One can learn about the city's growth and development over time when exploring the historical streets of Galveston. In 1838, the Galveston City Company laid out the city in a grid-like fashion, with all the roads running north to south being assigned numbers. 

• 21st Street / Centre Street / Moody Avenue- Initially the center of the city, renamed in the contemporary era to honor the Moody family of Galveston. The Moody family is important to Galveston because they have had a lasting impact on the city's economy, business ventures, and philanthropy. Their entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to the city have cultivated a legacy that has continued and evolved through multiple generations.

• 22nd Street / Kempner Avenue - Honors the Kempner family for their contributions to Galveston Island. Harris Kempner founded a mercantile enterprise there in 1868 and his descendants have since carried on his legacy of benevolence. Members of the Kempner family continue to live in Galveston and be active in the community through philanthropic work and other activities.

 • 24th Street / Mitchell Avenue - Honors George Mitchell for his contributions to Galveston Island. George Phydias Mitchell was a Galvestonian businessman, real estate developer, and philanthropist from Galveston credited with pioneering the economic extraction of shale gas. A philanthropist and preservationist, he is responsible for pushing the envelope for bringing downtown Galveston out of an economic slump.

 • 25th Street/Bath Avenue/ Rosenberg Avenue - Originally named Bath Avenue as it was a direct thoroughfare to the bathhouses on the beach. The street was renamed Rosenberg in honor of Henry Rosenberg. Henry Rosenberg is the namesake of Rosenberg, Texas. He was a business leader and philanthropist who founded or led several important businesses in the Galveston area and left more than $600,000 to create a free public library in Galveston, Texas.

• 23rd Street/Tremont Street - Derived from the original and second incarnation of the Tremont Hotel, a luxury hotel fronted 23rd Street. 

• Avenue A/Water Street/ Harborside Drive - The northernmost boundary of the city, now known as Harborside, due to its close proximity to Galveston Bay 

• Avenue B/Strand - Initially modeled after London's Strand Street, a banking center. "Strand" or "Strond" also means "along the water" or "riverbank." 

• Avenue C/Mechanic Street - The Street got its name in the 19th century when it was an essential hub for the island's shipping industry, located just two blocks from the wharf and where most mechanics/blacksmiths could be found. 

• Avenue D/Market Street - In 1846, a 260-foot long structure in the center of 20th Street between Mechanic (Avenue C) and Market (Avenue D) streets was built to serve both as a produce market and as the city hall, with the ground floor originally housing 34 meat, vegetable and coffee stalls, with the city offices, including the police department, and a large public meeting hall located on the second floor. The market house survived serious threats from fire in 1865 and again in 1885 and was replaced by a new three-story stone building in 1888. MarketStreett was named as the open market southernmost edge faced the Street. 

• Avenue E/Postoffice Street - Where the post office was located within the 1861 Federal Court and Customs House. 

• Avenue F/Church Street - Home to First Presbyterian (1840) and St. Mary's Cathedral (1847), some of the oldest churches in the city. 

• Winnie, Ball, and Sealy Streets - Named to reflect Galveston city leaders and leading families. 

• Avenue J/Broadway - The city's main thoroughfare was strategically located on the highest ridge of the island, with the intent of being the main point of access and circulation for the community.

Avenue P / Bernardo de Galvez - Gálvez's contributions to the Spanish Empire made him a national hero in Spain, and his legacy is remembered as a major figure in the history of The United States. Galveston Island is named in his honor, as is Avenue P,

41st Street / Jack Johnson Blvd - Jack Johnson was a Galvestonian boxer who became the first black world heavyweight boxing champion in 1908-1915. He was subject to racial persecution through the late 19th and 20th centuries and was ultimately pardoned for racially targeted “crimes” in 2018.

Galveston's streets are a means of transportation and a glimpse into the city's rich history. From 21st Street/Centre Street, which was initially the center of the town, to Winnie, Ball, and Sealy Streets, named to reflect city leaders and leading families in Galveston, the streets tell the story of the city's growth and development over time. The next time you explore the historical streets of Galveston, take a moment to appreciate the stories behind the names and the memories they hold.