A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.

Harry James' Childhood Homesite

Henry Haag "Harry" James was an American musician who became famous as one of the most popular bandleaders during the "Big Band" or "Swing Band" era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in 1916 in...

Henry Haag "Harry" James was an American musician who became famous as one of the most popular bandleaders during the "Big Band" or "Swing Band" era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in 1916...

  • texas
  • entertainment
  • big band/swing

Harry James' Childhood Home

 Henry Haag "Harry" James was an American musician who became famous as one of the most popular bandleaders during the "Big Band" or "Swing Band" era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in 1916 in...

 Henry Haag "Harry" James was an American musician who became famous as one of the most popular bandleaders during the "Big Band" or "Swing Band" era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in 1916...

  • texas
  • entertainment
  • big band era

St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica

  • texas
  • church
  • religion

First National Bank Building

Founded on April 9, 1889, the First National Bank of Beaumont enjoyed an economic revitalization in the 1930s after the area's second major oil boom. A special meeting of the bank's board of...

Founded on April 9, 1889, the First National Bank of Beaumont enjoyed an economic revitalization in the 1930s after the area's second major oil boom. A special meeting of the bank's board of...

  • texas
  • beaumont
  • commerce

Noah Tevis

Site of the home of Noah Tevis who came to Texas in 1826 and built his cabin on land not granted until 1835. On a portion of this known as Tevis Bluff, the town of Beaumont was laid out before his...

Site of the home of Noah Tevis who came to Texas in 1826 and built his cabin on land not granted until 1835. On a portion of this known as Tevis Bluff, the town of Beaumont was laid out before his...

  • texas
  • beaumont

Travis Street Substation

When Gulf States Utilities Company built this Travis Street substation building in 1929, a new era of progress began in Beaumont and all of southeast Texas. Additional farms, homes, and industries...

When Gulf States Utilities Company built this Travis Street substation building in 1929, a new era of progress began in Beaumont and all of southeast Texas. Additional farms, homes, and industries...

  • texas
  • beaumont
  • museum
  • utility

Enterprise-Journal

Near this spot on Nov. 6, 1880, the first Beaumont Enterprise came off the press. This newspaper, founded by John W. Leonard, is southeast Texas' oldest business institution. The Beaumont Journal,...

Near this spot on Nov. 6, 1880, the first Beaumont Enterprise came off the press. This newspaper, founded by John W. Leonard, is southeast Texas' oldest business institution. The Beaumont...

  • texas
  • beaumont
  • newspaper

Central Fire Station

  This structure was built in 1927 to house the Beaumont fire Department. Organized in 1881. Designed by the architectural firm of Livesay and Wiedemann, the building was constructed on the site...

  This structure was built in 1927 to house the Beaumont fire Department. Organized in 1881. Designed by the architectural firm of Livesay and Wiedemann, the building was constructed on the site...

  • texas
  • firefighters
  • fire station
  • museum

Sanders House

Tennessee-born Robert Washington Sanders (1850-1916), a master wood carver, was drawn to Beaumont in 1878 by the newly-emerging lumber industry. He worked in several local lumber mills until 1902,...

Tennessee-born Robert Washington Sanders (1850-1916), a master wood carver, was drawn to Beaumont in 1878 by the newly-emerging lumber industry. He worked in several local lumber mills until 1902,...

  • texas
  • beaumont
  • architecture

Young Women's Christian Association Of Beaumont

Established in 1911 with ten members, the Beaumont Young Women's Christian Association was officially chartered three years alter. Meetings were held in the town Temperance Hall until a separate...

Established in 1911 with ten members, the Beaumont Young Women's Christian Association was officially chartered three years alter. Meetings were held in the town Temperance Hall until a separate...

  • texas
  • ywca

First United Methodist Church of Beaumont

In 1839, Methodist Missionary Samuel A. Williams (1810-66) conducted first religious service in Beaumont, followed in 1840 by another Methodist minister, Henry Stephenson (1772-1841), organizer of...

In 1839, Methodist Missionary Samuel A. Williams (1810-66) conducted first religious service in Beaumont, followed in 1840 by another Methodist minister, Henry Stephenson (1772-1841), organizer of...

  • texas
  • church

Westminster Presbyterian Church of Beaumont

Presbyterian worship services were led in this area by traveling preachers until the Rev. S. F. Tenney and the Rev. W. C. Wallace organized the First Presbyterian Church of Beaumont on February...

Presbyterian worship services were led in this area by traveling preachers until the Rev. S. F. Tenney and the Rev. W. C. Wallace organized the First Presbyterian Church of Beaumont on...

  • texas
  • church
  • religion

Young Men's Christian Association of Beaumont

The 1901 Spindletop oil boom brought vice, corruption and inadequate housing problems to Beaumont. H. G. Behrman, a young man who was sleeping in a tent in his friend's backyard, met W. M. Lewis,...

The 1901 Spindletop oil boom brought vice, corruption and inadequate housing problems to Beaumont. H. G. Behrman, a young man who was sleeping in a tent in his friend's backyard, met W. M. Lewis,...

  • texas
  • beaumont
  • ymca

Congregation Temple Emanuel

The first recorded Jewish worship services in Beaumont were held on Yom Kippur in September 1887. The congregation's first synagogue was built at the corner of Broadway and willow streets in 1901....

The first recorded Jewish worship services in Beaumont were held on Yom Kippur in September 1887. The congregation's first synagogue was built at the corner of Broadway and willow streets in 1901....

  • texas
  • church
  • religion

The Clubhouse The Woman's Club of Beaumont

Early meetings of the Woman's Reading Club, now the Woman's Club of Beaumont, were conducted in area homes, churches, and public buildings until 1909, when this two-story frame clubhouse was...

Early meetings of the Woman's Reading Club, now the Woman's Club of Beaumont, were conducted in area homes, churches, and public buildings until 1909, when this two-story frame clubhouse...

  • texas
  • fraternal or...
  • women

The Woman's Club of Beaumont

On January 18, 1895, Mrs. Hal W. Greer hosted a meeting at her home which resulted in the formation of this club. Present were Mrs. Greer's friends Mrs. E. C. Weiss, Mrs. T. A. Lamb, Miss Mary...

On January 18, 1895, Mrs. Hal W. Greer hosted a meeting at her home which resulted in the formation of this club. Present were Mrs. Greer's friends Mrs. E. C. Weiss, Mrs. T. A. Lamb, Miss Mary...

  • texas
  • fraternal or...
  • women

Holmes Duke House

A native of Carthage, Texas, Holmes Duke came to Beaumont in the late 19th century and purchased property at this site in 1898. Construction on his home began shortly thereafter. Completed in...

A native of Carthage, Texas, Holmes Duke came to Beaumont in the late 19th century and purchased property at this site in 1898. Construction on his home began shortly thereafter. Completed in...

  • texas
  • beaumont
  • architecture

Site of Spindle Top Hill Confederate Camp

Here from 1862 to 1864, camped Colonel A. W. Spaight's Battalion, 2nd Texas Infantry, Confederate States Army, composed of soldiers from Jefferson, Liberty, and Chambers counties. Their presence...

Here from 1862 to 1864, camped Colonel A. W. Spaight's Battalion, 2nd Texas Infantry, Confederate States Army, composed of soldiers from Jefferson, Liberty, and Chambers counties. Their presence...

  • texas
  • civil war
  • confederate
  • jefferson county

Site of First Mercantile Building

As agent for the Port Arthur Land Company, Dutch immigrant G. W. Kilsdonk, Jr., worked to encourage people from his native Holland to settle in this area in the late 1890s. He built a number of...

As agent for the Port Arthur Land Company, Dutch immigrant G. W. Kilsdonk, Jr., worked to encourage people from his native Holland to settle in this area in the late 1890s. He built a number...

  • texas
  • early business
  • commerce

W. M. "Tex" Ritter 1905-1974

Western singing star Woodward Maurice "Tex" Ritter was born in Panola County Texas. He grew up in Nederland and after attending college, began singing cowboy ballads on a Houston radio station in...

Western singing star Woodward Maurice "Tex" Ritter was born in Panola County Texas. He grew up in Nederland and after attending college, began singing cowboy ballads on a Houston radio station in...

  • texas
  • country music
  • cowboy
  • entertainment
  • movies
  • park