The first American colonists arrived here in The City of Galveston was born in , which was the same year that Texas gained its independence from Mexico and became a republic.
Their homes are still standing and are popular tourist spots. As we all know, everything is bigger in Texas and in the 19th century, everything in Texas was done first in Galveston. The city of Galveston was incorporated in and it quickly became the most active port west of New Orleans. Galveston was hit by a terrible storm on September 8, At the time of The Great Storm, Galveston had a population of 37, and at the time was the fourth largest city in Texas.
The Great Storm destroyed a third of the city, demolishing more than 3, buildings. More than 6, people were killed and, in fact, there were too many bodies to be given traditional burials. Bodies were weighted and buried at sea. Unfortunately, many bodies washed back up on shore; from that point on, bodies were burned on funeral pyres.
The storm is one that still remains in the collective memory of Galveston as families pass the stories from generation to generation. If you would like to hear and see the complete story, head to Pier 21 Theatre to see the film The Great Storm. It is shown daily. After the storm, residents who wanted to stay decided to raise the level of the entire city by 8 feet, and by 17 feet at the seawall.
They put a slant in the ground which forced water to run off into the bay. Their plan was successful; when another terrible hurricane hit in , the city withstood its harsh winds and rains and only eight people were killed. After The Great Storm, Galveston never returned to being the city it once was. Galveston had been a very popular port city, but Houston eclipsed it when it dug its Ship Channel in During the Prohibition Era, Galveston evolved into a gambling and drinking resort town.
But this era came to an end in when the Texas Rangers raided the city and ended gambling in Galveston. Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca and his crew shipwrecked somewhere near here in , leaving behind detailed journals describing these native peoples. By the s, the Akokisa had moved off the island because of sickness and famine. Adaptive tribes, such as the Karankawa, survived for another half century on the edges of early white society. Eventually, disease and pressure by Europeans forced the Karankawa and all Native American tribes off the island.
Jean Lafitte portrait by E. Europeans began regularly exploring and settling the upper Texas coast in the s. These Spanish and French adventurers brought trade and new cultures, but it was disease which quickly overwhelmed and disrupted the lives of native inhabitants. The Lafitte brothers fled the United States prosecution of pirates, and established a government on the island in Many believe these pirates, and later 20th century bootleggers and smugglers, used the park area to deliver stolen goods and slaves to the mainland.
Construction plans included a grand hotel, post office, racetrack, city blocks, freshwater ponds, lots for sale, and streets. Access to the Gulf of Mexico and a deep bay harbor accelerated trade and development of Galveston, but major storms slowed progress. The Galveston Historical Foundation went into high gear, encouraging preservation and restoration and currently more than 2, buildings in town are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
At 32 miles long and two-and-a-half miles wide, the island is surrounded with incredible history and unique beauty — and easy to get to and around. Coming to or leaving the Island?
There are a number of limo and bus services, as well as the free, hour Galveston Island Ferry link to the Bolivar Peninsula. History of Galveston T History of Galveston Galveston Island. Her Time Has Come, Again. When things happen. Give us a call. Visit Website.
From the secrets of the rainforest to the ocean's depth, a world of wonder awaits. An Island of Firsts Everything is bigger in Texas and in the nineteenth century, everything in Texas was done first in Galveston.
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