Butler County Historical Society

Established in 1927, Butler County Historical Society's main goal was to preserve the history and culture of the county. Back in 1927 a group of locals of the county met to discuss what contiburtion they could make to portray the history of their society. The Society dates back to 1927 when a group of residents met to discuss ways to preserve their history.For more than 20 years county residents have sought a place where artifacts and memorabilia from the county's industrial and agricultural past could be exhibited. In 1994, the Society acquired a three-story commercial building in downtown Butler to do all that and more. The Heritage Center opened to the public in 1995, with a 4,500 square foot of exhibit space. The permanent collection includes an original Bantam "jeep", the Bantam Hollywood prototype convertible sports car, and displays of many of the industries of Butler's past and present.

The Heritage Center will host business meetings, family reunions, motor coach tours and club outings by prior arrangement.The Iroquois Confederacy controlled the land that is now Butler County, Pennsylvania for many years prior to 1753, when the French began to establish a series of forts in this area. This activity culminated in the French and Indian War. After the Revolution, when the new Federal government had no means to pay soldiers, patents, or deeds, for land here was given to soldiers in lieu of pay.

John RoeblingJohn Roebling, inventor of wire cable and designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, purchased land in Butler County, where he established a settlement called Saxonburg in 1820. It was here, in his workshop, that the German engineer invented what he called “wire rope.” Use of this material revolutionized machinery throughout the world, making equipment much stronger and more durable. When his design was chosen for the Brooklyn Bridge, scientists said no suspension bridge relying on wire cable was strong enough to span the width of the river. At the opening of the bridge in 1883 it was hailed as a wonder of the world. Unfortunately John Roebling died before the completion of the project. which was finished by his son, Washington Roebling.

William SmithWilliam (Uncle Billy) Smith was born in Tarentum, but moved with his family to Winfield Township, Butler County. Here he was a blacksmith and a salt merchant. He designed and manufactured tools to drill into the earth in order to make his job easier. Colonel Edwin Drake was convinced that a consistent source of oil could be found by drilling, but he lacked the skill and the tools to do so. When he heard of William Smith, he hired him to take his tools to an area along what we now know as Oil Creek. Together they discovered that oil could be located underground and tapped for a consistent supply. information which would quickly begin to change the culture of the world. The petroleum Institute of America erected a monument on William Smith's grave site, in Winfield Township, commemorating his contribution to this industry.