Texas Energy Museum

Beaumont, Texas

There's plenty of wind and sun in The Lone Star State, but this museum's five principal exhibit areas -- Formation, Exploration, Drilling, Refining, Spindletop -- make it clear that "Texas Energy" is another way to say "oil." Interactive exhibits and a few face-projected talking dummies enliven the world of petroleum science, and make us love the magic liquid that propels our cars even more than we do already, if such a thing is possible.

Outside of the museum stands a statue of four slightly blobby and misshapen businessmen, turned green with age (and perhaps oil fumes). Titled "Men of Vision," it's dedicated to Vic, Sol, Ben, and Nate Rogers. Oddly, they were not local oil industry barons, but the founders of a Texas optical company and backers of Las Vegas casinos.

Texas Energy Museum

Address:: 600 Main St., Beaumont, TX
Directions:: Downtown, on the corner of Main and Forsythe Sts. I-10 exits 855A or 855B and head south into downtown. Turn left at the second stoplight onto Calder Ave. Drive east; at the second light the road bends right and turns into Main St. Drive south three blocks. Parking is on the right; the museum is at the south end of the lot.
Hours:: Tu-Sa 9 am - 5 pm, Su 1-5 pm. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:: 409-833-5100
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

Nearby Offbeat Places

Edison's Time Portal Device, Beaumont, TX - < 1 mi.

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Flanagan's Junk Barn, Beaumont, TX - < 1 mi.

In the region:

Battleship Texas, LaPorte, TX - 64 mi.

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January 20, 2021