Alamitos oil well, Historical oil drilling site in Signal Hill, California
The Alamitos Number 1 is a historic oil drilling site located at the intersection of Temple Avenue and Hill Street in Signal Hill, where the original well extended deep underground to reach productive oil deposits. The location is now developed as Discovery Well Park, where visitors can see educational displays and markers explaining the well's significance and the industrial history of the area.
The well was drilled in 1921 and demonstrated the presence of substantial oil reserves beneath the region, spurring rapid industrial expansion. This discovery transformed the landscape into one of the most productive oil fields in the United States during the following years.
The site draws its name from the nearby Alamitos settlement and marks a turning point when oil drilling began reshaping the landscape of Southern California. Today, interpretive displays at the adjacent park explain how this discovery influenced the region's growth and identity.
The park is easily accessible on foot and sits within a residential neighborhood with parking available nearby. Daytime visits work best for reading the informational signs and getting a clear sense of the site's location within the broader community.
The connected oil field produced remarkable quantities of crude oil daily for several decades and became one of the major energy suppliers for the West Coast. Many visitors are surprised that this modest park marks the beginning of an industrial operation that shaped the region's economy for generations.
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