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East Texas | 38 Counties

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Anderson
Angelina
Bowie
Camp
Cass
Cherokee
Delta
Franklin
Gregg
Hardin
Harrison
Henderson
Hopkins
Houston
Jasper
Jefferson
Lamar
Marion
Morris
NacogdochesNewton
Orange
Panola
Polk
Rains
Red River
Rusk
Sabine
San Augustine
San Jacinto
Shelby
Smith
Titus
Trinity
Tyler
Upshur
Van Zandt
Wood
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On January 10, 1901, the "Lucas Gusher" at Spindletop Hill near Beaumont, Texas unleashed an unprecedented torrent of oil, shooting more than 150 feet into the air and initially flowing at an astonishing rate of approximately 100,000 barrels a day. The sheer volume of oil was unlike anything the world had ever seen, transforming a sleepy agricultural region into a booming oil town overnight. It marked the dawn of the modern petroleum industry, fundamentally changing transportation, manufacturing, and economies worldwide.

Explore historical museums and sites below or
go straight to the locations map.

1901

THE LUCAS GUSHER
AT SPINDLETOP

Is your Texas history museum or site missing?? Contact us and let's put you on the map!

Discover East Texas History

With 38 counties in East Texas, uncover the diverse cultural heritage that defines this unique region. Dense forests and wetlands shaped the lives of early Caddo Indian Mound Builders and French and Spanish explorers. During the mid 19th-century, settlers from all over came through the area to harvest lumber. In 1881 the Texas State Railroad was built to haul out timber and iron ore. By the time of the Great Depression, East Texas timber resources had been stripped and many sawmills went bankrupt.

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Mission Dolores
State Historic Site

Mission Dolores is a 36-acre historic site built in 1721, featuring a 9-acre archaeological area and museum exhibits.

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The McFaddin-Ward
House Historic Museum

The McFaddin-Ward House is a 1906 Beaux-Arts mansion with original furnishings and

family history.

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Caddo Mounds
State Historic Site

Caddo Mounds Site is a prehistoric village with 0.4 miles of the Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail.

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Sam Bell Maxey House
State Historic Site

The restored 1868 Victorian home of U.S. Senator Sam Bell Maxey, showcasing family life and

Texas history.

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Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site

Sabine Pass Battleground marks the site of an 1863 Civil War battle, with monuments, exhibits, and Gulf Coast views.

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Spindletop Gladys-City Boomtown Museum

A recreated early 1900s oil town where visitors explore buildings, see gusher shows, and learn about the 1901 discovery.

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Starr Family Home
State Historic Site

This site preserves 150 years of Texas history through four generations of the Starr family and their historic homes.

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GO! East Texas History Museums & Sites

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Support LoneStar Heritage

Give today to the LoneStar Heritage Foundation, a Texas charitable organization, and help save the disappearing Texan.

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