On Tuesday, I visited the Museum of the Gulf Coast & Pompeiian Villa in Port Arthur, Texas. This small city is located 90 minutes southeast of Houston on the Louisiana border. This encyclopedic museum displays millions of years of history for the southeast Texas coastal region, beginning with dinosaurs and ending with the present day. The museum has a special focus on the industrial revolution, including the industries of oil & gas, lumber, railroads, and shipping. Its halls of fame highlights people who have contributed to the diverse culture of the Gulf Coast.
Be sure to ask for an exhibit map from the front desk when you first enter the museum. This is an excellent guide to navigating the two floors of history and culture. My favorite part of the first floor was the massive mural displaying the history of the Gulf Coast. A short video in the Lloyd Hayes Theater interprets the mural, highlighting prehistorical wildlife, Native American exploration, Spanish and French colonization, the Republic of Texas, statehood, and industry. Photographs do not convey how large and detailed this mural is. Other points of interest on the first floor include taxidermy animals, model boats, and paintings for sale in the Dunn Gallery.
I have found many connections between the Museum of the Gulf Coasts and my previous adventures. A life-sized replica of a pioneer cabin reminded me of Heritage Village in Woodville, TX and the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket, RI. A giant boiler would also have been at home in the Texas Energy Museum or the Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum, both in Beaumont. The overview of the lumber and railroad industries was a great review for what I had learned at The History Center in Diboll, TX and the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin, TX. I really am becoming an expert in southeast Texas history!
A beautiful staircase leads to the second floor. Those who cannot take the stairs can access this area via an elevator, located between the restrooms. The second floor houses three halls of fame and three collections galleries. The Notable People Hall of Fame is located at the top of the stairs and across from the elevators. It honors a wide range of people who were lived on the Gulf Coast, from actors and politicians to designers and ???
The Music Hall of Fame honors musicians from the Gulf Coast, with a special focus on Janis Joplin, whose car is on display in the gallery. On the opposite side of the floor is the Sports Hall of Fame, where memorabilia from athletes who starred in football, baseball, boxing, track & field, and more is on display. My favorite case honored Babe Didrikson Zaharias, whose museum I visited while in Beaumont a few weeks ago. Rounding out the second floor are the Collection of Shells and Fine Ivory, a parlor with late 19th century glass and furniture, and the Rauschenberg Gallery, which features the work of Port Arthur native and pop artist Robert Rauschenberg.
If you have finished the museum and want to see more, you can take a guided tour of the Pompeiian Villa, a bright pink mini mansion built in the early 20th century and restored by the Museum. I was lucky enough to get a one-on-one tour with the Educator/Tour Coordinator and had tons of fun trading facts and exploring the space. Anyone who has seen their share of Edwardian Era mansions mimicking older styles will know exactly what to find in this neat house, although it occurs at a smaller (more reasonable) scale than what you would find at the Newport Mansions or the Biltmore. The dining room would not look out of place in a modern single-family home. The parlor has paintings of blue skies and cherubs on the wall instead of on the ceiling. The torch-shaped chandelier given as a gift from the Vanderbilt family fits comfortably inside a modest bedroom. The house has an ideal balance of opulence and practicality.
Museum and Villa are a great opportunity to learn about the Gulf Coast. The Museum is reasonably price, with admission of $8 for Adults, $6 for Seniors 62 and up, $4 for College Students with ID, $3 for Children 4 to 18, Free for Children 0 to 3. The Villa tour is an additional $4 across the board. Allow at least 2-3 hours to explore the museum, and an additional hour to tour the house.
The museum is highly accessible for people with mobility issues. However, the Music Hall of Fame has a disco ball and other lights, along with a jukebox that will play loud music, so this could cause trouble for people with sensory processing issues. Additionally, kiosk located in the Maritime Gallery on the first floor plays videos very loudly, which could startle anyone. Despite these minor drawbacks, I found the museum to be a great experience and would recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about the Gulf Coast.