From K-QED Oil.

Oil.

Since Americans first understood its capacity to make all kinds of machines run, they began to dig under the soil.

As early as 1856, there was digging around the La Brea Tar Pitts

in Los Angeles.

When you think of oil drilling in California you probably think of Southern California,

but did you know there's also oil fields in the Bay Area?

So hello.

Hello. So tell me your name again and where you go to school.

My name is Alden Hughes.

I did a prospect high school in Sarasota.

Alden lives in Santa Clara County and he likes to hike in nearby San Mateo County

where he's seen some signs of oil, which is why he asked the question,

what's the history behind the oil fields in San Mateo County?

I'm Olivia Allen Price. This is Bay Curious.

On today's episode, we go digging for oil on the peninsula.

Well, sort of.

Support for Bay Curious is brought to you by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, still family-owned,

operated, and argued over. Explore their brews wherever fine beverages are sold,

and taste how trailblazing runs in the family.

Visit Sierra Nevada.com to find your new favorite beer today.

We go with KQED's Silicon Valley reporter Rachel Myro to visit one of the last two

...