Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism

Specific Need

The Oil Region Alliance is seeking donations via Crawford Gives 2026 to implement new interior historical exhibits for the Oil Region Heritage Center & Scheide Library (221 North Washington Street, Titusville) and the Tarbell House (324 East Main Street, Titusville.)

The ORA-rehabilitated Tarbell House, built in 1870, is the childhood home of investigative journalist Ida M. Tarbell. The ORA currently operates the first floor of the Tarbell House as an event space and small house museum, with a rental apartment on the upper floor. The Oil Region Heritage Center & Scheide Library, built ca. 1865, has recently finished restoration and is currently seeking long-term tenants, with the Scheide Library available for rental as an event space.

Both buildings are now due to have more professional, museum-quality exhibits, including interactive touch-screen tablets loaded with appropriate links (such as to the Scheide Library page at Princeton University’s website) and ORA-crafted digital content relating to the history of both houses.

The ORA also plans to acquire much-needed high-quality reproductions of historic images and the acquisition of additional historical materials, which will result in a much more impactful museum experience for visitors to the houses, illustrating how the historic buildings were adapted to new uses, as well as the rich history of their former occupants.

Mission

The mission of the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism is to manage the Oil Region National Heritage Area and to increase the prosperity of the Oil Region by enticing all people to live, work, learn, and play in “The Valley that Changed the World” through the preservation, promotion, development, and support of historical, educational, natural, recreational, residential, commercial, and industrial destinations.

Profile

The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism formed in 2005 through a merger of local non-profit organizations, including the former Oil Heritage Region, Inc.

For almost 20 years, the ORA has rehabilitated historic buildings, established recognition of the region as both Pennsylvania and National Heritage Areas, created and developed industrial parks, assisted the growth of local businesses, built recreational trails and amenities, preserved and interpreted the region’s heritage, and produced educational materials for students and adults. This is in addition to providing leadership in heritage preservation, tourism marketing, recreational development, and economic development.

ORA is the federally designated manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area. Current ORA historical property projects include the Ida Tarbell House and William H. Scheide House in Titusville, the Downs Building and the former Salvation Army building in Oil City, and the Coal Oil Johnny House within Oil Creek State Park. The organization also facilitates the installation of historic markers and house plaques, interpretive panels, creates history and cultural educational materials, and coordinates the annual Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards.