Galveston has a fascinating and storied past: from devastating storms to civil war battles. Before the 1900 storm, Galveston was the second richest city per capita in the United States and was even dubbed the “Wall Street of the South” due to its flourishing banking industry and the retail success of The Strand. Among many of ...

Galveston has had a richly evolving history of European settlement for some 200 years, during which time pirates set their flags in the soil, waves of immigrants from Germany, Italy and Greece made their way to the island, and wealthy merchants planted strong roots. After the Great Storm, Galveston’s economic leaders ...

Galveston was named for Bernardo de Gálvez, a Spanish colonial governor and general. Gálvez sent Jose de Evia to chart the Gulf of Mexico from the Texas coast to New Orleans, and on July 23, 1786, de Evia charted an area near the mouth of a river and named it Galveston Bay. Later, the island and city took the same name. ...

Galveston is nationally recognized for its historic resources which are enjoyed by residents, business owners, and visitors as links to the City’s heritage while also setting the stage for a vibrant future. Preserving these assets is essential to Galveston’s well-being. The City’s Historic Preservation Program promotes the ...