There’s more to this region than world-class museums. Experience history when you get up-close and personal on guided tours, special events and more this summer. Check out the unique historic experiences below you’re not likely to find anywhere else.
Huntsville
Dedicated to preserving the memory of the great Stateman, General Sam Houston, the museum complex is located on 15 acres of his original homestead. Open daily, this museum is a combination of historic buildings, beautiful grounds, and traditional museum gallery-style buildings. During the summer months, the Museum offers staff-guided tours with paid admission Tuesday - Friday. Tours begin at 10 AM and 2 PM from Wigwam Neosho, located in the middle of our historic grounds. For these summertime visits to the houses, historic grounds, and Museum, reservations are highly encouraged.
The Texas Prison Museum offers an intriguing glimpse into the lives of the state's imprisoned citizens. The museum features numerous exhibits detailing the history of the Texas prison system, featuring a look inside the operations behind the fences and walls.
The museum is open Monday through Saturday 10 am – 5 pm and on Sunday 12 noon to 5 pm with admission of $5 for adults and $3 for children 3-17.
Brazosport
Drinking About History: Hijacked!
Mark your calendars! The Lake Jackson Historical Museum is hosting a history talk and a beer tasting on Friday, June 28 at 7 p.m. featuring author Jim Pearce. Pearce brings to life the story of the 1972 National Airlines hijacking which ended in a stand-off in Lake Jackson. Get all the details plus beer tastings from regional breweries.
Visit the historic archeological site of Major Abner Jackson, the namesake of the city of Lake Jackson. Once a prosperous sugar plantation, the site was destroyed by the same hurricane that devastated Galveston. Plan your visit to the historic site on July 6, August 8, or September 7. Discover the sugar making process of the 1840s, how convict labor replaced slave labor during the 1870s, and the destruction caused by the hurricane of 1900 – all without an admission cost!
Beaumont
Step back in time when you visit this 1906 Beaux-Arts Colonial style Historic Home and enjoy a guided tour of three lavishly furnished floors in the home by appointment. Visitors can look forward to learning more about the history of the home and the family who lived in it against the backdrop of the original furnishings of the home including an extravagant china collection and Tiffany chandelier.
The Museum is open Tuesday – Friday: 10 a.m., 11 am., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., Saturday: 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and Sunday: 1 – 3:30 p.m. (first floor only) $5 per person Tuesday – Saturday; Free – Sunday.
Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown
Walk around the “town” and experience what life was like in an “oil town” in the late 1800s/early 1900s. This replica of life in Beaumont during the 1901 oil boom features a Saloon, Barber Shop, Ice Cream Parlor and resident blacksmith on-site. For those looking to enhance the experience, full or semi-guided 90-minute tours are available. One of the best parts? The recreation of a gusher that really blows! Check for times to make sure you catch the Lucas Gusher.
Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m., Adults $5, Seniors (60+) $3, Children (6–12) $2 and Children (5) and under FREE. Military and Lamar University Alumni admitted free with Valid I.D.
Conroe
Built in 1934, Crighton Theatre offered 50-cent movie admission and air conditioning, making it a popular escape during the hot Texas summers. You can now attend movie screenings as well as live theatrical productions at the storied playhouse. A recent highlight of the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance’s “Rising Stars and Legends of Texas” tribute was the screening of a short film about “Bonnie and Clyde.” The movie tells the local folktale of the infamous couple taking a break from robbing the frontier’s banks to hide out in a Conroe hotel. Check for more films and entertainment coming to the theatre here.
When in Conroe, you have the opportunity to follow in its founder’s footsteps. Just three blocks from the Montgomery County Courthouse in the heart of downtown, you’ll find the Isaac Conroe Home, built in 1885 by the town’s namesake. Wandering the historic home’s hallways teaches you about its early years as the town’s post office and temporary courthouse. This Texas historical landmark transports you to the past with restored interiors and period furnishings.
Galveston
Galveston Naval Museum at Seawolf Park
Immerse yourself in adventure and history at the Galveston Naval Museum! This unique attraction gives you the opportunity to explore two historic World War II undersea vessels – the USS Cavalla and the USS Stewart – on a self-guided tour or with a knowledgeable guide. The USS Cavalla is best known for sinking the Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku, a veteran of the Pearl Harbor attack. The USS Stewart is the only Edsall-class destroyer escort preserved in the United States.
Galveston Red Light District Tours
Enjoy a fascinating 90 minute walking tour of Galveston's Historic Red Light District to visit 8 bordellos, casinos and bootleg joints, The "Independent State of Galveston" and "Pleasure Island".
To learn more about historical daytrips outside of Houston, click here.