Monthly Archives: February 2013

La Maison Beausoleil Museum

Posted on by

 

La Maison BeausoleilLately I have spent every non-working minute doing research for an upcoming project, which I will elaborate on at a later date. This can be very fun and interesting, but spending hours upon hours peering into a computer screen and/or microfilm at the historical library does tend to be tedious and time-consuming. That is why, today, I decided I’d had enough. It was time to take a break. So, with camera in hand, I headed out the door toward the river. 

As I drove down Grigsby Avenue, near the old jail, I noticed that the windows of the old cabin in Port Neches Park were open. Of course, I had to investigate, so I immediately began my exploration.Grigsby's Bluff Jail

Truth be told, I have wanted to tour this small 200-year-old museum for a long time, but I was either unable to make it to the park at the time the volunteer was there or the house was closed up. To be fair, the owners of these obscure little historic homes are not able to have either a paid or unpaid docent available a lot of the time. It is the same with other larger places, such as the Vuylsteke Home, White Haven (Port Arthur), or the smaller T.J. Chambers House (Anahuac). It is not feasible to keep someone there permanently, and volunteers are becoming few and far between, so most times you must call ahead to tour.DSC04233

Le Maison Beausoleil (the House of Beautiful Sunshine) was built around 1810 in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. It was donated by the descendants of the original owner, Joseph Broussard Dit Beausoleil, and transported via barge to its current site in Port Neches Park. The cabin/museum was restored and opened to the public in 1988 by Les Acadiens du Texas, a club promoting the rich culture and heritage of the Acadien (Cajun) people.

Loom @ La Maison BeausoleilThe first thing that sticks out amongst the many artifacts is the loom and spinning wheel. Other items of interest were the musical instruments, miniature replica houses, and the old family Bible.DSC04208

Overall, Les Acadiens du Texas does a good job of promoting their heritage with this museum. I just hope that it will be open more regularly on weekends for all to enjoy.

DSC04222This is the touring information, but I would definitely call ahead to confirm anyhow: Le Maison Beausoleil is open Saturday and Sunday from 1–5pm. Other times can be arranged for bus tours and special occasions by calling 409-722-3014, 409—722-5650, 409-729-0341, or 409-832-6733. There is no admission charge.

Gladys City

Posted on by

Gladys City

You’ve passed it countless times on Cardinal Drive while heading to your destination, but just like the Wallisville museums, you are missing a goldmine of treasures. This is most definitely the place where you can see how life was in SETX at the turn of the 20th century. Each building is from a different sector of our history. And worth the small fee charged to aid the upkeep of this fine place.

When you arrive for the tour, you are first shown a brief film on the origins of Spindletop and how Gladys City was formed. After that you can take a self-guided tour through the different buildings at your own pace. The countless artifacts and old trinkets that the curators have acquired are amazing. As I found myself browsing through them all, I couldn’t help but think back to my old neighbor, Roy, because I had seen a lot of the tools displayed here in his shop.DSC00264

My particular favorites in Gladys City are the general store, the photograph shop, and the printing shop. There are countless photos from this period that I could—and did—spend hours looking over.

After your tour, I would highly recommend having a look through the gift shop. Whether it’s the abundance of local books from local authors or the countless jars of jams and preserves, there’s something for everyone. My personal favorite is the fig preserve.

DSC00268Gladys City, I believe, is a great teaching tool to educate both young and old about what it was like to live at the turn of the 20th century. Oil was the new path to riches back then, and many came here seeking just that. There are many stories, both told and untold, from this era, and I hope to delve into them at a later time.

 

Gladys City is located o the Lamar University campus at 5550  University Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77705

Note All pricing and touring information was taken from Spindletops website which can be found below.

http://www.spindletop.org/

Admission prices

Adults $5
Seniors 60+ $3
Children Ages 6-12 $2
Children 5 & younger Free
Lamar University students, faculty, staff, retirees and alumni are admitted free, w/valid ID.
Active military, including Reserves & National Guard, their spouses and dependents receive free admission from Memorial Day through Labor Day as part of the Blue Star Museums program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Touring Information:

Gladys City is available for special guided tours for groups of 10 or more Tuesday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Groups of 10 or more visiting on Saturday or Sunday may receive the special tour rate for a self-guided tour. Tours usually last one hour to 90 minutes.

Special rates for adult groups are $3 each for Adults, $2 each for Adults 60+. Much of the museum complex is wheelchair accessible and benches are provided on the porches of several buildings.

For youth tours, including public and private schools, home school groups, and scout troops, during the regular school year (September-May), admission is free for all youth and one chaperone for every ten students is free. Additional chaperones pay the regular adult tour admission fee of $3. Admission for youth tours during the summer (June-August) is $1 per person, including youth and adults.

Gladys City can accommodate up to 150 children in one tour. It is requested that large groups have at least one chaperone for every ten children.