Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry

This building was completed in 1905 for use as a post office, as evidenced by the designation carved in the limestone above the doors. It once had rear additions added throughout the early 1900s that have since been removed. Thirty-two rooms fill the inside of this 16,244 square foot space. Its naming as the “Oil City Post Office” ended a local debate as to whether the area was properly called “Oil City” or “Oil Town”. It operated as a post office until 1965, when a new facility was built south of downtown. After it closed, the building was known as the Oil Creek Station until new owners moved in around 1965.

As the first floor was taken up by IRS and Selective Services offices and the second floor housed military recruiters, the building became commonly known as the Federal Building. It continued in this use until the 1920s, when the federal offices left.  The building was put up for sale, also being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The initial focus on bringing in another federal occupant shifted lower to state government, until finally it ended up in the hands on the Oil City city council. Intending to use the historic structure as a new City Hall, the sale was almost completed before it was determined that the building and hefty rehabilitation costs would be impossible without tax increases. As this solution was widely unpopular, Venango County purchased the building for $1 in 1981, intending to use it as storage space.

The Venango County Museum, however, was interested. It currently resided in the Franklin Public Library (of Franklin, Pennsylvania) but had outgrown the small space it was allotted. After conferring with the county, it was understood that the museum could use the Federal building if they took care of all upkeep and rehabilitation costs. Upon moving into the space in October of 1981, the museum began vigorously fundraising. To this day, fundraisers provide the majority of their revenue.

Many of the renovations were preformed by students from the local Venango County Vocational Technical School. To ready the space for museum usage, the drop ceilings and all non-loadbearing walls were removed. The marble and terrazzo floor were cleaned and restored, and work was done to improve and rehabilitate the historic façade.Further repairs were required after a 1982 flood delayed the museum’s opening. Wall plaster and flooring had to be replaced, and a new tin roof was installed. Officially opening its doors in 1985, the newly christened Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry hosted rotating exhibits for years. The first permanent exhibit was installed in 2003 – a focus on local oil history called “Black Gold”. Oil City’s visitor center moved into the building as well in 2014, incorporating itself as an informational exhibit about Oil City specifically, offering fliers and additional information about the town. This museum still serves as a local curiosity and tourist attraction, offering both new exhibits and virtual tours to the curious public. 

“Venango Museum of Art, Science and Industry.” Venangomuseum, Venango Museum, 2020, www.venangomuseum.org/.

“Venango Museum of Art, Science, and Industry Building Assessment and Preservation Plan.” Kidder Architecture and Design, September 2020