Santa Rita No. 1

What to know

Standing at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. and San Jacinto boulevards on the University of Texas at Austin campus, the Santa Rita No. 1 rig is a monument to the historic well that forever altered the fortunes of Texas. Originally located in Reagan County on university-owned lands, this landmark oil well first began drilling, or spudding, in August 1921. Facing a strict deadline, workers began drilling just hours before the university's permit was set to expire. Because of the seemingly impossible odds of finding oil in the region, the well was named Santa Rita No. 1, after the patron saint of the impossible.\n\nThe gamble paid off spectacularly on May 28, 1923. The well roared to life, making a sound like a rattlesnake before transitioning into a wild prairie wind. It blew black crude oil over the top of the derrick, spraying the surrounding landscape. This monumental strike proved that the Permian Basin contained commercial quantities of petroleum, putting the region on the map and triggering one of the richest oil booms in history.\n\nBeyond its industrial impact, Santa Rita No. 1 fundamentally shaped Texas higher education. As the first producing oil well on University Lands, its success established the financial foundation of the Permanent University Fund, a public endowment supporting the University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems. The very first royalty payment, made on August 24, 1923, totaled $516.53. Over the next several decades, the well remained highly productive, operating for nearly 67 years before it was finally plugged in 1990.\n\nRecognizing its immense historical value, the Texas State Historical Association spearheaded efforts to preserve the physical structure. In 1940, much of the original rig was relocated from West Texas to the UT Austin campus. Later, in 1958, the university also moved the well's walking beam and other associated equipment to the site. Today, the reconstructed rig stands as a testament to the 'impossible' strike that built a world-class university system.

Visitor tips

• Look for the rig at the corner of MLK and San Jacinto boulevards on the UT Austin campus.
• Combine your visit with a walk around the surrounding University of Texas campus grounds.
• Take time to examine the historic walking beam and other equipment relocated here in 1958.

Nearby context

Located on the bustling campus of the University of Texas at Austin, Santa Rita No. 1 is situated near several of the city's key cultural landmarks. Just a short walk away, you can explore the world-class art collections at the Blanton Museum of Art or admire the public art installations scattered across the university grounds. This historic rig serves as a grounding piece of industrial heritage amidst the modern academic and artistic environment of the campus.