On a recent road trip from Tennessee to the Texas coast, Patrick and I stumbled upon a forgotten chapter of American history—and some unforgettable pizza-fueled alien theories
The drive from our home in northwest Tennessee to Crystal Beach took about 11 hours total. We split it into two legs to make it easier. I drove the first 8 hours to Carthage, Texas, where we crashed at a hotel for the night. After much-needed showers, we ordered pizza and watched ridiculous alien documentaries until we passed out.
The next morning, we hit the road early, with about 3 hours left to drive. But before heading straight to the beach, we made a strategic stop at a place I’d heard about but never visited: Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum in Beaumont, Texas. And wow—what a detour that turned out to be.
As I’ve been trying to be in the moment more often when Patrick and I are adventuring, I only brought my Canon Tough TG7. I didn’t want to get distracted by carrying my full-sized DSLR. My TG7 is a tough little camera. It has a great auto mode, good macro images and it shoots in RAW which allows for a better file to edit later. Not many point and shoots will produce a raw file. And while my smartphone produces very good images, I felt this stop warranted more purposeful shooting.
Located on the campus of Lamar University, the Spindletop Boomtown Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the early days of the Texas oil industry. It’s not just a museum—it’s a fully reconstructed boomtown that feels like stepping onto a movie set from 1901.
Here’s why this place matters: On January 10, 1901, the Lucas Gusher erupted at nearby Spindletop Hill, shooting oil over 100 feet into the air and flowing at a rate of 80,000–100,000 barrels a day. It was the first major oil discovery in the U.S., kickstarting the American petroleum age and launching companies like Texaco, Gulf Oil, and eventually Exxon.
The museum recreates Gladys City, the boomtown that grew up around the strike. There are several replica buildings, all meticulously reconstructed using original photos from the early 1900s. You can stroll through places like a newspaper office, dry goods store, saloon, blacksmith shop, and my personal favorite—a photography studio.
Practical Info for Visiting
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Hours: Open Tuesday–Saturday (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) and Sunday (1–5 p.m.)
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Admission: Just $5 for adults, $2 for kids 6–12, and discounts for seniors and military
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Highlights:
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Live demonstrations of a working gusher replica
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Costumed interpreters and reenactments
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A gift shop filled with unique local souvenirs
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A calm, walkable layout perfect for families
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If you plan ahead, you can even catch special events, like the annual celebration of the original gusher every January—with live music, reenactments, food vendors, and more.
Even if you’re traveling with a reluctant young explorer like I was, it’s an hour well spent—and a great reminder that history can still surprise us.
For more information on Spindletop check out their website.
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