This day in 1901

On January 10, 1901, a derrick on Spindletop Hill near Beaumont produced a gusher of oil, and marked the beginning of the modern petroleum industry.

• Gusher signals start of U.S. oil industry
• Pattillo Higgins, Prophet of Spindletop
• Spindletop Oilfield
• Spindletop, Texas