Spindletop - Gladys City Boomtown Museum Reviews

Walk through museum representing the Spindletop oil discovery. Authentic and antique printing shop, living spaces, livery stable, blacksmith forge showing how people lived during the 19th and early 20th century. Recommend for older kids, the items are within reach and babies will be hard to corral.

This museum is very informative about the Port Arthur/Beaumont area. It explains the oil rush in great detail but also keeps it interesting. The old town is so neat and transforms the whole experience into something unique. Even better, you can get through the whole museum in about two hours. Great fun for any age!

This is just a replication not even on the original event site. It was only five dollars a person and I was really impressed with the signs and information and displays there, it was worth the stop for me

Self guided tour of a reproduction of Gladys city around 1901 after oil had been discovered. Takes about an hour.

Lots of fun to tour. The show put on by a group of volunteers is very entertaining. The recreation of the discovery of the Spindletop oil boom is wonderful.

This was the place Oil Started in Texas and the USA!!!

Back then they didnt know how to control it as the do today, there were tens or hundreds of oil wells and the soil was black with tar and oil.

I decided to take 2 of my grandchildren on an outing since they were on Spring break and it had rained every day. We had a really dreary drizzly day but we decided to take a chance and see some history. Because it was so nasty we were the only ones there. The lady in the gift shop gave the kids a scavenger hunt page with pictures of items from each building we went in. They loved it and they did find everything on the list.
Spindletop-Gladys City is set to look like a town from 1902. There is a wooden sidewalk going to each building (ie. post office, saloon, barber shop, blacksmith, drug store, mercantile). Each of the buildings were aptly decorated. My granddaughter told me she had no idea history was so much fun. She is 11 and this way to learn was a way she found very appealing. The one thing we missed was the oil well going off. Great family fun and would come back.

Small but marvelous place to visit if you love history and want to discover how the oil was discovered etc etc, then you must visit this place.

Great stop . This is a very informative museum about early oil production in this area. Would definitely recommend. Very reasonable admission prices and the people were very nice .

Many people overlook Glady's City. It's an amazing place that shows the history of how Beaumont, Texas came to be!!! Do not pass it up!!!

This is an accurate depiction of the world that gave birth to the oil industry. It is not overproduced but has good history of the petrochemical industry that changed the world.

This is a complex of reproduced buildings depicting the time of the Lucas Gusher at Spindle Top around 1900 near Beaumont. Be sure to start with the video to help understand the rest of the exhibits.

Went here with friends and family on the annual day when they celebrate the Lucas Gusher that happened on 10 January 1901. They had a temperance march to the saloon, tea in the saloon, gunfights, barbershop music and more. Five dollars for adults, two dollars for 6-18 and under five were free. In my opinion this day is the best day in the year to visit.

The museum did a really good job of showcasing how life was back in the day and tour guide Mattie was wonderful!

And a real gusher she was too! Drilled in 1900 this amazing oil discovery soon surpassed the rest of the worlds production in total! But within 10y it was gone! And therin lies the boom/bust story of resource depletion.

Went when it was closed. Great photo ops with no cars and no people around. First oil well in TX. Great place!

Wife and I had a day to see the sights of Beaumont. This museum was terrific. A replica of a small town from the turn of the century with original contents and information that gave you a real feel for life in 1901 when the Lucas Gusher kicked off the oil boom in Texas. Highly recommend.

I will start by saying I am with an oil company, so this is a must do to get a feel for how it all started in Southeast Texas. It's a fairly small museum but very easy to navigate and very interesting when you go into each of the different businesses and get a feel for what life was like in the boomtown 100 years ago. When we have family visiting will definitely take them to check it out.

I was searching for a glimpse in the architecture of the "wild west" Texas and finally found it here. The buildings are very interesting and contain a finely curated array of objects.

This attraction is a re-creation of Spindletop and adjoining Gladys City. They constructed replica oil derrick and town structures and put old stuff in them, which is interesting. They do a very good job of presenting the history of Spindletop. A neat old guy works in the blacksmith shop/forge making and selling knives, who was fun to talk to. All the other stores, shops, offices, etc. have no people in them. It was nice to go to even knowing it was not the real thing.

Entrance is $3-$5 depending on one's age; the site is definitely worth that fee. There are 17 reconstructed air-conditioned buildings containing original historic artifacts of the life in the 1901 era of the Spindletop BoomTown. Each building showcases different aspects of boom town life from barbers to post office to printers to merchandising to stables to saloon and so much more.
Tip: Arrive in time to witness a 3-minute 6000 gallon (using water not oil) recreation of the spindletop gusher at precisely noon.

It’s a fun place to go! It’s entertaining and they’re really working hard to make this place better!

Full of history and artifacts there was even a blacksmith who forged us a nail. Affordable entry nice people and gift shop

I liked the history captured here. I grew up in the area and was familiar with Spindletop, but still enjoyed seeing all of the history in one place. Allow about an hour to visit. Senior citizen rate is very affordable.

We have both worked in the oil & gas industry in the UK North Sea for years, so visiting Spindletop was extremely interesting for us. It's a well thought out & laid out recreation of what would have been around at the time oil was discovered - a barbershop (which included a gruesome looking dental treatment chair!), haberdashery, lawyers' office, saloon, mini stock exchange etc & a fascinating display of oilwell machinery from back then, some of which doesn't appear to have changed that much. A lovely touch was reading that so many of the objects & artefacts exhibited were given to the museum by the families of the people who had actually been there. A must for anyone interested in seeing how the industry began - absolutely fascinating.

we enjoyed our visit and the staff was helpful. the place was full of things to see of how it was in the old days.

There was so much to learn. Great for kids and adults!! The best part was the gusher shooting straight into the air. Amazing site to see! The staff members were so informative and friendly. Loved the experience. And you can’t leave without stopping at the gift shop. Lots of goodies!

Spindletown is a wonderful recreation of the boomtown era. It's easy to walk around with lots to see. I didn't see the video so can't comment on that.

Stopped in Beaumont to visit friends and they took us here. Well done attraction, very informative and the period styled buildings gave a good flavor for what the area was like during the oil boom.

The museum did a good job of explaining the background of this oil discovery that changed US history. There were interesting artifacts from the period in all of the old buildings.

Interesting shops to walk though, especially the print shop and camera shop. However, everything was dusty and not very well preserved. The short film at the beginning really helps put It in context, especially for those who are not familiar with the history of the oil industry. It would be nice to see some corporate sponsors put some money into maintaining these exhibits.

We enjoyed the village and learning the story behind the discovery. Each business was well displayed with good signage. The film was well done also. There was a great place to eat down the road called hamburger depot.

Had a great time seeing all the buildings, artifacts/antiques, and learning the history. Good for all ages. The buildings are air conditioned so good on hot day too. Took us two hours.

Had a wonderful time with my grand children both boys and girls. A hidden gem.

If you love history, you'll enjoy this site. There are individual office buildings that speak to the various types of businesses associated with the oil boom era. Each building has relics related to the specific kind of business represented; general store, dentist office, vintage cars and trucks, caskets, old farm tools and various other offices. There was a "blacksmither" on site who makes his living as such. You can tour the buildings at your own pace; most of the buildings have a/c. It takes, maybe, about an hour or so to tour the entire grounds. Of course, that depends on how much time you spend in each building. There is a gift store on site.

We were there (by chance) for the opening of the new Print Shop. It is a working Print Shop. As time goes on, hopefully they will get more things up and running. The history here is very interesting. Needs some better signage so you know what you're looking at. The movie was excellent.

Set up like a boom town this is a great way to experience what a oil boom town would have looked like a century ago. Lots of fun for the entire family.

What a hidden gem! Maddie was great, so friendly and informative. The displays were so interesting. Make sure u watch the short movie while you’re there.

This collection of free-standing houses is interesting and well done. You walk around from house to house, and each depicts a scenario from the 1800s. There is a saloon, furnished as it may have been back in the day, a general merchandise store, a printing office, a shopkeeper's home above his store, the post office, etc. Each is outfitted with furnishings typical of the day. There is a free audio guide, but walking around and looking in each house is fun. There is a free parking lot in front, and it's right across from Lamar University. We took the opportunity to ride around that campus, which has greatly enlarged in recent years. The attraction is visible from the road and easy to get to.

Well laid out and very informative too. We really enjoyed it. Be sure to spend the appropriate time in each building.

In 1901, the biggest gusher of all times occurred at Spindletop.,just outside of Beaumont. The museum recreates one of three boomtowns which developed around the gusher. Be sure to visit the actual site of the gusher about five miles from the museum.

Easy parking. I took my uncle who was in a wheelchair. No problem. Also grandkids love it. Been there several times.

We were in Beaumont for my husband's work. After he was finished, we wanted to do something that was interesting, preferably historic, but also didn't take too long since we were driving elsewhere in Texas on our way to a family reunion. The Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum fit the bill perfectly.

The Museum is a collection of 15 or so recreated buildings that show what life would have been like during the first oil boom in Texas. Each building has artifacts from the time period along with some explanation of the function of each building.

We spent about an hour touring through all of the buildings, then I spent another 20 minutes or so in the gift shop. I walked away with a number of books about Spindletop and Southeast Texas. This was just what we were looking for.

The only downside is that we visited in June. It was hot and sticky. Each of the buildings does have its own AC unit but going between buildings was a sticky experience. I'd like to go back in the fall, especially on a day when they do a gusher reenactment.

Some friends and I were in nearby Beaumont for a concert, and several people mentioned the Spindletop museum and tour. Boy, were they right! Start your visit in the charming gift shop, then tour through the remade (and nicely accessible) boomtown village. For history buffs, there’s plenty of signage, photos and maps, and for the children in all of us, giant well heads and funky equipment! Well worth the visit!

Even though this is not on the actual site of Spindle Top it is a very informative. It's nice to see how people lived back at the turn of the century.
The city was named after a girl named Gladys and there is a small photo of her. This should be displayed a little better so that she can get the "credit".

A fun look at history. Not life changing but a fun diversion for a couple hours.

Not the actual location of Spindletop, but reconstruction built in the mid 70's. the people were friendly and going during the week we were the only ones there.

Enjoyed visited the buildings on the grounds, some were original. Learn more about each building by reading plaques or listening to audio recordings. A miniature town that is fun to visit.

It is not over run by tourist. It offers a wonderful glimpse of the past. I have heard that the festival they hold there is even better.

My wife, daughter, and I were at the museum recently. We were very impressed with the museum and the story it was telling. Lots of old items from the late 1800’s/ early 1900’s. If you like history, this is a great place to spend a couple of hours or more if you like to read everything.

This gem is a great idea for bringing the kids, its not a huge town like people may think nice size to walk around and really get a idea of the old west and how people lived and worked. The cool part is You get to explore go inside the building and view stuff from early 1900 and even 1800s. they sometimes do bbq on the pit and demonstration shows like period blacksmithing , collection of period cars and oil tools, equipment and buggies

and even better its cheap ! not pricy - your kids will love it

I was traveling with a 14 and 12 year old. They found the exhibits, photos and scavenger hunt very interesting. The majority of the buildings are air conditioned so you aren't in the heat all the time. Found the history fascinating. Texas has such a rich history and this event in Beaumont reached across the world. The lady at the info center was wonderful, so helpful and knowledgeable.

Crucial museum! Maybe the most important museum in Texas because what happened here changed the world. 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

Was looking for something different to do with the grands who were on Spring Break. The weather was picture perfect so we went for it. It was educational and enjoyable. We learned some new things, loved the scavenger hunt activity which kept the kids engaged and of course, watching the gusher display was a highlight. Time well spent for the family.

This is one of my favorite attractions in Beaumont! There is always so much to see and learn and I absolutely love when they set the gusher off! Great for kids and adults!

We planned on visiting for 30 minutes or so. We happened to arrive on a day where the museum director had lots of volunteers and docents in costume.
We spent over 2 hours just enjoying interacting with the staff and learning about the importance of the gusher that happened nearby in 1901.
The event we saw was called "Gladys City Live." This usually occurs in April but was postponed until our visit in May because of weather. Another time the characters are present is on the Spindletop Anniversary that usually falls on the 2nd Saturday of January. They characters are very popular and do many skits reflecting the time period.
We wandered through the museum and tried to imagine the life of the early wildcatters. The real oil men and women started the boom over 100 years ago. You step back into time in the museum which has authentically based clapboard buildings, artifacts, and a working replica gusher that uses water rather than oil for obvious reasons.
You really will enjoy this place and you will likely stay longer than you planned!

Interesting place to bring the kids. I didn’t think the younger ones would have enjoyed it as much as they did. We will definitely be back.

WOW!!! Small really cool museum experience! The original Gladys City Boomtown has been re-created for visitors.

Really enjoyed the experience of what the boom town was like. Very well done and we had an excellent guide. Great for people interested in Texas History

Gladys City features several original buildings from the area. Even has rooms furnished with all the conveniences of the day.

Lots of plaques to tell the story of each building and various people of the era. They also furnish audio recordings that you play as you visit each buildingl

Interesting recreation of the boom town that sprung up as a result of the Lucas Gusher at Spindletop. At one point, the six wells on that oilfield produced more than the whole rest of the world. Lots of buildings to look through that feel pretty authentic. And while I am no expert, the printing museum seemed particular extensive. Everyone was friendly and gave us personal attention. We spent about 90 minutes seeing the museum and then tried to find the actual site of that first well (without success, but it was probably just us.) Nice spot to visit for those interested in history.

For a few bucks you get an amazing piece of history and not only history but a study of many innovations that occurred In the early 1900s. No crowds and great staff!

I saw online the schedule for the gusher and was going to miss it, but was so happy that they were ushering people outside to turn it on when I arrived. It was pretty impressive to see! And the group of kids that were there were having a grand time watching and pretending to get wet in it. It's a very nice museum. I usually bore quickly of al the reading, but this one had me very interested. So much history.

Enjoyed seeing how things were in the early oil field town. The exhibits were well done. Really appreciated that many of the buildings were air conditioned. Made us appreciate living in our modern time. Very reasonable admission charge.

We enjoyed our visit to Spindletop! My son especially enjoyed seeing the gusher reinactment! We had fun doing the tour's scavenger hunt!

Visiting in the area we received free passes to the museum. It was actually a fun walkthrough of a place that really gives you a good picture of the people, places and activities going on during the time of this oil boom.

Many different outbuildings set in a town like setting that allows for you to walk in and through the buildings. It is set up in a way that would be good for families with small children as well as those with teens or no kids at all.

Good, quick history stop if you are in the area.

Fun tour. Great staff. Gift shop was wonderful. The gusher reenactment was the best of all. Loved learning about Beaumont's history.

We arrived around 4 pm and the lady working here did not seem happy to see us. The museum's posted hours were until 5, but she told us that the register in the gift shop closed at 4:30 and the doors to the buildings were going to be locked at 4:45. So they really close at 4:30 or 4:45, depending on how you look at it. She mentioned this multiple times in the 5 minutes we were in the gift shop, and it was clear that she was annoyed by our presence.

We quickly checked out the gift shop and then watched the 6 minute informational video. It provided some info about the history of the gusher, However, it didn't really explain the site. What was Spindletop? The name of the gusher? The hill? It wasn't really clear. As a visitor to the area, this was not common knowledge for me.

After the video, we checked out the historical buildings. Some of them were air conditioned, which was a nice break from the heat. Some of the buildings were really well done, with great period details. Others were just okay. Even with our limited time, we were able to walk into all of the buildings and check them out.

The museum is not located at the actual site of the Lucas Gusher. If you would like to visit the actual site, there is information available in the brochure they give you in the gift shop.

Overall, if you are in the area, this is an interesting place to stop. I would recommend visiting early in the day and if possible, go when they are doing an reenactment of the gusher.

Lots of neat history to see and read about here. It wasn't busy and we were able to take our time and enjoy it all. Lots of things to take pictures of and a neat guy blacksmithing to watch.

It's a small museum worth a look. A little bit of history that is really interesting especially if you're from this area. It's nice how people donated their items for this museum. We wish them the best.

What an unexpected stop. We visited here during the weekend before Thanksgiving. Entrance fee was nominal. Because there were only a few visitors that afternoon, we were able to talk at length to the very nice lady inside the gift shop as well as the knowledgeable gentleman (a veteran) outside, who was putting up Christmas lights.

The Museum is actually a walk-through of various buildings representing Gladys City during its boomtown days -- the general store, a boarding house, the Post Office, the printing shop, a law office, and many others. Each is set up in period furnishings and decor, with displays of photos, paintings, advertisements, and historical information. A boardwalk connects the buildings, giving it the feeling of olden times. The discovery of oil here at Spindletop in 1901 kicked off the oil boom in Texas. It's so important to maintain the history of an area for future generations and this site does so beautifully.

There are set times when the replica gusher "spews," and I'm sorry we missed that. Call ahead to find out the days/times. We also were a week too soon for the month-long Christmas celebrations, which sound like fun for all, especially children. But we certainly enjoyed ourselves and stayed longer than anticipated. It's a good stop for all ages. And maybe in the next year or two, there will be enough funding for more holiday lighting so as to appear on the commercial version of The Great Christmas Light Fight!

Great museum that shares all the history of how Beaumont came to be. Most of the buildings have A/C. I would advise during the summer to go as early as possible. Great RR and gift shop. They blow the gusher on special occasions and by private event. This place will help you understand the process of how the 1901 gusher happened and what followed. It is in the south end of town right next door to Lamar University. Great place for a small workshop as well.

While this is reproduction of the Texas oil field boom town, it was still interesting to look into the different building and read information about each one. The most enjoyable thing (and informative) was the video about the first big oil strike and the number of oil wells that were producing in this one location. If you are driving through Beaumont, it might be a nice break to take a stroll through Spindletop.

Really pleased we stumbled across this on the way to Lake Charles. There is a short video giving the history of the boom town and oil find and then around 15 ‘businesses’. Although the buildings aren’t original everything inside is. The staff are very knowledgable and very welcoming. We were only there for about 45-60 minutes but it was great.

I brought my parents visiting from Chicago to the museum. The reproduction of the boom town was very informative about the oil boom and the Lucas Gusher. It is a self guided tour with many buildings to walk through.
It is great place to bring kids and introduce them to history of the oil boom.

After touring we drove about a mile and a half away to see where the Spindletop Park and viewing platform is located.

Very informative.

Tour was excellent, a reenactment was staged for the delight of all present. They had the gusher go off, which was spectacular.

Went here for something to do to getaway from just camping. It was a good price for seniors, $3 and didn't feel it was a waste of money at that price. Interesting to read about how the oil boom all started. By far, the printing press exhibit was the best, all other exhibits seemed a bit run down but again, good for something different to do

Great place to go visit to learn more about Beaumont oil history. Loved walking around its 5 dollars to do self guided tour. Great little gift shop

We just happened to stop on our way through Beaumont. It was a fun little historical stop. Wasn't real expensive and kinda cool to walk around the old boom town.

We are from Alberta, Canada where we are known for our oil & gas. We went to Texas to spend 6 weeks this winter. Though we were staying in Texas City, Texas for a few days, we decided to go to visit this Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum which was about 45 minutes away & we were very happy to do so. The entrance fee is very inexpensive & the small museum is very enlightening. We learned a great deal about the history of drilling for oil & gas. What a great small museum! The people there were also very knowledgeable & friendly. It was an eye-opening experience. Gave us an appreciation for the oil & gas drilling pioneers.

We stopped in on the way through Beaumont. It is a really neat museum to walk around. Despite the fact of it being the heat of the day and ridiculously hot out side it wasn’t too bad. Most of the building are air conditioned. So you are in and out of little air conditioned buildings. The staff was very friendly. It was a welcome break in the ride. Just a heads up, our GPS put us in a neighborhood behind it, which had no access to it. I don’t know what caused that but my husband’s GPS said the same thing. We were close enough we were able to navigate ourselves in but it was weird.

Stopped at tge Gladys City Boomtown Museum during an impromptu weekend in Beaumont. The staff was very informative and I enjoyed that I could see the different recreations at my own pace. Another group had paid to see the gusher recreation so that was a fun treat!

As someone who is relatively new to Texas and has been in Beaumont quite a few times the street names and other places throughout the city started making sense due to what I learned at the museum that day.

With such great staff and historical significance, I would love to see the university and city investing into renovating and adding to this museum.

Great place.
Staff very friendly.
Gift shop.
Make sure you have time if you go, so you can walk through and see everything.

Nice stop to learn the history of the oil drilling boom. Admission is reasonable and includes a hand held audio tour. We were lucky enough to see the gusher (water) go off. Nice artifacts and history.

We weren't expecting much out of this, but were very surprised. The history of the gusher and the depiction of the village was very interesting and well done. The signage for each exhibit was very informative. We spent about 2 hours there and felt as though we had learned a lot when we came out.

We took out grand kids to see the gusher before Lamar Home coming game .This is the first time we have been here ,it is really a cool place for kids and Adults to see things from our past .They have old oil field equipment ,and old printing press shops ,and a lot of other things from the early 1900 `s .They also shot off the gusher oil derrick 300 feet of water in the air .Also has someone tell a little about the past of the oil boom .Would recommend this for anyone that has a n interest in our past OIL history .

Set up as town was at the turn of the 20th century - old buildings with all the local ambience.

Really nice stop today, some good history, a nice replica of a town. Good place to
Spend an hour back in a boomtown.

I have been to many "old time" museums and most of them are duds and not very clean. This one has been my favorite so far. I don't know if I would go out of my way to visit it again but if you are in the area it is by far the nicest "old time" Boomstown museum we have ever visited. The staff is VERY nice and informative!

we had a few hours between tennis matches and went to check this place out. Our son is almost 14, and he enjoyed it enough. It was interesting and we all learned something. People working there were helpful and friendly. Enjoyable experience over all.

When visiting Beaumont check that the attractions are open. We found that a lot of attractions are shut on weekends. This was open but very small and disappointing. Basically a film show and a few buildings and that is it.

I visited from Houston TX today and the experience was wonderful. The tour guide, Mattie Jones was so knowledgeable and kind. Thanks for the wonderful experience

A lot of buildings depicting the time era. I was disappointed that it wasn't built on the actual Spindletop site.

Authintic items and gives you a introduction to early oil production. If you are interested in early frontier life in Texas plus a look at how they drilled oil wells this is the place to go.

This is a reproduction town of the early oil wildcatting. Was very educational. My grandson was my tour guide.

Great little museum and friendly staff, especially Maddie. Lots of contemporary exhibits
Hans Engels ⁰Germany

My wife is an U.S. History teacher so we stopped on our vacation/roadtrip...it was a really neat place to see what things were like during Oil Boom! We would recommend it!

Excellent recreation of historic structures of the Spindletop oil boom era. Very informative and accurate exhibits of period businesses and working conditions.

It is a replica oil gusher of the original birth for Humble Oil and Refining Co (now Exxon), The Texas Company (Texaco), J.M. Guffey Petroleum Company (Gulf), and Magnolia Petroleum Company (Mobil). Admission includes an audio device to help with the self-guided tour. The buildings are replicas of general stores, saloons; black smith shop, engineering shop, photo shop and a barbershop with many original items from that era. A Texan’s must see museum.

If you love history, particularly Texas history, you'll really enjoy this. This is listed as a museum, but it's so much more. This is a faithful reproduction of buildings and businesses operating in Gladys City and Beaumont around 1900. The artifacts and furnishings are very authentic - no reproductions here...it's like stepping back in time. The printer's shop, lawyer's office, dry goods store, livery stable (which doubles as a funeral home!!), hotel, etc., are all filled with wonderful antiquities. We arrived late in the afternoon, 4 p.m., and it was closing at 5:00, so had to rush around. If I'd known how fascinating this place is, I'd have allowed at least 2 hours in order to read all of the interesting historical information at several of the buildings. Admission was VERY inexpensive, $3 for me, since I'm over 60 and $5 regular adult admission. They have a gift shop which has some cool stuff. I bought a book, this was a bit pricey, but it goes to help support this charming trip into yesteryear.

Spindletop is a great place to take your kids. There's lots of room to run around outside and the exhibits are great. They even have blacksmith classes! Will definitely return again :D

A time of history reclaimed.
Should be mandatory for any history buff to visit.
This recreation of the boom town that sprung up as a result of the Lucas Gusher at Spindletop.

This is a unique boomtown. If you have a little time to spend and would like to learn more about the oil boom of old, this is the placer to visit. Children get a kick out of all the old machinery and stories of how it was done back in the day.

I had so much fun visiting Spindletop! I had known about since I was a kid, but never made it there myself until this summer. The complex is smaller than I had expected, but then again there was more to do and see than I had expected too. They had a wonderful miniature town set up, complete with all the important buildings you might expect in a turn-of-the-century oil town. They had an interesting mini movie that shared the background history of the Texas Oil boom and there was also a neat gift shop with unique trinkets. I bought myself a pencil sharpener that looked like an oil rig, and I also bought myself a t-shirt. They both will be great mementos that will last for many years to come.

My wife and I absolutely love coming to Spindletop. They have so many great things going on for the community; they offer field trips, family nights, and even blow the gusher at various times during the month.

My favorite part of visiting is that it is self guided so you can go at a leisurely pace and take all the photos you want.

This is for sure the BEST museum in Beaumont and an excellent spot for locals to come and enjoy themselves. They have picnic tables out front so you're free to pack your lunch and enjoy the shade.

We appreciated the reconstructions of the buildings with their beautiful antique objects and furniture.
We were very kindly welcomed by the entire team, and especially by the director, who is lovely, and who explained everything and made our visit unforgettable.
And what's more, the entrance fee is inexpensive
Thank you.

Was forced to go here on a field trip and had a ball! Very very quaint and informative. There was an actual blacksmith working who helped the kids we were with make nails. The history is displayed and at a tour at your own pace, it is perfect for all ages.

So I think, like others, we were a little mislead by photos that the gusher goes every day. It does not. Only maybe 3 times per month, so please phone ahead and find out when that is on. its $5 to get in and it's essentially a museum to commemorate the discovery of oil at the Spindletop Hill salt dome in Beaumont on Jan. 10, 1901. It was ok but we wouldn't have gone if we knew the gusher wasn't on.

Learned a lot about the first Texas oil well. Interesting to go inside of the old buildings and see what life was like back then. A must visit!

A lot of history,Very good. Would recommend it to go see and spend time looking around,very interesting.Well worth you time to go and see !!!

Lot of very nice displays showing early oil history in SE Texas and life there during that time period.

I enjoyed seeing how this oil field in Texas was the beginning of all the oilfields. My brother-in-law and his wife and my son were with me and enjoyed this trip while we were traveling back home.

This is a gem of a museum that is a bit off the beaten track, but a truly authentic preservation of a 1901 oil boom town. My Dad and I loved the ability to wander through all the old businesses and clearly see what they were like back in the day.

Great experience to go see the Gusher blow. Children also enjoy this place. Really neat on their anniversary. Special attractions then.

I went just because we were riding around and wanted to go do something. It was the best time , we got to watch the gusher shoot water it was cool. The little town was really cool how all the stores were old.

We popped into this museum on the way out of Beaumont and I’m glad we did.
Staff were fantastic- we got a really friendly welcome.

The museum is a recreation of an old town during the oil boom but all the artefacts and antiques are real and have been donated to the museum.

I actually learnt a lot from the introductory video they show - I had no idea a lot of the major oil companies had started in Beaumont, and it was an interesting wander around the out buildings.

And it’s a bargain for $5.

Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

I visited as part of a tour group that was passing through the area. It was well worth a visit! The staff was extremely nice and provided us with a tour. The buildings are setup to the period and it was interesting to see. Even if you aren't from the area, its worth visiting to see the history that is displayed here.

Beaumont is where Oil became an industry in 1901. This is very well set up with many areas set up in lifelike scale to show how life was back at that time. Check your calendar before you go because periodically they set off the gusher which is very interesting. They also have special events that are fun.

If you do not know the term and you claim to know Beaumont then you better go here. Broaden your knowledge on Beaumont history.

Thoroughly enjoyed the visit / Covid, so no tour per say, but the buildings themselves were decently signed and you could move at your own pace, spending as much or as little time as you liked. Viodeo was informative to someone who did not know the hisotry and the director was very willing to answer questions and chat in the gift shop - I could have monopolized more of his time but felt guilty given the low admission price and small souvenier I purchased. It's a nice stop for history buffs; the kids would probably breeze through it much more quickly. Was not there on a geyser day, but did not miss it.

My first impression was "WOW!!!" The elderly lady working there was very knowledgable. She seemed very excited that I stopped by. She took time to show me around and I wasn't her only guest. I thought the displays excellent. I will go back anytime I'm in the area.

Historical 1900's town pays tribute to the Spindletop gusher oil well -- largest gusher in the world at that time. The well started Texas on the trail to becoming oil country. The population of Beaumont went from 10,000 to 50,000 practically overnight. This is a good place to learn the history of the oil business.

This was a nice recreation of a boom town with lots of history about the Spindletop oil boom and its impact on the economy of the Gulf Coast region. Everything was self-guided and some exhibits were more thorough than others, but overall it was a nice stop and would be great for kids.

I remember coming here as a kid. We took a lot of feild trips there. I remember the saloon. There was this really really tall saloon mirror.

The staff are very friendly and helpful at the Spindletop Museum. It is located on the Lamar University campus in Beaumont and was easy to find. The unique antique items from the oil boon era were fascinating, as were the recreated buildings that represented the town that used to be. Some of the areas are air conditioned, and there are quite a few benches for those who need a pause to rest while they are roaming. It is a much larger attraction than anticipated, and a very good value as a tour.

So you're not all that busy and in need of something to do. Why not walk through a little wild west looking town? There's plenty of old stuff to see and learn about. The history of the big oil boom here is brought to life through film, antiques, photographs, and reconstructed buildings of the time period. There's plenty of photo taking opportunities, such as in the saloon, blacksmith shop, and barber shop.

I am not certain if the woman in the gift shop is a docent, but she was very pleasant and helpful.

Sometimes there are old west style events held on the grounds with reinactments. Most days, however, it is simply a self-guided tour. We paid $5.00/adult for tickets.

There are a few picnic tables outside of the museum in case you happen to bring a lunch.

It is directly off the highway and located across from the Lamar University.

Witnessed a demonstration of the "big" oil find that started the oil boom. Period clothed staff in a repro little town

The history here is great. It really shows you a lot of the inner workings of how Spindletop came to be. Very informative.

Made me feel like I was back in time. Quick self-guided tour on lunch break. Would be nice to see a re-enactment... see the town come alive!

This quaint museum helped me understand the oil boom roots
The blacksmith makes delightful widgets. ;)

This is a wonderful place to learn about the history of Beaumont and the discovery of oil here. The tours are very informative and you can go at your own pace.

It doesn't matter how often I visit here, I'm always enjoying it.

a must see for historians and petroleum ficionados alike as the place it all began. a part of Texas. history

Had so much fun looking at everything. It was very informative and interesting. Loved our tour guide Mattie, she took her time explaining everything very well. Great place to bring the kids so they can learn a little history.

The people were very knowledgeable, the exhibits were historically accurate for the time period. The hands on exhibits were exciting. Kids 7 & 10, had a great time.

We stopped here on a Sunday afternoon and we were the only visitors, which really allowed us to browse and read up on the history of Spindletop. It is a whole little town that is recreated to tell the story of the oil boom of the area. We had a nice time and we were glad that we stopped... it took about 2 hours for us to go through.

I visited here on Thursday, May 27th, 2021. It was empty. I paid only $5! I walked around the old boomtown. Once upon a time, there were a lot of oil wells around Beaumont. I think most of the oil is from offshore nowadays, I guess.
I saw a saloon, grocery store, barber, and mills in this museum. This museum preserved our history! You will learn the history of not only oil but also life in the early 20th century!

The buildings all have informative plaques about occurrences and history of the times when oil wells first started in Texas. Historical information and displays were very interesting but most buildings themselves were nothing special. We were very fortunate that they did re-enact the Lucas Gusher while we were there, thanks to a group being there. We really appreciated them coming around to the buildings to tell us and others that they were getting ready to do it. Normally they only do that demonstration once per month.

A walk back in history to the begging of the oil industry.and people like Anthony Lucas the oil barron. Place the salt hill's of spindle top in Beaumont TX. The time 1901 an many attempt to bring oil to the sutface. With a new drill bit and the assistance of the Mill brothers the rig gush oil for many year.producing 71,000,71,000,000 millions barrels of oil.

We went for the 'drillers reunion' special at the museum as we wanted to see the simulated oil well gusher. We got a lot more than we expected because the volunteers were dressed up in period costume and had various re-enactments in and amongst the various old and replica buildings. All were happy to be engaged in conversation and knew much about the period when Spindletop was a boom town. My only disappointment was that they set off the gusher unannounced twenty minutes before the printed scheduled time, so we were inside one of the historical buildings when we heard it and only just managed to get outside to a place to see the very last of it. Hopefully they won't do that to other visitors the next time it's scheduled. Another visiter had brought his son to see it and they completely missed it - we heard him complaining bitterly to the cashier about printing a time and not adhering to it when people drive long distances to come and see it. I understood his disappointment as we drove from Houston to Beaumont.

The gift shop has a variety of items to choose from including some local food. Good times for everyone

They have a oil rig that shoots off water to demonstrate a gusher. An old time town with stores and shops filled with what it would be like back in the 1800's. Gift shop has nice miniatures of various things that are affordable and cool. Its a must see in the area in my opinion.

This was a neat stop. There is free parking and a small gift shop where you purchase your $5 self-guided tour ticket along with any souvenirs. Walk at your own pace and read the signs or view the artifacts in each building.

This was a very educational experience. Fun for all ages, can't wait to go again. Informative staff, cool gift shop. The gusher was amazing!

What a great way to introduce the past to children. The museum is small enough for all to enjoy, but large enough to make it worth your time.

The displays are super conversation starters and the buildings make you feel like you are walking through an old town. It is definitely a gem in Beaumont!

Very interesting museum set up like a little town. take you time and soak up the history. I learned a lot from the displays and intro video. Well worth the stop.

I went with about 20 family members and we had a wonderful time. Mattie took the time out to show us around. We will definitely be back.

Needing to break up a long road trip with middle school kids we opted for a stop in Beaumont and located this museum. WoW! What a surprise. It was a true step back into time with, although replica buildings, authentic architecture and furnishings. It was a great learning experience for the children, great because it was entertaining and fun, not lecturey and boring. The towers they only know today are cell phone towers, this museum honestly made history come alive. A MUST SEE WITH CHILDREN, especially middle schoolers to high school. (Note: we paired it with McFaddin-Ward House museum which was nice reference to Gladys City and dinner at Port Neches Wheelhouse Restaurant, both were treats in themselves.)

If you like history and are interested in bringing your children or just yourself to go step back in time in the perfectly recreated town. One of my favorite museums to visit. On different occasions, they have events where they show you what it was like to live back in that time with full dress and shows! Super neat for all ages!

My husband and I are beginning a sightseeing trip and our first stop was the first oil gusher. The museum is an outdoor recreation of the town of Spindletop. The town felt authentic and we enjoyed reading about how the town sprang up so quickly. I would recommend this museum for anyone that enjoys history.

Located on the campus of Lamar University, Spindletop is designated a national historic landmark. It commemorates the discovery of oil at the Spindletop Hill salt dome in Beaumont on Jan. 10, 1901. The discovery sparked an oil boom in Texas that continues today. A replica of the wooden oil derricks that once dotted the landscape of Spindletop Hill in the early 1900s has been erected near the museum.

The buildings in Gladys City are all patterned after buildings that were at Spindletop in the early 1900s oil boom. Many of the artifacts used to furnish the exhibits are from the time of the boom.

Liked the little town , however I would like to have seen more for young kids to do. I had my 5 yr old nephew with me and he really wasn’t that entertained. If they would have more hands on , I think it would have been better. Spindletop was not scheduled to go off while we were there. Will have to come to see that.
Good info, just more for adults who can understand what it all means

This is a great place to start your tour of Beaumont by seeing where "it all began" for the city and Southeast Texas. Gladys City also frequently offers family-friendly events, so check their website for the latest happenings. This is a must-see, especially for all the history lovers out there!

This endeavor was sponsored by the local university but has been pretty neglected of late. It's a typical collection of old buildings arranged to present a snapshot of local life at the time of the big Lucas Gusher oil discovery. In its day it was probably an average historic site but it needs TLC

If you love history and you love the history of the great state of Texas, you should enjoy this. Maybe study up or read a book before you visit. I used to teach Texas history, so my students would learn all about Spindletop before we went to visit Gladys City. It was so much fun watching the lightbulbs pop on above their heads as they toured. They were LIVING it suddenly!

Great quick trip that my seventh graders went on. It was fun to look around and explore the town. The presenters did a great job!

Traveled with a group of 20 to the museum. There was a brief introductory video which was quite informative. We then proceed to the guided tour by the director of the museum who explained each building and its contents and importance in the town during the era of the boomtown. It is well worth it to take the time to visit this museum. The gift shop has a variety of items to choose from including some local food.

This an interesting place to visit in Beaumont. We went there as my husband is very keen on history . He visited the Energy Museum in Beaumont as well . So Spindletop was the perfect conclusion! We enjoyed our visit

Visited when over for Lamar graduation. A good museum with the exhibits in replica buildings from the time of oil discovery. Cleverly done, and well set out. Yes it is a bit small but it makes it easy to stop in each building and read all the very interesting information. Some great old photos and the idea of showing how each building might have been is a great way to get the feel of the time. I enjoyed our visit and would recommend it, the lady at the front desk was very helpful and knowledgable.

The "new" print office is especially well set out and I certainly feel that I know a lot more about the early oil pioneers than I did before I went in. It's not expensive and if you are visiting Beaumont it would be a great shame not to see it.

This is a great museum to visit if you are interested in seeing an early glimpse of what Southeast Texas was like during the oil boom of early 1900's!

This was an unplanned stop but one of the most fun places to visit. We love that old west feel and they have it here. First up, free parking. Next up, admission price was super reasonable at $5./pp for 2 adults. You pay at the gift shop/entrance/exit. Then you enter into the "town" of 17 buildings for a peek into the past. There was a saloon, barber/dentist office combo, rooms to rent, printer office, doctor office/ice cream parlor and carriage house. Lots more buildings all done in the wild west times of the day. Super fun to walk the wooden sidewalk thru it all. Lots of stuff from back in the days of the old boom town. Thoroughly enjoyed this and was glad we stopped in.

We and our two kids had e good time. They had a scavenger hunt for the kids, they loved that. We learned a good bit about the oil industry history.

If you’re ever wanting to get a little history of the “oil boom” this is a great place to go! Staff was very friendly and so knowledgeable.

The Museum, on special occassions, has people in period costumes that make the Lucas Gusher come alive, although it with water not oil. Quite a site and sight to see!

The exhibits are outdoors so wear weather-appropriate clothing. Overall, it's a cute mock-up of the original Gladys City area but seems very amateur. If you're out of things to do in the Beaumont area then it might be a good way to kill time but otherwise I wouldn't bother. The energy museum downtown doesn't have the recreated storefronts but does a much better job depicting the Boomtown days.

Spent an hour and you could spend longer as the whole story is represented very well. Artifacts and buildings are well done with very descriptive and informational plaques. The receptionist was lively and excited about the village which added to the experience!

It is a recreation of the town when the oil was discovered. You get a short film first telling you the history of how Beaumont grew from 5000 to 50,000 and how the oil derrick grew from 1 to 286 and then after 10 years they went dry and back down. There is a sample of a lawyer's office, saloon, general store, etc. Many of the artifacts have been donated by families, etc. Very interesting. there is a small admission charge.

Lots of history here. It was fun and interesting. Took about 1 1/2 hours to walk through. For us, it really captured how it must have felt to live during that very famous time.

This is a great place to stretch ones legs, let the kids run around while getting a great history lesson!

This National Historic Landmark is located on the grounds of Lamar University in Beaumont. An oil well blew here in 1901 and was in fact the beginning of the modern petroleum industry in Texas.

The present museum buildings are replicas of Gladys City structures, such as a saloon, general store, post office and print shop. It is possible to have a look inside most of the buildings and get a first hand impression of life in the town around 1901.

An excellent gift shop is available too and we enjoyed our visit here.

We visited here while on the road and so happy we stopped by. Although it was raining it was still fascns