Beaumont Texas

Beaumont is located in southeast Texas and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated on Interstate Highway 10, and U.S. Highways 90, 96 and 287. Houston lies 90 miles to the west, and Lake Charles in Louisiana 60 miles to the east.

The City of Port Arthur is located south of Beaumont, while the nearby City of Orange is to the east.

Founded in 1835, today Beaumont has a population of about 115,000 residents.

Oil was discovered at nearby Spindletop in January of 1901. Spindletop became the first major oil field and one of the largest in American history. With the discovery of oil at Spindletop, Beaumont's population more than tripled in two months from 9,000 in January to 30,000 in March of 1901.

Its location on the Neches River, about 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, makes Beaumont a strategic port for Texas and the United States.

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Beaumont Area Attractions

Beaumont offers residents and visitors a wide-range of attractions and things to do. From museums to entertainment districts, from historic sites to a wealth of outdoor activities, Beaumont has it all!

Included below are highlights of popular Beaumont attractions ... but there are many more. For a complete review of attractions, maps, events and more, we highly recommend a visit to the website of the Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Ben J. Rogers Regional Visitors Center

The Ben J. Rogers Regional Visitors Center provides information and assistance to travelers throughout the nine counties of Southeast Texas. It is located at 5055 Interstate Highway 10 South. Phone 409.842.0500 for opening hours and other information. (photo courtesy of Beaumont CVB)

Beaumont Botanical Gardens

This 23.5-acre garden of ever-changing beauty is located near the entrance to Tyrrell Park, a 500-acre City of Beaumont Park. A paved Friendship Walk offers excellent views of the various theme gardens, as well as providing easy access for strollers and wheelchairs. Benches along the way invite visitors to rest a moment and “take time to smell the flowers.” The Beaumont Council of Garden Clubs raises funds for development and maintenance of the gardens, and oversees their management.

Beaumont Botanical Gardens Website

Crockett Street Entertainment District

Crockett Street is home to five historic buildings that have been restored to host Beaumont's best nightclubs, restaurants and a formal banquet facility. Also known for its festivals, Crockett Street regularly offers outdoor concerts, street parties and more.

McFaddin-Ward House and Museum

The stately McFaddin-Ward House was built in 1906 in the Beaux-Arts Colonial style. The building and its furnishings reflect the lifestyle of the prominent family who lived in the house for 75 years. All tours of the main house are docent-led. Located at 1906 Calder Avenue in Beaumont. For more information visit the McFaddin-Ward House Website (photo courtesy of Beaumont CVB)

McFaddin-Ward House and Museum in Beaumont Texas

Texas Energy Museum

(photo courtesy of Beaumont CVB)

The Texas Energy Museum tells the story of oil through colorful, state-of-the-art exhibits. The exhibits depict petroleum geology, formation of oil and gas, history and technology of oil production, and refining and petrochemicals. The Museum depicts the unique story of the early Spindletop oil discovery in 1901 with a complete rotary rig from the Spindletop era. Located at 600 Main Street in downtown Beaumont.

Texas Energy Museum Website

Fire Museum of Texas

Open since 1984, this tribute to firefighters houses a collection of antique engines and firefighting equipment dating back to the 1800s. Take your picture in front of the original World’s Largest Fire Hydrant! Activities for children include the chance to dress up in a firefighter uniforms and drive the fire engine simulator. The museum also has a gift shop to buy souvenirs. Located at 400 Walnut Street. For more information visit the Fire Museum of Texas Website Fire Museum of Texas ... in Beaumont at 400 Walnut Street

Babe Didrikson Zaharias Memorial Museum

The museum documents the multitude of awards, records and achievements throughout the life of the region’s hometown legend, the world’s greatest female athlete and Olympic gold-medalist, Mildred Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias Memorial Museum in Beaumont, Texas

Located at 1750 Interstate 10 East.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias Website

Julie Rogers Theatre for the Performing Arts

Home to the Beaumont Civic Ballet, the Beaumont Civic Opera, Symphony of Southeast Texas and the Beaumont Ballet Theater, the Julie Rogers Theatre is a magnificent historic building accented with continental seating, exquisite chandeliers and twin grand staircases. Located at 765 Pearl Street.

Julie Rogers Theatre for the Performing Arts in Beaumont, Texas

Saint Anthony Cathedral Basilica

Built over 100 years ago, St. Anthony’s is one of the most resplendent houses of worship in the southwestern United States. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI elevated the church to an honored title of cathedral basilica, recognizing the historic, artistic and religious significance of the site. Located at 700 Jefferson Drive in downtown Beaumont. For more information visit the Saint Anthony Cathedral Website
Saint Anthony Cathedral Basilica in downtown Beaumont, Texas

Big Thicket National Preserve

The Big Thicket is an area of dense forest located north and northwest of Beaumont. This 97,000 acre National Preserve protects a unique environmental confluence of swamps, coastal prairie, piney woods, plant life and animals.

For more information visit the Big Thicket website at NPS

Big Thicket National Preserve in Southeast Texas

Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center in Orange

Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange, South East Texas

Many other attractions are located in the Beaumont area out of the city. For example, in nearby Orange is the modern 252 acre Shangri La.

The formal Botanical Gardens contain more than 300 plant species. Adjacent to the Botanical Gardens is a bird blind which allows visitors to observe nesting birds in Shangri La’s heronry.

The Nature Center includes a hands-on exhibit called the Nature Discovery Center, a laboratory, and three outdoor classrooms located deep in the cypress swamp.

Read more, and check opening schedule, at the website of Shangri La Botanical Gardens

Lamar University

Lamar University is a member of The Texas State University System and has an enrollment of nearly 15,000 students from more than 60 countries around the world.

The university offers more than 100 programs of study in the most dynamic career fields leading to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Students graduate with relevant, job-ready skills and go on to become highly successful teachers, nurses, web developers, engineers and more.

The university, which spans 292 acres, has been nationally recognized for the quality of its core curriculum and the diversity of its student body.

For more information, visit the Lamar University Website

Business and Economy

Located in Southeast Texas, Beaumont is approximately 90 miles east of Houston and 60 miles west of Louisiana, providing businesses and companies with access to more than 2.5 million people within a two-hour drive. Beaumont is accessible by land (Interstate 10), sea (Port of Beaumont), train and air (Jack Brooks Airport).

Beaumont is considered an attainment zone, meaning industrial facilities will not be required to install additional pollution control equipment, take limits on production or find reductions in emissions by “offsetting" in order to expand. This reduces start-up costs significantly.

Beaumont is made up of a potential labor force of almost 84,200 with a median age of 37. More than 84 percent of the city’s population has a high school diploma or higher. Southeast Texas population is expected to grow 4.6% by 2020. The cost of living in Beaumont is 7% below National Average.

The Port of Beaumont is a world-class intermodal transportation facility, served by three rail carriers, located within 2 miles of Interstate 10, and situated on a deep-water channel with a 40 foot draft. Southeast Texas is the #1 exporter of crude in the nation, #1 exporter of liquid natural gas and has the 3rd largest refining capacity in the United States. As the 5th largest port in the U.S. in terms of tonnage, the Port of Beaumont is well equipped to serve new and expanded business customers.

Aerial view of rail and dock operations at the Port of Beaumont (photo courtesy of Port of Beaumont)