The Baytown Refinery (one of the largest in the world) was built in 1917 by the Humble Refining Company (later Standard Oil, then Exxon, then ExxonMobil) to refine oil from the Humble oil field just east of the present Houston Bush Airport. It was the southern origin of the "little big inch" pipeline built in 1943-44 for the war effort. It is about eighty miles west of the iconic Spindletop oil drilling blowout in 1901. This event introduced the concept of the "wildcatter" (see Giant, movie).
About 2500 yards west of the gasoline unit, across the Houston Ship Channel, lies the hallowed ground of the Battle of San Jacinto (4/21/1836). Described as one of the turning points of history, Sam Houston's ragtag troops defeated the Mexican Army of Santa Ana in less than 30 minutes. It is also the birthplace of the legend of New York native Emily Morgan; better known as the "Yellow Rose of Texas". Removing Mexican influence allowed the opening of the "Great American West".
Some say that the Baytown Refinery won World War II. Reportedly, during the war, this was the largest and, at least for a while, the only producer of aviation gasoline (up to 130 octane) in the world. The significantly improved engine performance gave the Allied air forces the needed edge.
And, like the old boy says....Gasoline. hell, if it didn't burn, no one would use it!