Kansas Strong

Nine teamsters, 18 horses, nine wagons loaded with pipe and a car carrying three men in the background.

Captured in Augusta, Kansas, during the Mid-Continent oil boom in the early 1900s, this photograph shows the massive effort required to transport pipe before modern trucks and heavy equipment. These crews helped build the pipeline infrastructure that supported the rapid growth of the oil and natural gas industry across Butler County and beyond.

Photo courtesy of Kansas Oil Museum.

We had a great day! Started with an interview on KNSS in Wichita, followed by a radio show with KVGB in Great Bend, and end with a Petro Pro with the Salt & Light Home School group at the Kansas Oil & Gas Museum. Summer is here, but it is not too early to schedule us for a Petro Pro at your school. Message us for details!

Originally preserved by the Kansas State Historical Society in Topeka and later shared through the Kansas Oil Museum in El Dorado, this photo captures a moment from Kansas oil history in the 1950s. Long before modern technology transformed the industry, it was the grit, skill and determination of hardworking crews like this that kept the Kansas oil fields running.

During this era, advancements like hydraulic fracturing helped unlock previously difficult “tight sand” formations across parts of Kansas, leading to major oil development throughout the state. These wells were known for their gas flares, smaller pumping equipment and the hard work required to keep production moving day after day.

If you know anything about these men or the well location, leave it in the comments.

Photo courtesy of Kansas Oil Museum.

I’m going to take a little liberty here for good reason. My wife, Wendy, was named Secondary Teacher of the Year for Circle Schools. She fully understands our mission and teaches her students what they need to know to choose their best energy future! More importantly she invests more than anyone I know in her student’s future. On top of that the award she was presented with was created by Scott Hartley who did a video for Kansas Strong about how life without natural gas is life without glass art! It was a good day!