The history of Galveston Island

A brief history of Galveston Island

Galveston lies on the upper Texas coast, 2 miles from the Texas mainland in the Gulf of Mexico. It occupies a 32-mile-long island 50 miles southeast of Houston, Texas. Principal economic support includes, but is not limited to, historical and beach town tourism, the Port of Galveston, passenger cruise lines, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, which houses primary healthcare services and training, financial institutions, shrimping and fishing.

For centuries, Galveston Island has played a role in historical events along the Texas coast. Galveston Island is an area of the traditional homeland of the Karankawa, Atakapa Ishak, and other indigenous communities. Indigenous coastal tribes spanned the coast of Texas and northern Mexico until the mid-1800s. The groups were eventually driven out of their ancestral homeland by European expansion into Texas and the American West. The natives were first documented to be joined by outsiders by a shipwrecked Spanish explorer Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, in 1528. He and his crew of approximately 80 men were rescued and eventually forced to serve as medicine men and slaves by the native population.

"Galveston Island" was named after the Spanish Colonial governor, Bernardo de Galvez, who was famous for assisting the American Colonies during the American Revolution. Galvez ordered the first survey of the Texas Gulf Coast in 1786. "Galveston Island" was named after the Spanish Colonial governor, Bernardo de Galvez, who was famous for assisting the American Colonies during the American Revolution. Galvez ordered the first survey of the Texas Gulf Coast in 1786. Galvez never stepped foot on his namesake Island. His longtime associate and surveyor, Jose de Evia, named the Bay north of the Island "Bahia De Galvez-Town" in his honor, which was eventually granted to the island and adapted to Galveston by English-speaking Europeans.

Pre-settlement visitors included the French pirate Jean Lafitte, who developed a small colony called "Campeche" in 1817. A privateer and slave trader, he used the Island as a base to raid Spanish vessels and ships in the Gulf of Mexico during Mexico's fight for independence. He left Galveston in 1820 after the United States Navy arrived to quell his operation. Lafitte burned down the pirate colony he had built, leaving behind men and followers who helped settle the Island permanently.

In 1825, before the Texas Revolution, Galveston became the home to a Mexican customs house to levy tariffs on vessels entering the Bay to conduct trade. During the Texas Revolution, Galveston Island became a makeshift headquarters for the revolting Texians and the home port of the Texian Navy. After the Battle of San Jacinto, General Santa Ana of the Mexican Army was captured and held on Galveston Island before being transported for negotiations with the Mexican government.

The City of Galveston was officially chartered in 1839. Galveston, the principal port and immigration gateway to the American Southwest during the 19th century, has placed the entire Island in a unique position regarding the history of Texas and the Southwest. The City of Galveston furnished shipping, goods, money, and transportation necessary to settle the state, nurture its trade, and help accomplish its independence. In 1836, after the Texas Revolution and successful separation from Mexico, Michel Menard bought "one league and a labor of land," about 7 square miles, from the newly formed Republic of Texas. Menard helped organize the Galveston City Company in 1838. Other significant changes followed, and business related to the port and population growth of the republic of Texas flourished. Galveston became a major commercial center in the south and one of the busiest ports in the United States.

From 1840 to 1870, the City was a major immigration port for thousands of people worldwide, mainly European. Texas' secession from the Union and the Civil War halted development temporarily. Galveston was fought over between the Confederate and Union forces. Blockades and Blockade runners were the main altercations until October 1862, when the Union Navy captured the city. On January 1, 1863, Confederate troops initiated the Battle of Galveston and successfully recaptured the city.

As the Civil War ended, the United States Colored Troops sailed into Galveston to hold Galveston Island. On June 19, 1865, General Order No. 3 was announced and disseminated from the temporary Union Headquarters on 22nd Street and Strand, which officially freed all enslaved people in Texas. During reconstruction, the Galveston Red Light District became a popular staple for soldiers and sailors, an area of Galveston's black market offerings that became a selling point for nearly a century.

In 1871, the Galveston Historical Society was founded as a historical and literary society to preserve Galveston's already bold past.

After the Civil War mid-1870s to the 1890s was the apex of Galveston's prosperity. The Strand area became the Wall Street of the Southwest. Immense fortunes were made in cotton, mercantile house, banks, publishing and printing, flour and grain mills, railroads, land development, and shipping. In 1891, the University of Texas Medical Branch was established. By 1885, Galveston was the most prominent and affluent city in Texas, with significant institutions headquartered.

The "Queen City of the Gulf" boom period ended with the Great 1900 Hurricane, which killed 6,000 people and left 8,000 homeless. The Great Storm of 1900 is the deadliest natural disaster to date in North America. The storm struck Galveston on September 8, 1900. Due to a lack of storm monitoring equipment and communication issues with other weather monitoring entities, residents had little warning to evacuate when surging seas and high winds enveloped the Island. After the devastating storm, Galvestonians were dedicated to rebuilding their city to its former glory. The 17-foot-high seawall was begun; the first section was completed in 1904. Behind it, 2,200 structures were raised an average of five feet. Raising 500 city blocks to prevent damage from future storms was one of the most significant civil projects in U.S. history in the early 20th century. During construction, people walked on raised wooden sidewalks, elevating 2,000 homes.

Galveston is home to the invention of the City-Commission form of government. It was created to rebuild the Galveston and State economy by appointing and electing officials from state and local positions. The structure of this government was adopted around the country and is used in the 21st century around the world.

By 1914, Galveston was still in recovery when the Houston Ship Channel was deepened, which took much of Galveston's trade. The Port of Galveston lost much of its vessel traffic due to its competitor. To make economic matters worse, during a Longshoremen strike in 1920, a Bubonic Plague Epidemic spread around Galveston for a few years. The Texas Governor was forced to declare martial law to shut down the Galveston Longshoremen strike.

From 1924 to 1957, the city shifted from a trade center to an entertainment and gambling hub led by a few Italian mafia families, most notably the Maceo Family. The Balinese Room and other famous nightclubs hosted some of the biggest names of the mid-20th century, including Frank Sinatra. Galveston's illegal casinos and flashy entertainment were the progenitors to Las Vegas in many ways.

Beginning in 1957, a crackdown by the State Attorney General's Office, Galveston was primarily known as a wide-open port city where gambling and amusements could be found. During World War II, the Island had an air base where aircraft and soldiers received their final briefing before leaving for the Pacific or European front.

In 1954, volunteers and community leaders officially created Galveston Historical Foundation to save the 1839 Samuel May Williams house and other Galveston landmarks from demolition. By 1958, the Galveston Historical Society merges with Galveston Historical Foundation at a meeting at the Rosenberg Library.

In the 1960s, Galveston was in an economic lull as the port and tourism had slowed. Galvestonians were forward-thinking and began efforts to preserve and promote the Island's historical significance. The early 1960s saw the council-manager form of government adopted in, The Texas Maritime Academy, Galveston College, and the Marine Biomedical Institute were established.

Galveston's container terminal and small passenger cruise operations began in 1972. The Galveston Historical Foundation acquired one of the oldest sailing ships in the world, the Tallship Elissa. The Galveston County Cultural Arts Council was founded, and the 1894 Grand Opera House began a complete restoration. Many of Galveston's historic neighborhoods were named to the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as some of Texas's most dense historic areas.

The slow and steady revitalization of Galveston's historic landmarks began to shine through Galveston's mid-century grunginess. Mardi Gras celebrations were revitalized on the Island in the 1980s, and tourism again began to take the lead as the economic driver in Galveston.

Hurricane Ike made landfall on September 13, 2008, causing significant damage to the island and surrounding communities. The Hurricane leaves a lasting impression on 21st-century Galvestonians.

Today, as Houston expands in all directions, Galveston experiences the economic effects of more day-trippers, full-time residents, and tourism from visitors from around the world. While visiting Galveston, you can experience the benefit of the past half-century of preservation efforts by individuals, private organizations, and large no profits dedicated to telling the full story of Texas and American history.