Gaston Museum

The GastonMuseum invites you to re-visit life in the East Texas Oil Field from the early 1930's to the late 1960's. GastonMuseum, an area history museum, is located in Joinerville, Texas, approximately 6 miles West of Henderson, Texas. The museum's physical address is 6562 Texas State Highway 64 West. The East Texas Oil Field's discovery well, The Daisy Bradford #3, is located 2.2 miles from the museum. GastonMuseum staff will provide driving directions to the discovery well site. The museum's new exhibit building, designed by Charles Croft, was dedicated and occupied in June, 2005. Exhibits give you a glimpse of life in the East Texas oil field in the 1930's and 1940's. The GastonMuseum has memorabilia from the boom era, family history, antique radio display with original equipment, original equipment from 1930's radio repair shop, GastonSchool, businesses, churches, and we honor our Veterans with a Wall Of Honor.

The White's Snack Shop building is part of the museum's exhibits. This historical building is being preserved for visitors to the GastonMuseum. White's Snack Shop was the center of entertainment during the oil boom playing an important role in the development of Joinerville and the East Texas Oil Field. Visitors may tour the Sid White family home, once an 'oil field tent house' converted into a permanent dwelling with the ceiling installed using the rafters supporting the tent roof - hence the original tent is visible. The living room of the home is the original tent with the original floor. The 1930 era Dixie Service Station is also on the museum site. All buildings have original furnishings.