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.

I'm glad that I stop by this museum while traveling over Texas. The staffs are super friendly and…read moreare very helpful and the visiting to the museum is free. A lot of thing to see inside the museum.

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.

Sandra our tour guide very informative. Gave us a great and interesting tour. Highly recommend a…read morevisit here

Carefully restored. Befitted with period furnishings, most once owned by the French family but none…read moreare modern. No electric lighting. Our tour was conducted by flashlight and natural light. Air conditioned, thank goodness because summer in SE Texas means both the temperature and humidity are high. Amy, the Docent, is so sweet and knowledgable. The grounds are excellently maintained. A true show piece.

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!

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.

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!

April 18, 2024 [I forgot to check in]…read more But, we went to the sip & stroll tonight after the garden closed to release butterflies! Isn't that cool?! We paid $10 for a butterfly, fed it some oranges, and then released it. Wine from Free State Cellars was there, sandwichs and macarons were made by them, too. Fantastic! Now about this garden, it's beautiful. They have put a lot of work into it since Hurricane harvey... and are doing a great job in making it more lucious each year. LOVE this place

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!