Sugar Creek Missouri Birdseye of Standard Oil Refinery Real Photo Postcard
The postcard captures the Standard Oil refinery in Sugar Creek, Missouri, in 1908, a significant industrial hub in the early 20th century. Construction of this large-scale petroleum processing facility commenced in 1903-1904, establishing it as a vital center for the refining of crude oil into products like kerosene, lubricating oils, and the increasingly important gasoline. The visible smokestacks and extensive tank farms were typical features of the era's burgeoning energy infrastructure.
This period was marked by rapid industrialization and a growing demand for refined petroleum, fueled by expanding railroad networks and the nascent automobile industry. The Sugar Creek refinery, with its strategic location and rail access, played a crucial role in supplying the American Midwest, symbolizing the nation's increasing reliance on fossil fuels and the economic power concentrated within major industrial corporations like Standard Oil.
This period was marked by rapid industrialization and a growing demand for refined petroleum, fueled by expanding railroad networks and the nascent automobile industry. The Sugar Creek refinery, with its strategic location and rail access, played a crucial role in supplying the American Midwest, symbolizing the nation's increasing reliance on fossil fuels and the economic power concentrated within major industrial corporations like Standard Oil.
