Drake Monument - Titusville, PA
Posted by: 
vhasler
N 41° 37.996 W 079° 41.420
17T E 609085 N 4609888
Large monument for the first man to successfully drill for oil.
Waymark Code: WMADH5
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 12/31/2010
Views: 19
Official Description:
A large architectural monument featuring a central niche containing a classical nude male figure titled "The Driller." He is a kneeling figure about to drive a stake into a rock with a hammer that he holds in his raised proper right hand. The niche is flanked by two columns and a low wall containing six inscription panels that describe the accomplishments of E. L. Drake, founder of the petroleum industry. On the far left end of the wall is a relief of a shrouded female figure holding a wreath, and on the far right end of the wall is a relief of a shrouded female figure holding an urn.
Inscriptions:
C. H. NIEHAUS. SC
MCMI
COLONEL E. L. DRAKE
BORN AT GREENVILLE N.Y. MCH 29 MDCCXIX
DIED AT BETHLEHEM P.A. NOV 8 MDCCCLXXX
FOUNDER OF THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
THE FRIEND OF MAN
CALLED BY CIRCUMSTANCES
TO THE SOLUTION OF A GREAT MINING PROBLEM
HE TRIUMPHANTLY VINDICATED AMERICAN SKILL
AND NEAR THIS SPOT
LAID THE FOUNDATION OF AN INDUSTRY
THAT HAS ENRICHED THE STATE
BENEFITTED MANKIND
STIMULATED THE MECHANIC ARTS
ENLARGED THE PHARMACOPOEIA
AND HAS ATTAINED WORLD WIDE PROPORTIONS
HE SOUGHT FOR HIMSELF
NOT WEALTH NO SOCIAL DISTINCTION
CONTENT TO LET OTHERS FOLLOW WHERE HE LED
AT THE THRESHOLD OF HIS FAME HE RETIRED
TO END HIS DAYS IN QUIETER PURSUITS
HIS HIGHEST AMBITION
WAS THE SUCCESSFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT OF HIS TASK
THIS NOBLE VICTORY THE CONQUEST OF THE ROCK
BEQUEATHING TO POSTERITY
THE FRUITS OF HIS LABOR AND OF HIS INDUSTRY
HIS LAST DAYS
OPPRESSED BY ILLS - TO WANT NO STRANGER
HE DIED IN COMPARATIVE OBSCURITY.
THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY HENRY H. ROGERS
IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION AND REMEMBRANCE
Located straight in from the Woodlawn Cemetery entrance. The original $100,000 cost in 1901 would now be worth $2,190,000 using GDP deflation.
TITLE: Drake Monument
ARTIST(S): Charles Henry Niehaus
DATE: Oct. 4, 1901.
MEDIUM: bronze and granite
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 76007322
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Woodlawn Cemetery
West Spring Street
Titusville, Pennsylvania 16354
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
None
|
Visit Instructions:
Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.