Downtown Beaumont
Encyclopedia
Downtown Beaumont is the central business district
of Beaumont, Texas
. It is where the city's highrise buildings are located, as well as being the center of government and business for the region. Downtown Beaumont is currently experiencing a renaissance, with streets, sidewalks and historic buildings receiving significant attention.
The approximate borders of Downtown are the Neches River
to the east. Interstate 10
to the north. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to the West and College street to the south.
. The historic district is roughly bounded by Willow, Neches, Gilbert and Main Streets. The Old Spanish Trail
(U.S. Route 90
) travels through the district on Willow, Park, Pearl and College Streets.
The Edison Museum
dedicated to inventor Thomas Edison features more than 60 historic objects in its tour and has over 1,400 artifacts of Edison in its possession. The museum also features a reference library. It is the only museum of its kind west of the Mississippi River.
The Texas Energy Museum documents the Texas Oil industry and its ties to Beaumont's Spindletop
. The museum also has exhibits on the geology and science behind oil deposits.
The Fire Museum of Texas
is home to the world's largest fire hydrant.
The Art Museum of Southeast Texas
(AMSET) features 1,000 pieces of 19th, 20th and 21st-century American Art plus regional and folk art. AMSET hosts eight to ten traveling exhibits throughout the year.
The Tyrrell Historical Library
, also part of the Beaumont public library system, has archives including material from the Jefferson Beaumont family; the George W. O'Brien diaries from the Civil War and the O'Brien family papers; and, an autograph album which belonged to Captain Randolph Owen of Alabama which included autographs of Confederate military leaders imprisoned by Union Forces at Johnson's Island, Ohio after the War Between the States. The Terrell Historical Library is located in the original First Baptist Church of Beaumont.
was built at a cost of $1 million and constructed of the finest materials available at the time. It's A Wonderful Life 1946 premiere was held at the Jefferson Theatre, with star James Stewart
and director Frank Capra
in attendance.
Julie Rogers Theater
was originally constructed as City Hall in 1928. The capacity is approximately 1700 seats.
formed in 2010 by the local nonprofit Sports Society for American Health is the city's first annual marathon. The Gusher takes place in march and includes a 5K, half marathon
and full marathon
. The course begins at the Montagne Center
of Lamar University
and tours Downtown and Lamar before returning to the Montange.
Festivals such as The Beaumont Jazz & Blues Fest have been held in downtown Beaumont since 2005. The Boomtown Film and Music Festival
is a film and music festival that began in 2008. The Jefferson Theater and Crockett street venues are used to host events.
Beaumont's Winter Parade featuring a lighted boat parade occurs annually in December and begins and ends in downtown.
The city's fourth of July celebration takes place at Riverfront park yearly.
is on main street, the venue is host to trade shows, sporting events, conventions, banquets, graduations and concerts.
The Beaumont Event center and plaza is currently under construction between the streets of Neches and MLK Pkwy. It features a great lawn for concerts, a walking path, a multilevel event center and band stand, plus a lake.
Riverfront park is just east of Main street along the Neches River
.
. Salad Soulmates, manufacturer of Leo's Salad Dressing has national distribution through Jason's Deli
(also based in Beaumont), maintains its corporate and manufacturing headquarters in downtown. CB&I, Capital One
, RDS Engineering, Provost Umphrey law firm and many other smaller firms have offices in downtown.
Downtown is mainly host to government offices, law firms, engineering firms and banks.
is located in downtown and is a notable Art Deco
building.
is located in the Jack Brooks Federal Building
. The federal building is also home to a branch of the United States Postal Service
.
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
. It is where the city's highrise buildings are located, as well as being the center of government and business for the region. Downtown Beaumont is currently experiencing a renaissance, with streets, sidewalks and historic buildings receiving significant attention.
The approximate borders of Downtown are the Neches River
Neches River
The Neches River flows for through east Texas to its mouth on Sabine Lake near the Rainbow Bridge. Two major reservoirs, Lake Palestine and B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir are located on the Neches. Several cities are located along the Neches River Basin, including Evadale, Tyler, Lufkin, Silsbee,...
to the east. Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
to the north. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to the West and College street to the south.
Arts and culture
Downtown Beaumont is a cultural center for the region. It features most of the region's museums, theaters and historic buildings. Many of the buildings in downtown are on the National Register of Historic Places (NHRP). During the 1920s and 30s, Downtown Beaumont wasBeaumont Commercial District
The Beaumont Commercial District, located in downtown, consists of various styles of buildings, including six high-rises built before 1932. The district is registered on the NRHP as a U.S. Historic DistrictHistoric district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
. The historic district is roughly bounded by Willow, Neches, Gilbert and Main Streets. The Old Spanish Trail
Old Spanish Trail (auto trail)
The Old Spanish Trail auto highway once spanned the country with a full of roadway from ocean to ocean crossing 67 counties and eight states along the Southern border of the United States. Work on the auto highway began in 1915 and, by the 1920s, the trail linked St. Augustine, Florida, to San...
(U.S. Route 90
U.S. Route 90
U.S. Route 90 is an east–west United States highway. Despite the "0" in its route number, U.S. 90 never was a full coast-to-coast route; it has always ended at Van Horn, Texas. A short-lived northward extension to U.S...
) travels through the district on Willow, Park, Pearl and College Streets.
Museums
The downtown district is home to the city's museum district which features four museums.The Edison Museum
Edison Museum
The Edison Museum is a science and history museum about the life and inventions of Thomas Edison, and is located in Beaumont, Texas at 350 Pine St. on the grounds of Edison Plaza The museum features interactive exhibits about Edison, his inventions and innovations, as well as historic artifacts...
dedicated to inventor Thomas Edison features more than 60 historic objects in its tour and has over 1,400 artifacts of Edison in its possession. The museum also features a reference library. It is the only museum of its kind west of the Mississippi River.
The Texas Energy Museum documents the Texas Oil industry and its ties to Beaumont's Spindletop
Spindletop
Spindletop is a salt dome oil field located in the southern portion of Beaumont, Texas in the United States. The Spindletop dome was derived from the Louann Salt evaporite layer of the Jurassic geologic period. On January 10, 1901, a well at Spindletop struck oil . The new oil field soon produced...
. The museum also has exhibits on the geology and science behind oil deposits.
The Fire Museum of Texas
Fire Museum of Texas
The Fire Museum of Texas is an example of the Renaissance Revival. The building has state-of-the-art interactive fire safety exhibits with a collection of antique fire equipment dating as early as 1856. It also has a two-story interactive playhouse for children to learn fire safety...
is home to the world's largest fire hydrant.
The Art Museum of Southeast Texas
Art Museum of Southeast Texas
The Art Museum of Southeast Texas is an art museum in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Established in 1950 as the Beaumont Art Museum, it acquired its current name in 1987 and exhibits 19th century to contemporary American art.-History:...
(AMSET) features 1,000 pieces of 19th, 20th and 21st-century American Art plus regional and folk art. AMSET hosts eight to ten traveling exhibits throughout the year.
Libraries
The Beaumont public library system has its headquarters and main branch in downtown Beaumont. The main branch features more than 130,000 titles available for loan, DVDs, BluRay, Audiobooks and computer access.The Tyrrell Historical Library
Tyrrell Historical Library
The Tyrrell Historical Library in Beaumont, Texas was built in 1903 for First Baptist Church. Its design is Richardsonian Romanesque architecture mixed with features of the Victorian Gothic style, such as pointed arch windows and quatrefoils. The building was purchased by Captain W. C. Tyrrell in...
, also part of the Beaumont public library system, has archives including material from the Jefferson Beaumont family; the George W. O'Brien diaries from the Civil War and the O'Brien family papers; and, an autograph album which belonged to Captain Randolph Owen of Alabama which included autographs of Confederate military leaders imprisoned by Union Forces at Johnson's Island, Ohio after the War Between the States. The Terrell Historical Library is located in the original First Baptist Church of Beaumont.
Theatres
Built in 1927 for Jefferson Amusement Company, Jefferson TheatreJefferson Theatre
The Jefferson Theatre is a historic performing arts theatre located on Fannin Street in downtown Beaumont, Texas. Designed by Emile Weil and built in 1927, it is an example of Old Spanish architecture and seats over 1400. The theatre was built by Jefferson Amusement Company, which was owned by...
was built at a cost of $1 million and constructed of the finest materials available at the time. It's A Wonderful Life 1946 premiere was held at the Jefferson Theatre, with star James Stewart
James Stewart
James Stewart was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart may also refer to:-Noblemen:*James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland*James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn James Stewart (1908–1997) was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart...
and director Frank Capra
Frank Capra
Frank Russell Capra was a Sicilian-born American film director. He emigrated to the U.S. when he was six, and eventually became a creative force behind major award-winning films during the 1930s and 1940s...
in attendance.
Julie Rogers Theater
Julie Rogers Theater
The Julie Rogers Theater is a historic performing arts theater located on Pearl Street in downtown Beaumont, Texas. Built in 1928, the theater was once Beaumont's City Hall and Auditorium...
was originally constructed as City Hall in 1928. The capacity is approximately 1700 seats.
Crockett Street
The Crockett Street entertainment complex offers night clubs and restaurants for the nightlife of downtown Beaumont. The venue also host bands periodically. There are several dance clubs including: Dixie Dance Hall, Vain and Star Bar.Events
The Gusher MarathonGusher Marathon
The Gusher Marathon is an annual spring marathon held in Beaumont, Texas. It was founded in 2010 by the local nonprofit organization Sports Society for American Health and sponsored by Exygon Gym and Baptist Hospitals. The Gusher in Gusher Marathon refers to the 1901 discovery of oil at the...
formed in 2010 by the local nonprofit Sports Society for American Health is the city's first annual marathon. The Gusher takes place in march and includes a 5K, half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
and full marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
. The course begins at the Montagne Center
Montagne Center
Montagne Center is a 10,080-seat multi-purpose arena in Beaumont, Texas. It was built in 1984. It is home to the Lamar University Cardinals basketball team. The area floor can host sporting events like basketball, volleyball, wrestling, boxing and martial arts tournaments. With stadium and floor...
of Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
and tours Downtown and Lamar before returning to the Montange.
Festivals such as The Beaumont Jazz & Blues Fest have been held in downtown Beaumont since 2005. The Boomtown Film and Music Festival
Boomtown Film and Music Festival
The Boomtown Film and Music Festival is a film and music festival held in Beaumont, Texas annually. It was established in 2008 after the Spindletop Film Festival was discontinued in 2006. The festival encompasses the entire Southeast Texas region...
is a film and music festival that began in 2008. The Jefferson Theater and Crockett street venues are used to host events.
Beaumont's Winter Parade featuring a lighted boat parade occurs annually in December and begins and ends in downtown.
The city's fourth of July celebration takes place at Riverfront park yearly.
Parks & Facilities
The Beaumont Civic CenterBeaumont Civic Center
The Beaumont Civic Center, in Beaumont, Texas, is a 6,500-seat arena where concerts, conventions, trade shows and exhibitions are held. It has of ground-level exhibit space. The venue is part of the Beaumont Civic Center Complex. This complex includes the Civic Center, Julie Rogers Theater and the...
is on main street, the venue is host to trade shows, sporting events, conventions, banquets, graduations and concerts.
The Beaumont Event center and plaza is currently under construction between the streets of Neches and MLK Pkwy. It features a great lawn for concerts, a walking path, a multilevel event center and band stand, plus a lake.
Riverfront park is just east of Main street along the Neches River
Neches River
The Neches River flows for through east Texas to its mouth on Sabine Lake near the Rainbow Bridge. Two major reservoirs, Lake Palestine and B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir are located on the Neches. Several cities are located along the Neches River Basin, including Evadale, Tyler, Lufkin, Silsbee,...
.
Economy
Downtown is home to the Head Quarters of Entergy Texas, whose offices are housed in Edison PlazaEdison Plaza
The Edison Plaza is a 17-story office building in downtown Beaumont, Texas, located at 350 Pine St. The building is downtown's newest and tallest skyscraper....
. Salad Soulmates, manufacturer of Leo's Salad Dressing has national distribution through Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli is a fast casual deli restaurant chain headquartered in Beaumont, Texas, United States.-History:Jason's Deli was founded in Beaumont, Texas in 1976 by Joe Tortorice Jr. and his partners Rusty Coco, Pete Verde and Pat Broussard....
(also based in Beaumont), maintains its corporate and manufacturing headquarters in downtown. CB&I, Capital One
Capital One
Capital One Financial Corp. is a U.S.-based bank holding company specializing in credit cards, home loans, auto loans, banking and savings products...
, RDS Engineering, Provost Umphrey law firm and many other smaller firms have offices in downtown.
Downtown is mainly host to government offices, law firms, engineering firms and banks.
County
Jefferson County Court houseJefferson County Courthouse (Texas)
The Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont, Texas is one of the tallest courthouses in the state, and is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture. Built in 1931, it is the fourth courthouse built in Jefferson County. It was designed by Fred Stone and Augustin Babin, and is thirteen stories high...
is located in downtown and is a notable Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
building.
Federal
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of TexasUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over the eastern part of Texas and is a part of the Fifth Circuit. The court's headquarters are in Tyler, Texas and has five subdivision offices in Beaumont, Lufkin, Marshall,...
is located in the Jack Brooks Federal Building
Jack Brooks Federal Building
The Jack Brooks Federal Building is a federal office building in Beaumont, Texas. Completed during the Great Depression in 1933, it was the United States Post Office and Federal Building. The building houses courtrooms and chambers of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of...
. The federal building is also home to a branch of the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
.