Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown at Lamar University is a little museum with a long name due to its complicated history. On January 10, 1901 at around 10:30 a.m., years of planning and months of drilling finally paid off as a small work crew struck oil, creating a "gusher" that raged for 9 days. Multiple books have detailed the geology, politics, and economics involving this event, which ultimately led to the founding of multiple international oil companies and turned the United States into an oil-dependent country. However, this museum wisely chose to go a simpler, family-friendly route.
Located just off the highway on the campus of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, the little museum is easy to spot. Replicas of derricks, wooden platforms built above oil wells, stand around the parking lot. There's plenty of space to park, but not much shade. A small giftshop serves as the entrance to the museum. Admission is only $5 for adults, $3 for Seniors (60+), and $2 for children (6-12). The gift shop manager was super informative, giving a brief history on the discovery of oil at Spindletop and ensuing chaos for the city of Beaumont. Visitors can also choose to watch a brief video at that time.
After this brief history lesson, visitors are let into the yard where replica buildings stand around a tall derrick symbolizing the original gusher. The format of these buildings reminded me of Heritage Village in Woodville, TX, with an added bonus. The buildings have air conditioning units set to 68 degrees, offering needed relief on a hot, summer day. Besides the theme of oil discovery, the buildings are similar to other historic villages, with a few notable differences. The Model A car of Pattillo Higgins, who first hypothesized the existence of oil at Spindletop, is housed in a wooden garage along with a refurbished Gulf truck. The photography studio has extensive Kodak camera and postcard collections. The printshop, "T. A. Lamb & Son Printers" is among the best that I have seen, with multiple printing presses and a linotype machine.
Overall, this is a fun little museum for learning about turn-of-the-century life in Texas while in a historically significant location. The space is easy to navigate, with the exception of a single flight of stairs leading to the second floor of the "boardinghouse". There was one building that is in the midst of repair, and the blue tarp on the front somewhat dampers the mood. The gift shop is a fun mix of nostalgic toys, local history books, and a wall of preserves, along with the standard fare of postcards, t-shirts, and mugs. This is a great stop for local families, school groups, and anyone interested in Texas history.
Abby Epplett Rating System:
Experience: 7/10 | Accessibility: 8/10