Downtown Beaumont

Beaumont has a long history as the first major oil-producing cities in America. That heritage has shaped Beaumont as it grew from a small rice and lumber town to a major player in the oil industry, and as the city transformed itself into the modern Texas city you see today.

In the late 1800s, Beaumont was a small lumber town of just 9,000 people. In 1901, that population boomed to more than 40,000 after the Lucas Gusher on Spindletop Hill exploded and gave birth to the Petroleum Age. To accommodate the sudden growth in population, buildings started springing up in downtown Beaumont. Hotels, restaurants and businesses were built throughout the city, providing valuable services to residents and sightseers.

To preserve this heritage, Beaumont Main Street and the City of Beaumont joined forces in the late 21st century. By working together, Beaumont residents preserved the historic elements of the city's downtown area and breathed new life into city streets.

Today, you can stroll through Beaumont's downtown and see an incredible variety of historic buildings that have been repurposed for today's needs. Enjoy a fine steak at Spindletop Steakhouse, a tasty Beaumont original that serves up tantalizing local dishes in one of Beaumont's original downtown structures. After dinner, head over to the Dixie Dance Hall and dance the night away in a fun club that used to be a brothel!

Make sure to stop by the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau and pick up a Main Street National Register District Brochure. This handy pamphlet has a fabulous list and map of all the spectacular historic locations in Beaumont.

Don't miss the unique downtown features that make Beaumont a part of Texas... with a little something extra!