{"id":40,"ordinal":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:41","content_modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:41","featured":1,"title":"The Great Indiana Gas Boom","creator":"Howard County Historical Society","description":"<p>The history of Indiana’s gas boom is one of entrepreneurs, inventions, and squandered natural wealth. It is the story of the turning point that made Howard County, Kokomo, and many other communities in east-central Indiana what they are today. \r\n\r\nWhen natural gas was discovered in 1886, the region underwent a massive economic change and explosive population growth as it went from an agricultural economy to one dominated by energy-intensive industries like paper products, rubber, and, especially, glass production. Real estate speculation fueled investment in heavy industries. It sparked commercial growth in Kokomo and other cities of the east-central Indiana “gas belt.” In just four years after the discovery of gas, Kokomo’s population more than doubled as these new factories attracted workers to the area. \r\n\r\nBy 1902, the gas reserve was all but gone, leaving behind empty factories and a hungry workforce that would be filled by other industries. Hoosier entrepreneurs and inventors filled the void fueled by America’s growing desire for auto ownership. The economic changes sparked by the gas boom were here to stay.</p>","postscript_text":"This tour was created in partnership with the Howard County Historical Society and made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.","tour_img":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/a45029ac224ce0984be77ff91261f013.jpg","items":[{"id":431,"title":"Natural Gas Well Drilled in Kokomo","latitude":40.4832037999999982957888278178870677947998046875,"longitude":-86.134287325165360016399063169956207275390625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/a45029ac224ce0984be77ff91261f013.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/a45029ac224ce0984be77ff91261f013.jpg","subtitle":"The Boom Begins","address":null,"custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":432,"title":"Diamond Plate Glass Company","latitude":40.4799236975840130980941466987133026123046875,"longitude":-86.116500352509348203966510482132434844970703125,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/3abfc5434b6d4973133101ed93c6bec7.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/3abfc5434b6d4973133101ed93c6bec7.jpg","subtitle":"The Turning Point","address":"1201 E. Vaile, Kokomo, IN 46902","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":433,"title":"Kokomo’s Seiberling Mansion","latitude":40.48677639999999655628926120698451995849609375,"longitude":-86.14419060000000172294676303863525390625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/b5555bcc96be548bab9702f836370efc.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/b5555bcc96be548bab9702f836370efc.jpg","subtitle":"A Legacy of the Indiana Gas Boom","address":"1200 W. Sycamore, Kokomo, IN 46901","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":434,"title":"Kokomo Opalescent Glass","latitude":40.4710859999999996716724126599729061126708984375,"longitude":-86.1290819999999968104020808823406696319580078125,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/003ab52b233a413100053bacc7ef8f99.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/003ab52b233a413100053bacc7ef8f99.jpg","subtitle":"Making Art Glass Since 1888","address":"1310 S. Market, Kokomo, IN 46902","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":435,"title":"Greentown Glass","latitude":40.481752999999997655322658829391002655029296875,"longitude":-85.9665959999999955698513076640665531158447265625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/a372e3d425b00726ed21c270c4cc6909.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/a372e3d425b00726ed21c270c4cc6909.jpg","subtitle":"Prized by Collectors","address":"112 N. Meridian, Greentown, IN 46936","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":436,"title":"The Haynes Museum","latitude":40.46317570000000074514900916256010532379150390625,"longitude":-86.136866385971785575748072005808353424072265625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/9ca1d1e2c7ee5da484ab1ae75e7df190.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/9ca1d1e2c7ee5da484ab1ae75e7df190.jpg","subtitle":"Celebrating a Great Inventor","address":"1915 S. Webster, Kokomo, IN 46902","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":437,"title":"Kokomo's Historic Highland Park","latitude":40.45943180000000438667484559118747711181640625,"longitude":-86.130204188148667299174121581017971038818359375,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/6a4a843ee583c3879eef9cced8359d1a.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/6a4a843ee583c3879eef9cced8359d1a.jpg","subtitle":"Recreation for a Growing City","address":"900 W. Defenbaugh, Kokomo, IN 46901","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}}]}