Flashback: Spindletop Spewed Oil, Transformed Texas in 1901

Editor's note: Take a look back at The Dallas Morning News archives.On Jan. 10, 1901, what began as a discovery of oil at Spindletop Hill near Beaumont would later be considered the beginning of the modern American petroleum industry. It was the moment in Texas history that would have a lasting impact on the state and the nation. The oil discovery came after years of attempts to find oil in the salt dome with no success, as many were skeptical that oil could be found there. It wasn't until Anthony F. Lucas and his assembly of men kept drilling despite seeing little results and receiving unfavorable reports from geologists.   Continue reading...