Beaumont is nestled on the banks of the Neches River just 30 miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico. Beaumont is a thriving, dynamic city with a colorful past that dates back to early French and Spanish explorers.

Incorporated in 1837, Beaumont first sprang to life as a lumber mill and trading center. But on January 10, 1901, one word changed the city's fate forever: Oil! The Lucas Gusher blew in at the Spindletop salt dome just south of town -- and the modern age of oil was born. Giants such as Mobil, Texaco and Gulf got their start in the days and weeks following Spindletop, and Beaumont grew to become the cradle of the industry as we now know it.

Today, Beaumont has a population of over 114,000 and provides a rich and diverse array of cultural and recreational activities. With 19 museums within its city limits, Beaumont has become known as the the Museum Capital of Texas. The symphony, opera, ballet and live theater are thriving in Beaumont with performances throughout the year. Located near the lakes region of East Texas and the beaches of the upper Gulf Coast, Beaumont's temperate climate makes for outdoor activity virtually year round.

Beaumont's choice of museums offer explorations and revelations for any age and curiosity. See fine art displayed in different settings, each with its own unique ambience: The Art Museum of Southeast Texas, The Art Studio, Inc., the Beaumont Art League Brown & Scurlock Galleries and the Dishman Art Gallery. Venture back to the beginning of time or leap into the future at the Texas Energy Museum. Its spectacular exhibits and comprehensive collections of oil history are "the finest in the world," according to the Smithsonian Institute.

Experience the city's heritage at the John Jay French Trading Post, Gladys City Boomtown and Lucas Gusher Monument. Visit the elegant McFaddin-Ward House with its extensive collection of antiques, crystal, china and objects d'art. Explore the written past of the Southeast Texas region at the Tyrrell Historical Library, with its vast archives and genealogical records.

Other specialized interest museums are The Edison Plaza Museum, showing one of the largest collections of Thomas Edison's inventions and the advances he made in electricity; The Fire Museum of Texas, which displays fire fighting history and equipment from the last two centuries; and the Babe Zaharias Memorial Museum with the many trophies and artifacts, including Olympic medals, of a Beaumont schoolgirl who grew up to be the World's Greatest Woman Athlete. The city's Visitors Center is also located in the Zaharias Museum, and on display outside is the F/RF-101 Voodoo aircraft, flown by the Air Force from 1954-74 in strategic, tactical and air defense units. The Beaumont Police Department Museum has a collection of guns and unusual weapons used to commit crimes, along with law enforcement memorabilia dating back to the turn of the century. The Eye of the World Museum houses a unique display of hundreds of separate wood carvings depicting scenes from the Bible and Ancient Greece.

The Old Town District, in Beaumont's historical district, offers a cornucopia of specialty shops, with fashions, antiques, decorative interiors, jewelry and more. Parkdale Mall, the largest retail center in Southeast Texas, has 150 stores and includes an international food court. Parkdale Mall and Gateway Shopping Center in Beaumont, and Central Mall south of the city, feature major department stores and unique shops. Beaumont's West End also provides a haven for the avid consumer, with fare ranging from greeting cards to exclusive designer fashions.

For decades, Beaumont has been an important inland port, linked to the Gulf of Mexico by the Neches River. The Port ranks as one of the busiest in the United States with over 4 million tons of cargo handled annually. Atop the Harbor Island Transit Warehouse is an observation deck where you can get a unique perspective of the loading and unloading of giant ships before their journey to some of the world's most exotic ports of call. Guided tours are offered daily.

Immediately north of Beaumont is the 86,000-acre Big Thicket National Preserve. Eight ecosystems converge and make up what scientists refer to as "the Biological Crossroads of North America" with thousands of animal and plant life forms, from alligators to zygospores. Guided tours are available. Lamar University is the state's ninth largest university with an annual enrollment of over 16,000 students. The main campus includes Lamar-Beaumont and the John Gray Institute, a major research facility. Bachelor degrees in 60 fields, masters degrees in 25 fields and a doctorate of engineering degree are offered.

The Beaumont Civic Center and Julie Rogers Theatre for the Performing Arts are sites of many downtown cultural activities. The Civic Center features over 40,500 square feet of versatile meeting and exhibition space. The Julie Rogers Theatre, a 1,700 seat performing arts center, is the home of Beaumont's opera, symphony and ballet. The Jefferson Theatre, a restored movie and vaudeville house, plays host to the Beaumont Community Players, Beaumont's own theatre company.

Cultural activities play a vital role in a progressive community, and in Beaumont, the performing arts are thriving. The Beaumont Symphony Orchestra hosts guest artists of international acclaim in addition to its full season of symphony from September to May. Opera aficionados enjoy the Beaumont Civic Opera, and the art of dance is glorified in performances by the Beaumont Civic Ballet and Beaumont Ballet Theatre.

The Beaumont Music Commission sponsors a Distinguished Artists Series and the Beaumont Community Players stage dramas, comedies and musicals at the Jefferson Theatre. In addition, Lamar University sponsors fine arts performances of is own in drama, dance and music.

With a temperate climate virtually the year round, Beaumont is ideal for outdoor activity. If golf is your game, there are 10 private courses in the area and another four municipal courses. The city's Henry Homberg Golf Course is part of Tyrrell Park, which also includes a botanical garden and equestrian center. The Municipal Athletic Complex has facilities for softball, soccer, basketball and club-level tennis courts.

If you just want to relax and enjoy nature, 35 city parks in Beaumont provide ideal settings. The largest is Tyrrell Park, located just off Fannett Road, with an extensive Garden Center featuring unique foliage indigenous to the area and a special "touch and smell" garden for the handicapped. Also, the park includes a nature trail, RV facilities and more. In Downtown, Riverfront Park provides a panoramic view of the Neches River and the Port of Beaumont. Water enthusiasts will enjoy a boat ride on the Neches River, which winds through the city's east end and through the Big Thicket National Preserve. If you prefer saltwater to freshwater, the Gulf of Mexico and miles of beach are less than an hour's drive away. Access to most beaches is free of charge, and numerous fishing party boats put out into the Gulf for the sport of exciting deep-sea fishing.

Hunters will love the Beaumont area's wet, marshy lowlands, perfect for duck and other wild game. Bird watchers will want to take note that this area is also a major flyway for many species which can be frequently observed. To see wildlife in its natural habitat, visit the Big Thicket National Preserve. Located to the north, less than an hour's drive from Beaumont, the Big Thicket is a protected area where you'll see a vast variety of plant life unique to this part of the country, like the loblolly pine or the carnivorous pitcher plant. Guided tours are available, which are advisable for newcomers; as its name suggests, the Big Thicket is dense with thick undergrowth. Wear walking shoes so you can experience all the fascination it has to offer.

Nobody likes a good time more than Beaumont, and festivals and celebrations abound. April brings the Neches River Festival, celebrating Beaumont's freshwater lifeline, and also the Young Men's Business League PRCA-sanctioned Rodeo, a rip-roaring good time in true Texas tradition. The City of Beaumont sponsors a variety of events, such as the annual Fourth of July Picnic and Fireworks display at Riverfront Park. Sunday In The Park, with free activities for all members of the family, is held the second Sunday of each month, spring through fall. Concerts On The Move, a series of free concerts in various city parks, are scheduled in the summer.

Fall brings the Texas Rice Festival and also the South Texas State Fair in October. Appealing to kids of all ages, the second largest fair in Texas offers exhibits, entertainment, foods to temp every palate and the thrills of the midway. The Christmas season brings its own joys, such as the Symphony of Trees, an arts and crafts show featuring dozens of specially decorated Christmas trees. The Beaumont Council of Garden Clubs hosts its annual Christmas Tour of Homes, and throughout the city, groups, businesses and churches host events for the public in celebration of the season. The Jefferson Theatre is the site of one of the city's favorite events -- the Charlie Pruitt Country Music Show, featuring local musicians and held once monthly.

In Beaumont, a good meal is a celebration in itself, and over 200 restaurants are waiting to tempt your appetite. Beaumont is where Cajun cooking of Louisiana meets the seafood cuisine of the Gulf -- and mouth-watering delicacies are yours to order. Texas-size steaks and barbecue are also offered as well as Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Greek, Vietnamese, Japanese and French cuisine.