McFaddin-Ward House Museum’s New Summer Interpretation Highlights World War I Era

Beaumont, TX; June 23, 2026 – This summer, free guided tours of the historic McFaddin-Ward House will transport visitors to World War I-era Beaumont through a new interpretation spotlighting the McFaddin household’s contributions to the war effort.

The United States’ entry into World War I in April 1917 changed every facet of life for American citizens. In Beaumont, thousands of men registered for the draft and entered military service. Those who did not fight participated in various activities to help at home. Rationing efforts were observed, war gardens were planted, and Liberty Loan drives were organized to raise funds. American women joined the Red Cross in record numbers with nearly 1,500 area women joining the organization’s Beaumont Chapter.

“Our summer interpretation brings this period to life through the lens of the McFaddin family and their efforts to do their part during the Great War,” said Victoria Tamez, McFaddin-Ward House curator of collections. “The McFaddin women were highly active in the Red Cross. Perry McFaddin Jr. was drafted into the Navy, and Mamie’s future husband, Carroll Ward, trained as a pilot. Through physical objects like Red Cross uniforms and wartime letters, visitors get a sense of the war’s impact on their lives.”

Training manuals and Red Cross garb on display highlight the McFaddin women’s considerable contributions during the war, which included making bandages and knitting garments for soldiers and war orphans. On the first floor, the Dining Room and Breakfast Room are set for subdued family meals with simple table settings reflecting rationing efforts and the absence of the McFaddin sons, away for military service and college.

“The Primary Bedroom features a Red Cross dress and two delicate veils, underscoring Ida’s service as a licensed Red Cross instructor for the preparation of surgical dressings and her extensive involvement in organizing and recruitment efforts for the organization’s Beaumont Chapter,” Tamez said. “Visitors can also glimpse wartime letters exchanged between Ida and her eldest son Perry Jr., who shipped out for Navy basic training in California in August 1918.”

The McFaddin-Ward House Museum offers admission-free, docent-led tours of the Historic Home, Carriage House, and Gardens for ages eight and up. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tours begin at the Visitor Center at 1906 Calder Avenue in Beaumont. Booking tours online at mcfaddin-ward.org is recommended. Walk-ins will be accommodated with reserved tours as available.

Completed in 1906, the McFaddin-Ward House is a fully restored Beaux-Arts Colonial Revival-style mansion and historic landmark in Beaumont, Texas, that offers a vivid glimpse into the lives of the prominent McFaddin family and their enduring contributions to the economic, social, and cultural history of the region. The museum offers admission-free tours of the Historic Home, Carriage House, and Gardens, as well as educational programming and year-round events.