Port Arthur by the Numbers
Count on a Good Time in Port Arthur
Arthur Stilwell said brownies and spirits guided him to establish Aurora, now known as Port Arthur, in 1895. We were built on railroads, the port and the oil industry and celebrated 125 years in 2023, our quasquicentennial year.
As the Cajun Capital of Texas we’re counting on the notion your family will love a visit to Port Arthur’s great outdoors and dine on some southern treats while here. We “figured” you’d get a kick out of some more numbers we brag about. Count on some fun when you head to the Upper Gulf Coast of the Lone Star State:
10,000 Barrels; 2 Gold Medals; 1 Oscar
Museum of the Gulf Coast’s first floor,125-ft indoor mural.Museum of the Gulf Coast is full of stats, history and fun. From maritime and oil history to music and sports, this is where you learn about the Port Arthur area. Dana Howard, education and tour coordinator, gathered this fun stuff:
- 1 Oscar Statuette – Leah Rhodes won the 1949 Oscar for costume design in a Color Motion Picture in “The Adventures of Don Juan.” Errol Flynn and Vivica Lindfors starred. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences loans this to MOGC.
- 10,000 Barrels a Day – The Lucas Gusher at Spindletop spewed this total daily at peak production. She blew Jan. 10, 1901 and put Southeast Texas oil business on the map. Get in the flow at MOGC and at Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown.
- 230 and Counting – Area notables celebrated in the MOGC halls of fame.
- 1 Vince Lombardi Trophy – Wade Phillips owns this Superbowl 50 honor. He was Defensive Coordinator for the Denver Broncos.
- 2 Olympic Gold Medals on Display – Barbara Jacket coached the 1992 Women’s Olympic Track and Field Team with Gail Devers, Evelyn Ashford, Gwen Torrance and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The team won 4 Gold Medals. Two of these are at the Museum. They also won 3 Silver and 3 Bronze Medals. That’s more than any group since 1956. Jacket was the second African-American female to coach an Olympic team. The first was her track coach at Tuskegee, Dr. Nell Jackson, in 1956. They also set a record in the 400-meter relay.
- 5 Guitars are displayed in the Music Hall of Fame. We’re not telling who played them. Come see for yourself!
- 126 Feet – The largest indoor mural in the Southwest tells our story.
2 Ways to Spell a Favorite Food
Boudain or Boudin. You can fight about how to spell it, but why? If you aren’t arguing, your mouth can be savoring a hot link. We still have to explain our spicy links of pork, rice and seasoning to those up North.
In Texas, we favor the boudain spelling. Across the Sabine River in Louisiana, they go with boudin. We suggest you enjoy it here, there and everywhere. Pronounce boo-dan, with a very subtle “n.” Spell it as you like. We like it with crackers, on a bun or even in a tortilla. It’s for breakfast and any other time you want something authentically Cajun.
25+ Miles of Natural Beach
Port Arthur’s coast is lined with 25-plus miles of natural beach. McFaddin Beach makes up 20 miles of hard packed, free public access beach. It’s across from the famous McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is a freshwater marsh habitat, providing critical resting and feeding grounds for migratory waterfowl. Ducks gather here. It’s also known as of the densest alligator populations in Texas, and for attracting large numbers of migrating songbirds. Beach camp on the beach, and enjoy a primitive night under the stars.
Next door, Sea Rim State Park’s 5.2 miles of Gulf Coast appeal includes camping, swimming, fishing, trails and marshland. Camp out at Sea Rim for more amenities and perks. Here’s a few more park stats:
- Explore 4000 acres of marshland and look for critters, including mink and gators.
- 15 campsites
- Paddle trails, from the 1.79-mile easy trail to the 9.59-mile advanced trail. Experience the coast from a kayak or canoe. Bring yours or rent one.
- Stroll the Gambusia Nature Trail Boardwalk, which takes you through the marsh. You do not need a license to fish from shore in a state park.
136 Feet Above the Water
How about an adventure on the way to an adventure? The Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge gets you to birding, fishing and disc golf on Pleasure Island. Get a great view of ships from around the world headed to Port of Port Arthur. View Sabine Lake from the bridge. You can see Louisiana if you know what you’re looking for. You’ll be 136 feet above the Sabine-Neches Canal. This soaring bridge is 5,032 feet long and spans the canal.
20 Stories Above the Water
Want to go higher? A 6-year-old named the Rainbow Bridge that connects Port Arthur to Bridge City. It has been impressing drivers since 1938. Built to have room for America’s tallest naval ship at the time, it clears the Neches River by 177 feet. The ship never sailed through these parts, but plenty of cars have come this way.
143 Feet – The Rainbow Bridge has a newer companion bridge. The Veterans Memorial Bridge, to the east, has 143 feet of navigational clearance. It is one of only a few cable-stayed bridges built on a Texas Highway.
18.5 Mile Island
Pleasure Island was created as the U.S. Corp of Engineers dredged to construct the Port Arthur Canal, completed in 1899, and the Sabine Neches Intracoastal Waterway, completed in 1908. Would you have dared to ride the rollercoaster built in 1913? In 1941 the Pleasure Pier Ballroom began hosting big-name entertainers the island boasted the largest roller coaster in the south. Imagine dancing to the sounds of Bobby Blue Bland, B.B. King, Ella Johnson, Ray Charles, Little Willie John, Chuck Berry and Gary U.S. Bonds.
Pleasure island, 18.5 miles long, extends from the Neches River’s mouth on the northwest to the Sabine Causeway on the Southeast. Sabine Lake and the Sabine-Neches Intracoastal Waterway surround the island, which is home to the Saltwater Angler’s League of Texas, Sabine Chapter. Enjoy a picnic, launch your sailboat or hit the bird blind. Stay tuned for watercraft and more.
328 Bird Species, and Counting
Did you know migratory birds fly over the gulf all night and land at Sabine Woods each spring? It’s the first land they see. Sabine Woods, a birding hotspot in Port Arthur, Texas, has documented 328 species of birds. Migratory songbirds come for spring and fall migration. The area’s year-round residents include Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Great Blue Heron, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Couch’s Kingbird and Brown Pelican.
3 Fine Fish
Anglers show off their catches of trout, redfish and flounder from Sabine Lake. We’ve hosted Elite redfish tournaments that include kayak fishing. Get our Waterways guide here to map out your trip. Let’s just jump on to Sabine Lake’s merits.
60,000 Acres, 8 Feet, 2 States
Sabine Lake has some views, fish and stats! Find it between Pleasure Island and the Gulf. Fish it yourself or hire a charter boat to guide you to a big catch. Sabine Lake is actually a bay. It’s the confluence of the Neches and Sabine Rivers. The 60,000 acres covers Texas and Louisiana. Those fish are in waters more than 8 feet deep. We’ll say it again, it’s great for sailing and catching trout, redfish and flounder.
Quick Look at Sabine Lake on Google Maps
2 Gumbo Variations
We can’t pick a favorite from seafood or chicken and sausage. Start with a cup or bowl from some of our restaurants and see what you like. All should have a nice roux base for a bowl of savory Cajun or Creole southern comfort. Onions, celery and green peppers are the Holy Trinity of Cajun cooking. Is family coming? Is it Mardi Gras or Christmas? It’s time to stir up a gumbo.
Seafood gumbo could include any combo of oysters, shrimp and crawfish. At home, many cooks add okra to their pot. It was originally used as a thickener. The African word for gumbo is “ki ngombo,” the West African word for Okra.
The finishing touch: In the Port Arthur area, we scoop some rice into our bowl of gumbo and often serve it with crackers and a side of potato salad.
Big Arthur can handle 75 tons
The Port of Port Arthur loads cargo from ships around the world. Big Arthur is the nickname for the HUGE crane that does the heavy lifting. Peep to the far right side of the photo above. Big Arthur is visible as you drive by the port from Pleasure Island. Here’s Big Arthur’s stats:
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It is a 1968 American Level-Luffing 356 Special.
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It is 100 feet high and has a 105-foot radius.
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It can handle 75 tons at a 105 foot radius. Stand clear!
We’re Big News, Since 1897
Port Arthur News has informed the public on everything from city politics and sports victories to entertainment news and good southern recipes for 128 plus years. The Stump family printed the first edition in March of 1897 from a train’s baggage car. The train left from Missouri and brought the paper to its home in Port Arthur. Get your stories here.
1 Big Time
Count your blessings for visiting Port Arthur, Texas. Don’t worry about the math. Just enjoy your adventure and take some photos. Traveling solo or with the family, or on a work assignment, we think you will have one big time of a visit.
