In the early years of motoring, before dedicated gasoline stations existed, motorists bought gasoline from hardware stores, general stores, pharmacies, and even blacksmiths. These businesses had pre-existing relationships with the refineries through their sale of kerosene, used for stoves and as a lighting fuel. Stored in five-gallon cans stacked curbside or in large above-ground tanks, the fuel was poured into the automobile’s gas tank using a funnel with a chamois as a filter.

Due to fire danger and a series of unfortunate mishaps, public concern and regulators forced the sale of gasoline to dedicated retail facilities outside of city centers, creating a new type of business called the filling station. Both the filling station and the gas pump would evolve into what we now know as the modern gas station.

Several locations around the United States claim to be the site of the nation’s (possibly even the world’s) first gasoline station, known to motorists at the time as filling stations. According to the 1994 book “The Gas Station in America” by John Jakle and Keith Sculle, “Where and when the first gasoline station appeared is difficult to establish since various types of ‘stations’ appeared on the American scene between 1907 and 1913.”

The world’s first dedicated gas station. St. Louis, Missouri – 1905 First gas station in St. Louis, “east side of Theresa Street just south of Market.” Photograph, 1939. From “Origin of Drive-In Gasoline Service Station, St. Louis 1905.” LIB: St. L 629.2 Or16. n27937The Standard Oil of California service station in 1907 – Considered the World’s first service station. Standard Oil (California) is now Chevron.

In 1913, Gulf Refining Company opened the world’s first drive-in gas station at Baum Boulevard and St Clair’s Street. In addition to selling gasoline, it offered crankcase service, tire installation, and free road maps, air, and water to motorists. This was also the first architect-designed station. On its first day, the station sold 30 gallons of gasoline at 27 cents per gallon. On its first Saturday, Gulf’s new service station pumped 350 gallons of gasoline.

On December 1st 1913 Gulf Refining Company opened the world’s first drive-in gas station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Until then, drivers got their gas at general stores, hardware shops, even soon-to-be-obsolete blacksmiths.The station offered free air, water, crankcase service, and tire and tube installation. On its first day, the station sold 30 gallons of gasoline at 27 cents per gallon. On its first Saturday, Gulf’s new service station pumped 350 gallons of gasoline.

Gas pump filling station – 1920 Gas station and sandwich shop

Full-service gas station – 1942 

Gas station pumps – 1979