Small cute museum, worth visiting at least once. The woman inside is more than happy to give you…read moreall the information you could ever desire about the history of Nederland! You also can see the Acadian house (same person may give you the tour). She even let us try on the clogs/hats just for a fun picture.

Fun, quirky little shop if you're roadtripping through Texas! My boyfriend and I had to stop,…read morebecause his family is Dutch and he wanted to learn about the museum as soon as we saw it! The woman (docent?) downstairs was wonderful - and wanted to share with us everything she knew! All in all - a very interesting little museum! My boyfriend got a t-shirt in the gift shop, because he got such a kick out of the museum!

The food tastes good, but it's pricey. Some of the prizes are dusty, but it is fun. It's a bit…read moreoverpriced for something like that. They sometimes make the games rigged, the lift the bottle one is purposely made to cheat with you, you have to make the exact angle or else it will fall. The knock down bottle game is also made to cheat with you, the bottles are heavy, the balls are light. I prefer the water gun one, the duck game, the balloon pop game, they are easy, you can get good prizes. The rides are kinda of boring, they give you nausea right after in night. Also they give out wristbands which are unlimited, but you don't get cash back though, even for tickets. The rides look like they are old, and they might creak and break, which isn't good for our safety. I'm just there for games.

I have some experience with fairs, having been to several in the Land of Fruits and Nuts. County…read moreFairs are a celebration of local culture, ranging from corny (Angels Camp) to high-tech (Pleasanton). The State Fair in Sacramento is a BIG DEAL, like merging the county fair with a Six Flags park. Now, in Free America, I've heard that the fair in Dallas is just as big a deal as the fair in Sacramento. Then we have the South Texas State Fair. With over 200 counties, I guess Texas thought it's better to have regional fairs combining several counties instead of over 200 county fairs. I mean, do you expect a fair in Loving County, population 70? The South Texas State Fair has the feel of a county fair: * Midway: Bigger, nicer, and safer than a typical county fair. The rides are portable, but are better maintained than others, including that one in Ohio that resulted in one death when it malfunctioned. Rides are $3-5, or all you can ride for $40, and the girl got her money's worth with the $40 wristband. * Food: Walking through the outside booths, they're nearly all food. Typical offerings (cheeseburgers, tacos, brisket, funnel cakes), lots of repeats, high prices with semi-low quality. But you can't get a fried Oreo anywhere else. * Concerts: The Alameda County Fair, with its large permanent amphitheater, is an aberration. Most have a temporary stage, and so does the South Texas State Fair. Many national acts started in this part of the country - the Big Bopper, George Jones, Janis Joplin, Tracy Byrd, Micah Tyler - but this fair showcases up-and-comers. Country music is obviously big here. Even if you never heard of the act, you're in for a good show. Exhibits: Local stuff, the type that you'd expect to find in the county fair. I admit, I had the song "Our state fair is the best state fair..." going through my mind. I guess it depends on what your expectations are. If you're looking for a typical experience, cotton candy and all, with a Lone Star flair, then you're gonna love the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park. Be warned: you won't be the only one. As the night goes on, the crowd gets BIG. We got there 45 minutes after the gate opened on a Friday, and by 7pm, the lines in the Midway were already at least half an hour long per ride. It's a good one.

This self‑guided and free museum in Beaumont turned out to be one of those stops that quietly wins…read moreyou over, the kind of place where you walk in expecting a quick look around and instead find yourself slowing down because every corner has something worth studying. The building sits beside the giant Dalmatian‑spotted hydrant, which sets the tone before you even step inside, but the real charm comes from the way the museum mixes polished antique engines with early hand‑drawn equipment and the everyday tools that shaped the trade long before modern technology made things safer. Everything is arranged with enough space to breathe, so you can take your time without feeling like you're blocking anyone's view, and the lighting makes the brass fittings and old pumpers glow in a way that feels almost theatrical. Once you're moving through the exhibits, the museum's personality starts to show. The turnout coats and helmets for kids add a playful note, but even as an adult you feel that same spark of curiosity when you stand next to the older rigs and imagine what it must have been like to rely on them during a real emergency, especially when the interpretive signs give you just enough context without drowning you in technical detail. The staff keep the place spotless and welcoming, and the whole experience feels grounded in respect for the people who have done this work across generations, from the earliest bucket brigades to the modern engines parked outside firehouses today. By the time we stepped back out into the Beaumont sun, we realized we'd spent a full hour wandering through a space that manages to be both educational and quietly moving, the kind of museum that doesn't need to be flashy to leave an impression. It's a lovely stop for anyone passing through, and it deepens your appreciation for the trade in a way that stays with you long after you've left. [Review 343 of 2026 - 670 in Texas - 25530 overall]

Great stop if you are in Beaumont or passing through. The museum is free but of course donations…read moremade keep the place free and up & running. There are some really neat old fire trucks, a collection of fireman badges from different places and lots of other must sees. So glad I stopped in!

I love music, sports and history - so the Museum of the Gulf Coast was a perfect place to spend…read moreseveral hours on a rainy day in Port Arthur. The museum is part of the overall Port Arthur downtown revitalization program, and is a key lynchpin. This modern facility has two stories, with the lower story dedicated primarily to the history of the Gulf Coast Region - while the second story is broken down into specific sections of interest like music, art and sports. The collections are impressive and the staff amazingly friendly and helpful. Overall, this place is well worth your time.

Surprising place for such a small town. My biggest complaint is the building is not large enough to…read morehandle all its interesting artifacts and exhibits. (They rotate so you can come back and find new exhibits) Ive been there 4-5 times. Port Arthur is the birthplace of Texaco and Gulf Oil and the museum covers the history and science. Southeast Texas and West Louisiana are also the birthplace of swamp pop and there is a surprising amount of informative exhibits. I cant begin to name the artists, blues, cajun, creole, rock & roll....of course that includes Janis. Then there is the coastal and marsh exhibits including how and why there is much oil and gas. There are loads of ancient indian and fossil artifacts. With all the above, plus the exhibits on sports (3 NFL coaches) actors and celebrities from the area, you can spend all day. This review barely scratched the surface.

We attended a graduation over the weekend. The arena was nice, great parking, air conditioning was…read moreworking which was super important as it was super hot. We were seated in the upper promenade and they had jumbo televisions to display the graduation up close. They have a clear bag policy for security and they did check. The restrooms were plentiful and the ushers were there to show you around. The food was super expensive but we didn't buy anything. We waited until we left. You are unable to bring anything in, even water.

My son went to the Harry Potter Camp here & had a great time! The staff seemed very friendly and…read morethe people that ran the Harry Potter camp were very nice. We look forward to visiting the museum again.

What a wonderful gem! The museum staff is fantastic and the space for events (weddings,…read moreparties,etc.) is great! The entrance fee is affordable. Do yourself a favor and go visit this place.

There was so much to learn at this museum. You definitely need a lot of time if you like to read…read moredescriptions like we do. There is a lot of work that went into this museum. They take you from a period of time when there were no energy resources to how we use energy today. And that's only one aspect. There were interesting robots, (that's what they call them) that will speak to you and describe what you are looking at; etc an oil derrick. There are explanations of "oil travel", from the ground to the plants where oil is refined. It's a pretty neat place. If you have time and you're in Beaumont, it's definitely worth the stop.

If you want to find out how little you know about Energy and it's History the Texas Energy Museum…read moreis well worth a visit. I may go again the next time I'm in Beaumont.

This place is awesome! We booked a birthday party here and the kids loved it! They have Xbox,…read morearcade games, and computer games. Our party was for preteen boys and girls and all were entertained the whole time! ​