under the shadows of Los Angeles, bought the RMS Queen Mary upon its retirement and relocated it to the harbor where it is now a major tourist attraction, museum, and hotel — Yes! You can spend a weekend in Long Beach with the Queen Mary as your hotel! While you’re in Long Beach, be sure to see the Aquarium of the Pacific, ranked in my Top 10 aquariums.
Seal Beach is mostly a national wildlife refuge and the huge Naval Weapons Station which stores ammunition for West Coast operations. It comprises 5,256 acres, 230 buildings and 128 ammunition magazines providing 589,299 square feet of ammunition storage space.
My final picture is this one:
I thought it funny that Burger King was located on MacDonald Drive in Huntington Beach, notwithstanding that MacDonald is spelled differently from Burger King’s competitor.
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Posted on November 4, 2012, in Halls of History, History, Out & About, Photos and tagged oil well pictures, el segundo california, manhattan beach california, redondo beach california, wilmington oil field california, rancho palos verdes california, long beach california, seal beach california, naval weapons station seal beach, edward doheny, torrance california, burger king pictures. Bookmark the permalink. 19 Comments.
Hi Russel,
As to oil wells: every time I drive through Luling/TX I’m amazed that these pumping jacks can be found there even in the school yard. Btw, we have some just across the highway, too. [http://tinyurl.com/cxem78e] Unfortunately not ours!
Take care, and have a great Sunday,
Pit
Very interesting. Never realized there was oil in California.
Can’t press “like” as, having never been there, I would have no idea where that particular oil well is. I have been to Texas but that’s it, I’m afraid. Hopefully I’ll get over to the States again and expand my view somewhat.
Happy Anniversary!
I remember the oil wells driving to La puente as a child they always looked like dinosaurs
The best one I’ve found so far is Huntington beach by the main Pier, maybe a few blocks north. That oil well looks like is operated manually, you need to spin the wheel… not quite but something along those lines
Once again… happy Anniversary to you two… looks like you had a fun day.
They’ll have KFC on BurgerKeen Road soon
Thanks for camping on my blog yesterday and leaving it tidier than when you came
Great snap of the Burger King. The people who live there must be so fed up with the subliminal thoughts of hamburgers though their nostrils and eyes!
I was going say that it’s a ‘nodding donkey’. We seen lots of them on our American road trips. Looks like you and Jim had a great anniversary trip.
I’m pretty sure the oil wells and drills were the first things pointed out to me on my first trip to California – driving from LAX to L.A.. Is that possible? Funny about Burger King! I’m not sure I’d have the nerve to stay on The Queen Mary … I heard it’s haunted. Spooky!
Yep. Driving from LAX to L.A. takes you smack dab through the middle of Torrance refineries and the biggest oil fields in L.A.
The Queen Mary is on the listed of haunted places.
Shame you didn’t go to Ruby’s Diner at the end of the pier off Ocean Avenue. Really loved the atmosphere and the food there. They do real burgers there!!!
Loved your description of this trip. I agree that it is strange seeing the oil wells in such a populated area.
There’s no Ruby’s Diner there anymore, at least not one that has a sign saying that it’s Ruby’s Diner. We have one at the end of the pier here in Oceanside. I’ve been to it but Ruby’s food doesn’t do anything for me.
Shame. Oh well. Things change.
Won’t find me in a Mac!
I used to eat at McDonald’s (and all the rest) about three times a day when I lived in College Station, Texas. My office was surrounded by them. Since coming to San Diego in April 1993, I think I might have eaten at McDonald’s and it’s relatives a total of ten times, or less.
I see those oil wells pretty regularly. They used to fascinate me as a kid, looking like space-age monsters the way they do.
Growing up in Oklahoma I am very familiar with oil wells. That is a great picture of one by the way. That is funny with a Burger King on McDonald Drive. Sweet Zoey I could very easily join you in that nice looking nappy time you are having. Hugs and nose kisses for you both from me and my fur babes.
All very interesting!
I was going to say looks like a oil well and then you told us. Lol. I do love the local history lesson. And funny picture in the end.