Museum of the Gulf Coast

The Museum of the Gulf Coast fills a 1963 building at 700 Procter Street that once served as the First National Bank. The Port Arthur Historical Society acquired it around 1990, and the museum opened to the public on July 2, 1994. Its roots go back to 1964, when the state chartered the Port Arthur Museum, and the historical society itself formed in 1970.

The first two floors hold permanent exhibits on paleontology and biology, Native Americans, European contact, the Texas Navy, the Civil War, economic and cultural growth, the petroleum industry and maritime history. A 125-foot mural carries area history from prehistoric times to the discovery of oil at Spindletop. The second floor houses the Halls of Fame, which honor regional musicians, athletes, artists and other notable people, and the Dunn Gallery hosts temporary exhibitions.

Janis Joplin was born in Port Arthur on January 19, 1943. The museum displays a replica of her psychedelic 1965 Porsche 356 Cabriolet along with her original artwork, and she is an honored member of the Music Hall of Fame. Parking and the entrance are at the back, along Lakeshore Drive. The museum is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Sundays and holidays. Adults pay $10, seniors 62 and older and veterans with ID pay $8, and children under 3 are free. The museum posts other rates for children and college students.