Beaumont, Texas Tours
We offer four 8-hour themed tours of Beaumont, Texas. These tours begin at 9:00 and end at 5:00 PM. See the schedule below. Beautmont Tour A is not available on Sundays as most of the museums are closed. Beaumont Tour B is not available on Mondays as most of the museums are closed. Beaumont Tours A and B can be mixed for Sundays, Mondays, and Saturdays. Beaumont Tour C is available everyday. Beaumont Tour D is available Mondays through Fridays.
Beaumont officially became a town on December 16, 1838. Beaumont was an important lumber and rice-milling town in the 1800s. On January 10, 1901, the Lucas Gusher exploded. 100,000 barrels of oil per day began pouring out. Beaumont briefly became one of the 10 biggest cities in Texas during the first half of the 20th Century.
Time Considerations:
- Beaumont is 87.6 miles/141 kilometers from Houston. - The travel time is approximately 1.5 hours each way.
- Beaumont is 27.9 miles/44.9 kilometers from Orange, Texas. - The travel time is approximately 0.6 hours.
- Beaumont is 21.9 miles/35.3 kilometers from Port Arthur, Texas. - The travel time is approximately 0.5 miles.
Beaumont, Orange, and Port Arthur make up what is known as the Golden Triangle. Oranges used to be plentiful in the area.
According to the 2010 census, Beaumont has 118,296 people, making it the 24th largest city in Texas. Beaumont's population peaked in 1960 with 119,175 people. Beaumont's population has remained relatively flat for over 50 years.
Combination (Combo) tours can be arranged as multiple day Beaumont tours and or with Orange and Port Arthur.
Beaumont Tour A — 3 or 4 Museums and a Historic Library
Generally Monday through Friday
| 9:00 - 10:30 AM | Drive from Houston to The Texas Energy Museum in Beaumont |
| 10:30 - 12:00 PM | Tour the Texas Energy Museum.- Open Tuesday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday and Monday. |
| 12:05 - 12:45 PM | Lunch at Two Magnolias in the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. |
| 12:45 - 1:15 PM | Tour the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. - Open everyday. |
| 1:20 - 1:50 PM | Tour the 1903 Tyrrell Historical Library with stained-glass windows that used to be the First Baptist Church. - Open Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday |
| 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Tour the Fire Museum of Texas. - Open Monday through Friday. Closed on Sunday and Saturday. |
| 3:05 - 3:30 PM | Tour the Edison Museum. - Open Monday through Friday. Closed on Saturday and Sunday. Note:This museum is apparently operated by volunteers and does not maintain its advertised hours. Sometimes, we substitute another museum for it, such as the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum & Visitor Center or the Dishman Art Museum. |
| 3:30 - 5:00 PM | Drive from Beaumont to Houston. |
Beaumont Tour B — 3 or 4 Houses
Generally Tuesday through Saturday
| 9:00 - 10:30 AM | Drive from Houston to the John Jay French Museum/House and complex from 1845. |
| 10:30 - 11:30 AM | Tour the John Jay French Museum/House and complex from 1845. Open Tuesday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday and Monday |
| 11:40 - 12:10 PM | Lunch at Willy Ray’s Bar-B-Q Co. or Tony’s Barbecue. |
| 12:20 - 1:15 PM | Tour the 1906 Chambers House Museum. - Open Tuesday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday and Monday. |
| 1:20 - 3:00 / 3:30 PM |
Tour the 1907 McFaddin-Ward House. - Scheduled tours at 10:00 and 11:00 AM and 1:30 and 2:30 PM on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Be there 10 minutes before the start. Also open on Sundays from 1:00 to 3:30 PM. Closed on Monday. |
| 3:15 - 3:30 PM | If the McFadden-Ward House tour ends by 3:00 PM, we will drive to the neighborhood where the abandoned former childhood home of the greatest female athlete of the first half of the 20th Century Babe Didrikson (1911 -1956) stands. |
| 3:30 - 5:00 PM | Drive from Beaumont to Houston. |
Beaumont Tour C — Outside and Miscellaneous
Generally Tuesday through Sunday
| 9:00 - 10:30 AM | Drive from Houston to the Ben J. Rogers Southeast Texas Visitor Center. |
| 10:30 - 10:50 AM | Tour the Ben J. Rogers Southeast Texas Visitor Center and use bathrooms. Open everyday. |
| 11:00 - 1:00 PM | Tour the Spindletop/Gladys City Boomtown Museum. Open Tuesday through Sunday. - Closed on Monday. |
| 1:15 - 2:15 PM | Lunch at Floyd's Seafood & Steak House. |
| 2:15 - 3:30 PM | Tour the Beaumont Botanical Gardens and The Warren Loose Conservatory in Tyrrell Park. - Open everyday. |
| 3:30 - 5:00 PM | Drive from Beaumont to Houston. |
Beaumont Tour D — Downtown and Historic Houses of Worship - Generally Sunday through Friday
| 9:00 - 10:30 AM | Drive from Houston to the Babe Zaharias Museum & Visitors Center. |
| 10:30 - 11:00 AM | Tour the Babe Zaharias Museum & Visitors Center. |
| 11:20 - 12:05 PM | Tour the 1903 Saint Anthony Cathedral Basilica. |
| 12:15 - 1:15 PM | Lunch at a restaurant in the Crockett Square Entertainment District or a nearby venue. |
| 1:15 - 2:30 PM | Tour downtown including seeing the 1927 Jefferson Theatre, the 1928 Julie Rogers Theater, Riverfront Park, the 1931 Jefferson County Courthouse, and the 1922 San Jacinto Building. |
| 3:30 - 5:00 PM | Drive from Beaumont to Houston. |