On March 25, 1897, the Nellie Johnstone No. 1 well near Bartlesville, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), struck oil at a depth of about 1,300 feet. This was the first commercially significant oil well in the region, igniting the growth of Oklahoma's petroleum industry decades before statehood in 1907. Initially producing around 50 barrels per day, the well demonstrated that commercial-scale production was possible in Indian Territory. Over the next few years, Bartlesville became home to dozens of new wells, refineries, and oil-related businesses, transforming the local economy and attracting investors nationwide. Interestingly, the success of this well helped lay the groundwork for future major companies like Phillips Petroleum, founded in Bartlesville in 1917.