Discover Petrolia through two threads of time: oil technology that is still operating and historic buildings whose former uses remain visible today. At Petrolia Discovery, a guided tour takes you through the world’s only publicly accessible, still-operating oil field from the 1860s. Tours are seasonal; check the season schedule when planning your visit.
Oil history still in operation
Petrolia Discovery combines historical exhibits with an authentic oil field from the 1860s that is still operating. A notable piece of technology is the Fitzgerald Rig: it has run continuously since 1903 and continues to power oil wells connected by a rod line. The focus is therefore not only on the history of oil production, but also on equipment still in use today. This makes the site especially interesting if you want to understand industrial history through machinery and how it is used.
Victoria Hall and Petrolia’s stages
Victoria Hall is a National Historic Site and is also designated as a heritage building at the provincial level. Its upper floor once housed an opera house with seating for 1,000 people. The historic building is also home to Victoria Playhouse Petrolia, a 400-seat theatre. The two capacities refer to different uses of the hall: the former opera house and the theatre. Victoria Hall is located in Petrolia’s Victorian-era centre. Its architecture, historic use and theatre can therefore be considered together in one place, without confusing the former opera house function with the theatre today.
Historic buildings and finding your way around town
Other buildings tell the story of different uses. The Little Red Bank in Petrolia preserves the vault and teller window from its former use as a bank. The Petrolia Library is located in a former Grand Trunk railway station built in 1903. Sunnyside is a mansion in Petrolia with 22 rooms, including a billiard room, a ballroom and rooms for the household staff.
At the Petrolia Standpipe Water Tower, interpretive signage is available on site and may be updated over time. For an overview of the town’s attractions, the Town Walking Map helps residents and visitors find their way. Map content may be revised; check the current version if needed.
Trails, parks and nature nearby
The Petrolia Trail is approximately 6 km long and runs through the northern part of the Bridgeview Conservation Area. Its length and route may change with future trail construction. Petrolia’s parks offer playgrounds, trails, picnic areas and sports fields; the facilities available may change over time. The Lorne C. Henderson Conservation Area is also nearby, west of Petrolia. It has a family-oriented campground, wildlife ponds and nature trails. Campground operations and facilities may vary seasonally.
Planning for seasonal offerings
The Petrolia Farmers’ Market is located just behind the library and takes place on Saturday mornings from May to October. It offers a wide selection of locally grown produce. As exact dates and opening hours may change from year to year, check them before planning your trip. The VPP Summer Festival also follows a seasonal schedule: it features six different productions each year, each running for three weeks between mid-May and mid-September. Check the number of productions and dates again for the current season. This lets you take seasonal offerings into account when planning your trip, while the historic buildings and oil field offer separate attractions that are not tied to the season.
Discover more destinations: Lambton Shores, Sarnia, Point Edward, Sombra.
Return to the main travel overview: Lambton County.
