Galveston Island, Texas
During a trip to the Houston area this past weekend, we had an opportunity to visit Galveston Island. Texas is full of great places to visit, and the Gulf coast is an excellent place to start. I hope to get around to adding photos to the site from our many travels around the state, but until then, I have managed to upload a few interesting images from our day on the island.
Galveston was the location of the worst natural disaster in United States history. In September of 1900, a massive hurricane struck with little warning, obliterating almost every structure in town, and killing around 6,000 Galveston residents. In the aftermath, a 17 foot tall, 7 mile wide seawall was constructed, and the entire town was elevated out of flood range.
The island is also well known for its hundreds of historic homes and other structures, built in the Victorian style of the late 19th century. The Strand district is reminiscent of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but without the filth or overall sleaziness. Galveston is most often compared to Charleston and Wilmington of the Carolinas, although it retains the traditional laid back character of most Texas cities.
During the 1940’s and 50’s, Galveston was considered THE major sin city on the U.S. Gulf coast. The author was surprised to learn that his own grandparents spent their honeymoon on the island in 1949. Curiously, they have offered few details about their activities during that period. While the area has undergone many changes since then, it has retained many of the qualities that made the city so alive and inviting. The community of 60,000 supports several restaurants rated among the best in the country, a variety of shops, and annual festivals (including Mardi Gras) that are second to none.
If you’re in the neighborhood, and you want to escape the urban nightmare of Houston, take the causeway out to Galveston.
