Santa Paula Hardware Company Block--Union Oil Company
historic place
In Santa Paula, Ventura County, stands the Santa Paula Hardware Company Block, also known as the Union Oil Company Building. Constructed in 1889, this Queen Anne style building holds historical significance. On October 17, 1890, the Union Oil Company was founded here, with its offices located on the upper floor, while the Santa Paula Hardware and Post Office occupied the ground floor. The company's headquarters moved to Los Angeles around 1900, but the building continued as a field division office. In 1950, it became the Union Oil Museum. For its centennial in 1990, the building was restored and reopened as the California Oil Museum. Recognized as a Historic Place, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is California Historical Landmark Number 996. A historical marker, erected in 1940 by the City of Santa Paula, commemorates its role as the birthplace of the Union Oil Company of California. In late 2023, Chevron, through its affiliate, donated the building to the City of Santa Paula. This site matters historically as the founding location of a major oil company.