GULF COAST REGION: BEAUMONT TEXAS

BEAUMONT TEXAS

Map of the Beaumont Area & Additional Beaumont Information

Old Postcard of Beaumont Texas Beaumont, Texas became a boomtown starting on January 10, 1901 when oil was discovered nearby under a saltdome called Spindletop.

Beaumont's population more than tripled, to 30,000, within 3 months of the Spindletop gusher. Beaumont's population in the 2000 census was 113,866.

From 1901, to modern day Beaumont, oil and its by-products have been a major factor in the Beaumont economy. While oil remains Beaumont's lead industry the town is also an industrial center. Together, Beaumont, Orange and Port Arthur are known as the Golden Triangle, the nickname a reference to the 3 towns being the economic powers of East Texas.

The South Texas State Fair takes place in Beaumont annually in early October, drawing more than 600,000 fairgoers. Also taking place in October is the Rockin' Beaumont Blues Festival.

One of the most famous golfers in history was a native of Beaumont. You can visit the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Memorial Museum and learn why the Associated Press named her Woman Athlete of the Year six times.

Thomas Edison was not a native of Beaumont, but he is immortalized at the Edison Plaza Museum in the restored Travis St. Power Substation. The museum has the largest collection of Edison's inventions west of the Mississippi..

Spindletop is the centerpiece of the Gladys City Spindletop Boomtown, recreating Spindletop with clapboard buildings of the era, including a saloon and wooden oil derricks. The Lucas Gusher Memorial commemorates the start of the world's modern petroleum industry's, literally at 10 am, January 10, 1901, when the well drilled by Anthony F. Lucas turned into a gusher.

At the Texas Energy Museum you can learn more about the petroleum industry's history, with some of the information delivered by talking robots.

At the Crockett Street Entertainment District in downtown Beaumont you will find a selection of food, live music and dancing with a wide variety of nightclubs and bars covering an eclectic mix of music genres.

The Beaumont area was extensively damaged by Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008.

WHERE TO STAY IN BEAUMONT

You will find more of the national chains in Beaumont, like Howard Johnson, Holiday Inn, Ramada Inn, La Quinta Inn, Courtyard Marriot and Econolodge. Grand Duerr Manor is not a chain. Grand Duerr claims to be Beaumont's B & B. You will also find the Historic Swann Hotel B & B in Beaumont.

WHERE TO EAT IN BEAUMONT

In Beaumont you will find most of the national chain restaurants, like McDonald's and Olive Garden. At Hamburger Depot you will what many locals consider the best Beaumont burger. Rancho Grande, some say is the best Mexican restaurant in town. You'll also find Mexican cuisine at Senor Toro. If you are looking for Thai try Chaba Thai Cuisine. Southern Delight Cafe, New York Pizza & Pasta and Monterey House Restaurant are good choices.

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