Historical Marker · No. 504
Buena Vista Refinery
McKittrick, Kern County · California
Erected by Kern County Historical Society, Miocene Parlor No. 228 N.D.G.W., The Petroleum Production Pioneers, Kern County Museum, 1954
Someone tried refining oil in Kern County in 1864 and could not move the product. The Buena Vista Petroleum Company ran stills eight miles west of this marker and shipped roughly four thousand gallons of illuminating oil to San Francisco between August 1864 and April 1867. Then it stopped, and the register states the reason in three words: excessive transportation rates. That same arithmetic held until 1876, when [Pico Canyon](/poi/pioneer-oil-refinery) ran a pipeline down to its own refinery rather than pay the railroad's freight.
What the plaque says
California Historical Landmark Buena Vista Refinery Eight miles due west of this marker stood one of California's first commercial oil refineries. Between August, 1864 and April, 1867 approximately 4,000 gallons of illuminating oil produced there was shipped to San Francisco by the Buena Vista Petroleum Company. Refining operations terminated due to excessive transportation rates. Dedicated May 23, 1954 Marker placed by Kern County Historical Society Miocene Parlor No. 228 N.D.G.W. The Petroleum Production Pioneers Kern County Museum State Registered Landmark No. 504
Where it stands
35.39769, -119.66499 · Directions
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