HISTORY OF BARNSDALL B SQUARE
T. N. Barnsdall, the world's FIRST REFINER was a close friend of Osage Chief James Bigheart and named the current community of Barnsdall "Bigheart" to honor his Native American comrade. Later the namewas changed to "Barnsdall" which still proudly bears the name today and T. N. Barnsdall worked with and employed some of the legendaryOILMEN of this state.
When he finally sold Barnsdall Oil Company, it became the core of what was to become CITIES SERVICE OIL COMPANY!
The riverboat "T. N. Barnsdall" launched in 1890, was named in his honor. The riverboat "T. N. Barnsdall" was a wooden hull sternwheeler which operated from 1890 until 1904 when it was renamed "Royal"!
Mr.Barnsdall was also the owner of
BARECO(BArnsdallREfineingCOmpany) During the 1920’s oil boom, the town was all oil fever and it grew to a estimate of 2,000. Barnsdall was in the Ripley's “Believe it or Not” for the World’s only main street oil well. That’s right,
the town has an oil well right in the middle of Main Street. "Theodore N. Barnsdall was a pioneer in the development of petroleum in Oklahoma.!!"
