Must-See Ghost and History Tours on the Upper Texas Coast
If you have a penchant for ghost stories or a fascination with rich historical tales, the Upper Texas Coast has plenty to offer. Here is our list of Must-See Ghost and History Tours on the Upper Texas Coast.
Jefferson County
Starting in Jefferson County, make your way to the McFaddin-Ward Historic House at 1906 Calder Avenue, Beaumont. This 1905 house still preserves its original furnishings. Take a one-hour guided tour led by knowledgeable docents, delving into the history of the McFaddin family and Beaumont during the oil boom. While ghost stories may not be on the agenda, the experience is bound to transport you back in time. Be sure to check their website for any special events.
Moving on, don’t miss the John Jay French House located at 3025 French Road in Beaumont. On Saturday, Oct. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m., the house is hosting its annual Pumpkin Walk and Fall Festival. Take part in a haunted tour of the 1845 French home, where departed French family members might make an appearance, and enjoy a haunted hayride of the grounds. The Beaumont Heritage Society oversees both the John Jay French House and the Chambers House. Refer to their website for details on tours and special events.
Texas History Trip Plan includes The McFaddin-Ward Historic House and the John Jay French House.
➡️Saturday, Oct. 21, Pumpkin Walk and Fall Festival at John Jay French House in Beaumont.
Galveston County
In Galveston County, ghost tours and a wealth of history await on Galveston Island. Make sure to include The Bryan Museum, located at 1315 21st Street, Galveston, on your itinerary. This museum boasts one of the largest collections of Southwestern historical artifacts, documents, and artwork in the United States. What adds an extra layer of intrigue is that the collection resides within Galveston’s Orphans Home, which weathered the devastating 1900 Storm and operated until 1984. The Museum is hosting a Halloween Spooktacular on Sunday, Oct. 29 from 12:30 to 2:30 p pm with six candy stations around the Museum grounds, a scavenger hunt, spooky stories in the gazebo, crafts costumer parade and ghost hunt in the garden.
Texas History Trip Plan includes The Bryan Museum.
➡️Sunday, Oct. 29, Halloween Spooktacular at The Bryan Museum in Galveston.
Also in Galveston, the Galveston Naval Museum at Seawolf Park, 100 Seawolf Parkway, is offering its seasonal Ghost Tours on Oct. 21 and 28. Here, you can explore the WWII submarine USS Cavalla and the last remaining Edsall-class destroyer escort in the US, the USS Stewart. The museum also offers Hard Hat Tours, providing access to areas of the USS Stewart typically off-limits to the public on Fridays through Sundays.
➡️Saturday, Oct. 21 & 28, Ghost Tours of the USS Cavalla and USS Stewart at the Galveston Naval Museum in Galveston.
Brazoria County
Venturing into Brazoria, be sure to visit the Varner-Hogg Plantation at 1702 N. 13th Street West, West Columbia, on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 6 to 9 pm for Ghosts Along the Brazos. Storytellers will be posted throughout the Varner-Hogg Plantation grounds sharing stories from Catherine Munson Foster’s Ghosts Along the Brazos book. The Texas Historical Commission manages this property. For other upcoming events, check the Facebook page for the site.
Texas History Trip Plan includes the Varner-Hogg Plantation.
➡️Saturday, Oct. 28, Ghost Along the Brazos at the Varner-Hogg Plantation in West Columbia.
The Freeport Historical Museum at 311 East Park Avenue, Freeport, is featuring Haunted Tales of the Texas Coast in October. This seasonal exhibit, accompanied by a video presentation with reenactors, brings to life ghostly stories from the region. The exhibit runs throughout the month of October. Check their Facebook page for upcoming events and special exhibits.
➡️Ongoing thru Oct. 31, Haunted Tales of the Texas Coast at the Freeport Historical Museum in Freeport.
Matagorda County
In Matagorda County, a must-visit is the Matagorda County Museum at 2100 Avenue F, Bay City. Don’t miss the diorama showcasing part of the excavation and artifacts from the La Belle shipwreck. The La Belle shipwreck was discovered by Texas Historical Commission archaeologists in 1995. Additionally, children will delight in the children’s museum, which offers a glimpse into a turn-of-the-century Texas town, complete with a typical prairie home.
Our final stop is the City by the Sea Museum at 401 Commerce Street, Palacios. Here, you’ll encounter an exhibit dedicated to the Karankawa Indians, featuring a collection of artifacts. Take your time exploring the Camp Hulen exhibit, which originated as a Texas National Guard Camp in the mid-1920s and later served as a POW camp.
Texas History Trip Plan includes the Matagorda County Museum and City the Sea Museum.
As you explore the Upper Texas Coast, be sure to seek out locally-owned small restaurants and start making notes for your next visit. For more suggestions for the Upper Texas Coast, download our Trip Plans and bookmark your favorite blogs.
About Lone Star Coastal Alliance
The Lone Star Coastal Alliance is a 501(c)3 created to preserve and promote the upper Texas Gulf Coast region in a manner that enhances coastal resilience while fostering economic development focused on conservation and tourism, elevating the unique natural, cultural, and historical assets of the region and benefitting quality of life within the communities.
