This story is part of Big Wonder–our series that explores uniquely larger-than-life stories in Texas.


The Museum of the Gulf Coast is 39,000 square feet of fascinating history crammed into one place. From the largest mural in the Southwest to a gallery personally designed by the famed modern artist Robert Rauschenberg, the museum is a trip through Texas’s history. But perhaps none of these galleries is as big a draw as the gallery paying tribute to Janis Joplin, Port Arthur’s homegrown star. Come see her original artwork and a replica of her famous psychedelic Porsche, all while learning how she shaped her hometown—and how it shaped her. Rock on.