The first discovery of oil in America by European settlers occurred here near Cuba, New York in 1627. The oil spring is located near the spillway end of Cuba Lake on the Oil Springs Reservation, Allegany County, New York where oil oozes from the earth’s crust as commonly found throughout the region. This is the site of the famed spring described by the Franciscan Missionary Joseph De La Roche D’Allion in 1627, the first recorded mention of oil on the North American Continent. The use of oil discovered by the native nations throughout our oil region dates back many, many centuries, where “seeps” naturally occurred and enabled the natives to use it and trade it as an important commodity.
