Attractions in Port Arthur

Port Arthur, Cajun Capital of Texas, is a charming city by the sea with an identity shaped both by its Texas roots and its close proximity to Louisiana. Many of the top tourist attractions in Port Arthur center on the city’s unique history and geography. For example, the Museum of the Gulf Coast features a gallery devoted to notable Gulf Coast residents, including Port Arthur native Janis Joplin. Parks and historical sites, from the natural beauty found at Sabine Lake to the tribute to Confederate soldiers at Sabine Pass Battleground State Park, are big draws to the area, as well. Consider this list a helpful guide to some of the most fun and relaxing things to do in Port Arthur.

Buu Mon Buddhist Temple
Follow your tour guide monks through the luscious grounds of this Buddhist temple past water lilies, lotus blossoms, and koi ponds. In June, the temple is the site of a popular garden festival. Visitors are welcomed throughout the year.
(409) 982-9319 or (409) 543-2803

J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area
The J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area is a 24,498 acre tract of fresh, intermediate, and brackish water coastal marsh located just southwest of Port Arthur. In addition to being an essential stopover point for migrating waterfowl, the refuge supports a myriad of other animals year-round. The wealth of wildlife makes the refuge a popular destination for fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing.
10 Parks & Wildlife Drive
Port Arthur, TX 77640
(409) 736-2551

McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge
Enjoy wildlife watching and photography, hunting, fishing, and special events at the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, a nearly 59,000-acre natural area that is an important environment for many animals. A total of 285 species of birds, including mottled ducks and short-eared owls, have been spotted in the refuge, making it a great destination for birding enthusiasts. The natural area is one of more than 550 refuges that make up the National Wildlife Refuge System, a national network of lands set aside for wildlife to thrive.
7950 S Gulfway Drive
Sabine Pass, TX 77655
(409) 971-2909

Museum of the Gulf Coast
From early cavemen to Janis Joplin, this incredible museum has just about everything covered when it comes to the history of the Southeast Texas area. Highlights include a replica of the famed singer’s psychedelic Porsche, the largest indoor mural in the Southwest, a Spanish anchor from the 1700's and a 13-foot long alligator. Displays include a Robert Rauschenberg gallery, and areas on sports legends, glass, shells, and maritime history.
700 Procter
Port Arthur, TX 77640
(409) 982-7000

Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine
This popular tourist site features a 17-foot statue of the Virgin Mary that rests on rocks brought from Mount Tepeyac, where Juan Diego is said to have spoken with the mother of Christ. Recite a rosary and admire the stained glass in the adjacent chapel.
3648 Staff Sgt Lucian Adams Drive
Port Arthur, TX 77642
(409) 962-6777

Rose Hill Manor
Rose Hill Manor is a stately home built by Rome H. Woodworth, an early mayor of Port Arthur, in 1906. Today, it’s one of the city’s oldest landmarks and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
100 Woodworth Boulevard
Port Arthur, TX 77640
(409) 985-7292

Sabine Lake
Straddling the Texas/Louisiana border, Sabine Lake offers some of the best saltwater fishing on the Gulf Coast, with healthy populations of speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. A marina with boat ramps offers lake access if you bring your own vessel, or you can charter a fishing trip with a local captain.
410 Pleasure Island Boulevard
Port Arthur, TX 77640
(409) 356-6253

Sabine Pass Battleground State Park
Tour the grounds where a handful of Confederate soldiers held off a Union army gunboat attack and took as many as 350 prisoners. The site includes a statue of the Confederate lieutenant who led the defense and a scale replica of Confederate Fort Griffin. The park is open daily with an admission charge.
6100 Dick Dowling Road
Port Arthur, TX 77640
(512) 463-7948

Sea Rim State Park
Get back to nature at this natural beach park on the shores of the Gulf. With 5.2 miles of shoreline and 4,000 acres of marsh, you’ll have plenty of room to camp, paddle, bird watch, or fish. Just be sure to read up on Texas Parks and Wildlife’s tips on alligator safety, as you will be sharing the park with a few of the reptiles.
19335 S Gulfway Drive/Highway 87
Sabine Pass, TX 77655
(409) 971-2559

Texas Artists Museum
This museum showcases the work of talented artists from across Southeast Texas, including college students and other budding creative geniuses. Receptions are free and open to the public.
3501 Cultural Drive
Port Arthur, TX 77642
(409) 983-4881

Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge
Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 8,972 acres of coastal marsh habitat that is teeming with life. Hundreds of species of animals, such as mottled ducks, egrets, herons, and blue crabs, live within the refuge. This wealth of wildlife makes the refuge a great option for fishing, crabbing, and hunting. Wildlife watching and photography can be done from the mile-long cattie walk and primitive trail that provides access to the marsh, or on the ¼-mile birding trial located near the park office.
P.O. Box 609
Sabine Pass, TX 77655
(409) 971-2909

The Pompeiian Villa
Included in the National Register for Historic Places, the Pompeiian Villa was built in 1900 as an authentic replica of a Pompeiian home of 79 A.D. with rooms around a Roman peristyle, or three-sided courtyard. Tours of this historic home feature elegant period pieces in the interior.
1953 Lakeshore Drive
Port Arthur, TX 77640
(409) 983-5977

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