The Museum of the Gulf Coast tells the exciting story of the Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast region, beginning with paleontology and biology.  Did you know our area has centuries of stories from Native American lore to rock legend history? Texas’ and Louisiana’s Gulf Coast region covers adventures in paleontology, petroleum and personality. It’s all at Museum of the Gulf Coast.

Head straight to the sports Hall of Fame, if that’s your thing, or go wander through the music ladened gallery and listen to your local favorites. Here are 7 reasons you should visit the Museum of the Gulf Coast:

Music Legends
Janis Joplin is one of the most iconic, enduring, influential musicians in the history of rock n’ roll.  She has been called "The Queen of Rock" and “The Queen of Psychedelic Soul." She was born right here in Port Arthur and fans come from around the globe to honor her spirited personality. The Music Hall of Fame features a range of performers and writers who helped make our area known for rock, blues, swamp pop, country, rap, zydeco and blues. Tex Ritter, Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, The Big Bopper and Tracy Byrd are tips of the musical iceberg.

Serious About Sports
Have you ever heard Texans are wild for football? Coaches Jimmy Johnson and Bum Phillips and NFL players such as Jamaal Charles are from Southeast Texas. Baseball, wrestling, basketball and other athletes from our area display their jerseys, trophies, programs and other memorabilia in the museum’s Sports Hall of Fame. Olympian and professional golfer Babe Didrikson Zaharias was born in Port Arthur.

Notable People Gallery
Actor G.W. Bailey from “M*A*S*H,”  activist Karen Silkwood and entrepreneur Arthur Stilwell (Port Arthur’s namesake) join politicians, artists and business greats.  Actress Evelyn Keyes even arranged for her ashes to be displayed here. Pop artist Robert Rauschenberg has his own gallery within the museum featuring his international projects and a Grammy-winning Talking Heads album package design. Enjoy the new interactive exhibit where you can hear and see stories and interviews from the colorful collection of notable people who hailed from Southeast Texas.

Texas Navy Maritime Exhibit
Ships pass right in view of the museum and the port is nearby. Naturally Port Arthur’s maritime history is honored in this interactive Texas Navy Maritime exhibit. Learn, crawl around the “boat” with the kids and sing like a pirate along with the video. Look up toward the giant Fresnel lens from the Sabine Banks lighthouse.

World Class Art: Robert Rauschenberg
Milton "Robert" Rauschenberg was an American painter, sculptor and graphic artist whose early works anticipated the Pop Art Movement.  He is well known for his Combines, a group of hybrid artworks which incorporated everyday objects, found photos and raw materials that famously blurred the distinctions between painting and sculpture. His contemporaries included Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, William de Kooning and Jasper Johns, who described Rauschenberg as “the most inventive artist of the 20^th century since Picasso.” Visit the second floor gallery to see his

Spanning Mural
One of the largest murals in the south spans a 127-foot first floor wall with our story from prehistoric dinosaurs to modernity and the discovery of oil. This highlight is a favorite of so many that also include a 13.5-foot taxidermy alligator that returned from the dead. Ask them how!

Gift Shop Goodies
Here’s one more thing. Do not rush through the gift shop just to get to the gator selfie station. Explore the shop’s Janis T-shirts, stuffed critters like the ones that live in our bayous and books by local authors including all-things-Cajun expert Jim LaBove. These make unique souvenirs for friends and will remind you to come back and visit us soon. Loved your time at the MOGC? Share them with us using #loveportarthurtx 

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