Galveston- A Historic Texas Beach Town and More
The Texas island of Galveston is a popular destination for visitors from around the state and the nearby Houston metropolitan area. The local population of 50,000 residents can rise to over 250,000 during a busy summer weekend or festival. But Galveston is much more than just a beach town. It was an integral part of the early economic growth of the State of Texas and the location for many historic events.
Role in Texas History
In 1528, a Spanish ship captained by Cabeza de Vaca capsized off Galveston Island. Vaca and his shipmates were among the first western explorers to reach Texas, but only a few of them survived since they lacked the resources to create a settlement. Years later, other adventurers came through the area including the French explorer Sieur de La Salle and the pirate Jean Lafitte who chose the island as his base of operations in 1817. These interlopers eventually were replaced by representatives of the United States government in the early 19th century.
After the Civil War ended, the local African American community celebrated the freeing of slaves in Texas by initiating the festival now nationally known as Juneteenth. Meanwhile, investors, bankers and shipbuilders began to explore the island’s potential for trade and commerce. By the late 1800s, Galveston had emerged as the leading commercial port in Texas and its prosperity led the community to be nicknamed “The Wall Street of the South.” Galveston also developed a reputation for intellectual, architectural, and cultural innovation. Thousands of immigrants from all over Europe and Latin America followed until 1900 when disaster struck.
The Great Hurricane of 1900 was the largest natural disaster in American history. This category four storm hit the island directly with no warning. The tidal surge covered a substantial portion of the island with fifteen feet of water and soon the streets were filled with thousands of wrecked buildings, hundreds of boats, and the bodies of the dead. The total loss of life has been estimated to be as high as 10,000 people and most of the businesses and beach facilities on Galveston were destroyed. For years, a riveting 30-minute documentary called “The Great Storm” was shown several times a day at the Pier 21 Theater and entertainment complex on the harbor. Although the property was recently sold, the movie will hopefully become available for viewing in the city again soon.
The consequences of the hurricane for the city and the state of Texas were severe. It took decades for Galveston Island to be secured from future storms and most industries relocated their operations to Houston. Despite this tragedy, Galveston was reborn over the next century as a beach community and a maritime city. Some stores, residences, and institutions from Galveston's Gilded Age located near the city’s inner harbor survived the storm. Families and couples visiting Galveston today can experience this history and find an incredible array of activities to enjoy during a spring or summer vacation, or a weekend getaway.
Some of the interesting destinations to visit in Galveston are:
1. Seaport - The seaport of Galveston is the land along the inner harbor and the Galveston Ship Channel which separates the downtown area from Pelican Island. The docks there look out on a working harbor that houses a fast-growing cruise ship terminal. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Carnival now sail frequently to destinations in the Western Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Southern Caribbean from Galveston. On the opposite bank of Pelican Island, it is not unusual to see movable offshore oil platforms towering above the water two hundred feet or more. These behemoth vessels and machines are outfitted and repaired in Galveston for stationing in the Gulf of Mexico. People interested in experiencing life aboard one can visit the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum near the Pier 21 complex. the waterfront district and Harborside Drive which runs parallel to the ship channel have popular restaurants.
2. Beach Activities – Galveston is also renowned for its thirty-two miles of shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico. There is beach access throughout the island, but most visitors end up along the ten miles of beach facing the Gulf. Supporting the beach and protecting the community is a 17-foot-high concrete seawall which is sixteen feet thick at its base. The beach has dozens of lifeguard stations and is wide in most places thanks to a $12 million beach nourishment project conducted by the City and Army Corps of Engineers periodically. The beach sand is light brown and the water close to the shore sometimes looks muddy because of inland siltation. Nevertheless, the waves at Galveston are mild, the beach is flat, and there is a soft breeze that helps keep the air temperature tolerable through the year. The Galveston beach is comparable to the shoreline beaches in South Carolina and Georgia.
Beyond the seawall is the four lane Seawall Boulevard which runs along the entire length of the beach with parking spaces on the ocean side. This provides ready access by car, bike, or foot to a wide variety of destinations and activities including surfing, swimming, and entertainment. One popular destination is the Historic Pleasure Pier located at the end of 25th Street. This huge pier contains an amusement park with fifteen rides, arcade games, food outlets, and stores. Another interesting venue is the 61st Street Fishing Pier which describes itself as “a family friendly pier that offers rod rentals, snacks, pizza, cold beer, soda, a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico, and lots of fun!” Extending more than 1100 feet into the water, the pier is open 24 hours per day for a small admission fee for use by seasoned angler and newcomers. On the opposite side of Seawall Boulevard are a wide variety of restaurants, motels, bars, and other activities such as miniature golf, go karts, and clothing stores.
3. The Strand- Some of the buildings from Galveston's Gilded Age located near the city’s inner harbor survived the storm and were restored in the 1980s. Today’s Galveston’s Historic District known as the Strand serves as the commercial and shopping center of the downtown. It is renowned for the Victorian architecture. Many storefronts have large awnings, iron balconies, wooden signs, and bright colors. The shops there feature art, antiques, funky fashions, candy, and souvenirs. Interspersed with the shops are restaurants, music clubs, museums like the Galveston Railroad Museum, and other forms of entertainment. The Strand also serves as the focal point for festivals during the year including events like the Artoberfest, Mardi Gras, and the Food and Wine Festival.
The Grand 1894 Opera House has preserved the cultural reputation of Galveston. This tiered theater suffered damage in both the 1900 hurricane and the 2008 hurricane but was restored after both storms. Today, concerts, Broadway shows, and other performances are presented year-round. A few blocks away from the Opera House are Victorian mansions which are open as museums such as the Bishop’s Palace, the 1838 Menard House, and the Moody Mansion.
4. Moody Gardens- One of the strangest things you see driving around Galveston is the site of three tall glass pyramids in the distance on the interior of the island. These buildings are part of a 240-acre entertainment complex known as Moody Gardens. This educational and leisure attraction seeks to inspire people about nature, conservation, and research. The Aquarium Pyramid provides an interactive ocean experience with a variety of exhibits such as shallow seawater pools, a mangrove lagoon, and samples of various ocean environments from around the world. The Rainforest Pyramid presents the plants and animals of a tropical forest for viewing. The Discovery Pyramid is dedicated to general science. It includes an IMAX 3-D theater and focuses on sound and music activities.
In addition to education, there is an exciting water park at Moody Gardens called the Palm Beach. It features imported Florida sand, a Lazy River, a zip line, a wave pool, food, and music to enjoy during the day. Adults can also play on an 18-hole golf course nearby or relax at the 418 room Moody Gardens Resort, Spa and Convention Center. Finally, there is a marina which features a paddlewheel boat providing day cruises and dinner cruises.
In summary, Galveston provides a unique blend of activities for a beach community. It is unusual to see a place so full of history with interesting buildings, beach space and support facilities, recreation and entertainment activities for families, and several major resorts.
How to Get Here - Galveston is a short drive on Interstate 45 south from the two Houston airports. The George Bush International Airport, a hub location for United Airlines, is 70 minutes away. The smaller Hobby Airport, located south of Houston which is being upgraded into a major destination for Southwest, is about a 45-minute drive.
When to Go - The best months to visit Galveston are from late March until late October. Water temperatures in Galveston usually reach 70 degrees in April, rise to around 85 degrees in late July, and drop below 70 degrees again in November. However, the air temperature often exceeds 90 degrees in July and August, and precipitation increases in August and September. So overall, the months with the best weather and available activities are in April, May, June, July, and October.
Where to Stay - Many national hotel chains have lodgings along Seawall Boulevard. In addition to the Moody Gardens Resort, Galveston has two other distinctive properties. The Tremont House Hotel, a posh and intimate boutique hotel located in the Strand which dates to the late 1800s, is a premium property with unique touches such as a rooftop lounge overlooking the historic district. Closer to the water is the San Luis Resort, Spa and Conference Center, built in the 1980s on top of the ruins of an old fort, which has seven hundred rooms, three pools and ten restaurants.