Beaumont, TX Tourist Attractions
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Beaumont (pop. 114,000) grew suddenly from a small town to a small city in the early 1900's with the discovery of oil in the area. The area has one of the largest concentrations of petroleum refineries in the United States.The city has many cultural and recreational opportunities for visitors, with a variety of art galleries, museums, golf courses, annual festivals, and historic sites.
Clifton Steamboat Museum
Step back and relive the spirit of history featuring "Heroes... Past, Present, and Future," honoring military and civilian heroes. The museum galleries bring to life the Wars fought in Southeast Texas and Louisiana, as well as the Steamboat era, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Upper galleries of the museum feature original bronze sculptures, Native American artists, wildlife, and frontier paintings from famous artists. A special gallery in the museum is dedicated to the Boy Scouts. This gallery features many historical scouting artifacts.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum
The Museum is a tribute to Babe Didrikson Zaharias, whose accomplishments include three time basketball All-American, three time gold Olympic medals, and world class woman golfer.
Art Museum of Southeast Texas
The gallery features both permanent and changing exhibits and features a variety of American art, including an outdoor sculpture garden.
Beaumont Police Museum
Housed in a former jail, the Beaumont Police Museum features police memorabilia dating back to the early 1900's.
Fire Museum of Texas
The Fire Museum is home to the World's Largest Fire Hydrant, it stands 24 ft tall. Displays feature firefighting paraphernalia and a fire safety activity area.
John Jay French Museum
The French House was built in 1845 by John Jay French. The collection includes antique furniture, clothing, and pioneer items.
McFaddin-Ward House Museum
This 1906 mansion displays the possessions of W.P.H. McFaddin, a wealthy business man and the original owner of the house.
Splindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum
The Spindletop/Gladys City Museum is a re-creation of an old oil boomtown with buildings and other items in the style of the early 1900's.
Texas Energy Museum
The Texas Energy Museum describes the history of the petroleum industry and the Spindletop Gusher.
Surroundings
There are several towns and attractions in the Beaumont surrounding area.
Port Arthur
Port Arthur (pop. 60,000) is located just inland from the Gulf of Mexico and situated on the shore of Sabine Lake. The town hosts festive Mardi Gras celebrations each year which is suitable for families. Fishing is a popular sport in the area for both fresh and saltwater fish.
Museum of the Gulf Coast
The museum depicts the history of the area starting from before the arrival of man. Of special note are the wall murals, including the largest indoor mural in the Southwest.
Texas Artists Museum
The museum focuses on the works of artist from the Jefferson and Orange counties. A cultural show is held once a month featuring local singers, dancers, actors and musicians.
Sour Lake
Sour Lakes became a boom town in the early 1900's. Drilling in the area was highly concentrated with wells very close together. The result of this was a sizeable piece of land in the Sour Lake oilfield sinking, creating a deep 15 acre lake.
Pelt Farm Rural Life Museum
The museum features folk art and artifacts depicting the story of rural life in early East Texas and South Louisiana. The farm also features gardens and farm animals.
Newton County History Center, Newton
The Newton County History Center houses historical artifacts and archives, as well as archeological artifacts from Newton County.
Orange
Orange (pop. 20,000) was settled in 1836 on an inland harbor. Today the port is the home of the Navy's Texas Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet.
Heritage House Museum
The house was built in 1902 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rooms in Heritage House are furnished in period and changing exhibits are displayed.
Stark Museum of Art
Stark Museum of Art offers permanent and changing exhibits of Western art, American Indian art, as well as crystal and porcelains.
W.H. Stark House
This restored 1894 Victorian mansion displays period furnishings, cut glass, porcelains, bronzes and Oriental antiques.
Silsbee
Silsbee (pop. 6,500) offers a well known amateur theater, city parks with sports facilities, and hunting and fishing opportunities.
Ice House Museum
The Ice House Museum was created by the Hardin County Arts and Educational Foundation. The building was originally used to produced ice for local homes and businesses and now houses local art work.
