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Established in 2026, The Responsible Energy Council Heritage Archive for Research Growth and Education (RECHARGE) at the California Oil Museum of Santa Paula is dedicated to collecting, preserving, stewarding, and sharing the artifacts, oral histories, and archival records that document California's energy story, a story stretching back more than a century that is still being written today.
Why we preserve
California's energy industry shaped its economy, its landscape, and its communities. From the first oil wells in Ventura County to the sprawling refineries of Los Angeles, from the natural gas pipelines threading through the Central Valley to the offshore platforms visible from the coast; this is not just industrial history. It is California history.
In 2026, the opportunity arose for the REC to steward the California Oil Museum collection housed in the Union Oil Building in Santa Paula, a storied community cornerstone with an iconic façade on Santa Paula's main street. RECHARGE was founded to preserve the artifacts, objects, and archives contained in that collection, including the famous wooden drilling rig still located on site, while supporting the Santa Paula community's commitment to its heritage.
What we collect & preserve
- Historical photographs, maps, and technical documents from California energy operations
- Oral history recordings with industry veterans, workers, and community members
- Equipment, tools, and artifacts from California oil, gas, and energy facilities
- Corporate and operational records from historic California energy companies
- Educational materials and curricula related to California's energy heritage
Why Santa Paula?
Santa Paula is considered the birthplace of California's oil industry. In 1876, the state's first commercial oil well was drilled just outside town, launching an industry that would reshape California's economy and fuel its growth for generations.
The Union Oil Building, home of RECHARGE, is itself a piece of that history: built in the early 20th century by one of California's most significant energy companies. It's a fitting home for a center dedicated to preserving the story of the industry that built it.
RECHARGE's work is funded entirely by donations and grants. Your support makes the difference.
Preserving California's energy heritage requires real resources: archival storage, digitization equipment, oral history recording, curriculum development, and outreach.
None of it happens without the generosity of donors who believe this history is worth saving.