Great House Tour! The McFaddin-Ward House Museum is something very special to the Beaumont area…read more The history is rich and the past owner were seemingly very philanthropic people. My husband and I went to the Bullock Museum in Austin Texas and it was there that we discovered, in the History of oil in Texas, a few amazing featured pieces from this beautiful historical house. We ended up in Village Creek State Park and found the people and the area so very warm and charming. We went to the house on a free Saturday tour during Dec. and the house was decorated for Christmas. We had such a warm welcome from the folks and children working there. The tour only consisted of the downstairs and carriage House (servants Quarters) but were very intrigued by its rich history, we longed to see more of it ...We had so many questions. On our way out a docent there took the time to answer some of our questions, for she was very friendly and gave us so many great ideas for our continuing road trip and invited us back to see the rest of the house. It was closed on Sun.-Mon. but we made reservations, which is a good idea as they only take small groups through the house, for Tues. and went back to tour the other 2 floors of the house. Boy, we were sure glad that we did!!! It is amazing and the top floor is spectacular! The house is full of many amazing art/furniture/wall coverings, rugs, etc. and it is exactly the way it was left, preserved beautifully! We especially enjoyed learning about all the characters that lived in the house in fact the main made lived there up until 1986, I believe it was. This place really gives you the feeling of stepping back in the time period it is a truly fantastic experience. If you are in the area it is a must do!

Historic Beaumont mansion from the Texas oil boom for two generations of the wealthy McFaddin…read morefamily now a museum, well manicured lawns, original family memorabilia and furnishings, expansive opulent interior, informative docent tours, plentiful selfie opportunities, Louis Lemon, cook for the McFaddins for 37 years provided wonderful meals. "Perfectly Splendid One Family's Repasts" cookbook is available for purchase to enjoy family favorites.

Seems such an odd and lonely location for a museum commemorating Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias'…read moreaccomplishments except for it's Tejas at exit 854 in an unhappy part of Beaumont which suggests a line from Rooster Cogburn about how old men in the old west don't mind their women being better at "manly things" as long as they kept quiet about it... (BTW: don't be in a hurry to get offended, the line is funny even if the underlying thought isn't.) Was blasting down the interstate trying to get home to my lovely bride when I saw the name 'Zaharias' on an information sign. Took a minute to figure out why I knew who that was and then find a place to turn around. The small museum is located in a park / athletic complex that includes room for some picnic pavilions, several association football pitches, and a proper stadium. Inside are displays recounting Ms Didrikson's many and varied accomplishments in assorted fields of athletic endeavor. Seems an odd and lonely location for a museum commemorating one of the greatest athletes ever.

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.

An excellent Art Museum to visit which is right beside the Texas Energy Museum. I'm glad I went.read more

Much of a nothingness. An overly large building promises far more from the outside than you find…read moreon the inside. Lots of space - very little actual art, and I didn't really see anything when I was there that felt interesting or of any particularly quality. I hate to criticize an art museum but I found this one just sort of sad and not really worth even the 20 minutes it took to make a slow tour of it.

Crucial museum! Maybe the most important museum in Texas because what happened here changed the…read moreworld. The first oil gusher brought us the age of oil! Much of what we touch is made with oil products. There is a recreated town from the 1900s with about seventeen historic buildings. Don't worry, each building has modern AC! In the judge's office, you can try on robes and bang a gavel. Only one other group when I visited on a Sunday afternoon. Outside the museum is the Lucas Gusher Simulator. Every few days throughout summer they recreate the gusher by blasting water into the air! Check the website or call for the schedule

Once upon a time, there were boom towns around Texas. Both Spindletop and Glady are one of them…read more This museum made me feel like living in the early 20th century. The admission was only $5. I visited on Thursday, May 27th at 10am. The museum was empty. It looked like a real ghost town. The buildings were well preserved. I saw ACs which were not supposed to be in the towns 120 years ago. It was okay. Texas is too hot. I was on the benches and googled the towns. This museum encouraged me to learn the history of Beaumont and oil industry in Texas!

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!

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]

My son and I were down here on a road trip last weekend and had such a great visit. The Director…read more(Tom, I believe?) walked us around and had amazing story upon story of great engineering feats and musicians and athletes from the area. I just stood there listening with my mouth open for an hour and it was hard for me to want to leave our discussion, he was so interesting! My 7 year-old really enjoyed the little archaelogical dig site with brushes and trowels. All in all, this is an incredibly well-run museum to showcase an area that has an astonishing number of accomplished people. I highly recommend it.

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.

We made a trip over to see what all the talk was about this place - and it was AMAZING! It is an…read moreincredibly beautiful place - full of so many gorgeous plants and trees! We were able to see the scarecrows and pumpkins out for the season which were used so well through out the entire garden. We were shocked at the beauty of this place! We had no idea! They have great evening and weekend activities planned - great for the family! Definitely make a visit!

A small, but mighty botanical garden with everything free at your fingertips. This attraction did…read morenot disappoint. Upon walking into the garden, my friend and I were immediately greeted by one of the volunteers. She gladly gave us a map of the garden and asked if were interested in seeing a free movie to learn about the history of the garden and asked if we were wanting to go on the free boat tour as well. We gladly said, yes and was shocked that they so many payless amenities. I thought to myself out of all the botanical gardens I've visited over the years, this was by far the less expensive. The movie was fascinating. It was held in this big modernized auditorium. We were the only ones in there. Once the movie started, the room got really dark. Mr. Stark, a native and local of Orange, TX was inspired by the 1933 movie, The Lost Horizon (which can be found on Tubi), but Shangri La translates into utopia and paradise, so he sought out to make an impression in the small city by creating a place people can enjoy nature on 252 acres. The selection of plants are natives, annuals, perennials, some tropical plants (located in the greenhouses). The boat tour was a real treat! We were given instructions to remain safe on the water vehicle and put on life jackets. The tour was held on Adams Bayou where we saw ospreys, Christmas lichen on the trees, houses off the bayou, cypress trees with their huge roots, moss hanging from the branches, and even the bayou was filled with debris and trash. It definitely felt like we in a swamp. The boat ride was peaceful as the tour guides gave explanation of what we viewed. After the tour, my friend and I walked around the park observing all the beauties around. There wasn't a lot of plants in bloom yet, but nevertheless, the air was crisp and fresh. Great outing. They even have a restaurant/cafe on site. Shangri La exceeded my expectations!

I came here and as soon as I entered, two white women sitting behind the register were giggling and…read morelooking me up and down, with no welcome whatsoever. Very strange and unwelcoming/racist energy here.

Flew to TX to visit family a few weeks ago. Coming from a big city to little Beaumont.... we found…read moreabsolutely NOTHING to do for entertainment. It was suggested that we go antiquing. SO very glad that came up in conversation. We shopped so much and bought enough to fill our suitcases full. One of the suitcases barely made the cutoff weight limit! While I didn't find anything in this location for myself, I did find a set of bookends that were Bellamy Eagles for a family member. Was likely the greatest find of the day. He was ecstatic to receive them. Just goes to show.... you can find treasures in a small town, too. The staff here was great! The desk clerk tried to help me hide my purchase from the family member that was with me that day... even wrapping it twice in a dark colored bag.... but it didn't work. He figured out what we were doing as soon as he came downstairs! Great shop with a LOT to choose from. So many toys from my childhood that brought back memories!!! Prices were definitely fair! Glad we stopped by!