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Historic Downtown Beaumont

Downtown Beaumont's National Register District offers visitors breathtaking views of beautiful historic buildings, a vast collection of architectural styles and is rich with landmarks that reflect the 1901 and 1925 oil discoveries.

Download the Downtown Beaumont brochure to help guide you through landmarks of mystery, glamour and commercial prominence.

The story behind Downtown Beaumont

On January 10, 1901, the world's economy changed. The Petroleum Age was born. The Lucas Gusher on Spindletop Hill exploded with such force that nine days later the oil column was still gushing nearly 200 feet high and producing around 100,000 barrels a day. Suddenly, the United States became the world's leading petroleum-producing nation with the first six wells brought in at Spindletop!

Within a few days, over 40,000 curious sightseers, speculators and job-seekers descended upon a small lumber town of 9,000. That town was Beaumont, Texas.

Dozens of oil companies were chartered. Restaurants, hotels and retail establishments were simply overwhelmed! A building boom was the result.

Today, downtown is experiencing another boom. A partnership between Beaumont Main Street and the City of Beaumont is stimulating historic preservation, promotional opportunities and job growth.