111-454: The Strand Historic District , also known as the Strand District , in downtown Galveston , Texas ( USA ), is a National Historic Landmark District of mainly Victorian era buildings that now house restaurants, antique stores, and curio shops. The area is a major tourist attraction for the island city and also plays host to two very popular seasonal festivals . It is widely considered
222-567: A collection of historic homes constructed from the Civil War through World War II. The East End Historic District on both sides of Broadway and Market Streets, contains 463 buildings. Other historic districts include Cedar Lawn, Denver Court and Fort Travis . The Strand National Historic Landmark District is a National Historic Landmark District of mainly Victorian era buildings that have been adapted for use as restaurants, antique stores, historical exhibits, museums and art galleries. The area
333-485: A concert event at Caesars Superdome ), Bacchus (Sunday), and Zulu and Rex (Tuesday). Other cities along the Gulf Coast with early French colonial heritage, from Pensacola, Florida ; Galveston, Texas ; to Lake Charles and Lafayette, Louisiana ; and north to Natchez, Mississippi and Alexandria, Louisiana , have active Mardi Gras celebrations. Galveston's first recorded Mardi Gras celebration, in 1867, included
444-462: A female householder with no husband present, and 46.0% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.02. In the city, the population was 23.4% under the age of 13, 11.3% from 13 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 88, and 13.7% who were 89 years of age or older in 2010. The median age
555-588: A gift from the state's citizens. On September 8, 1900, the island was struck by a devastating hurricane . This event holds the record as the United States' deadliest natural disaster . The city was devastated, and an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 people on the island were killed. Following the storm, a 10-mile (16 km) long, 17 foot (5.2 m) high seawall was built to protect the city from floods and hurricane storm surges. A team of engineers including Henry Martyn Robert ( Robert's Rules of Order ) designed
666-536: A grand gala. In the rural Acadiana area, many Cajuns celebrate with the Courir de Mardi Gras , a tradition that dates to medieval celebrations in France. St. Louis , Missouri , founded in 1764 by French fur traders, claims to host the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. The celebration is held in the historic French neighborhood, Soulard , and attracts hundreds of thousands of people from around
777-511: A long stagnation. Many businesses relocated off the island during this period, but health care, insurance, and financial industries continue to be strong contributors to the economy. By 1959, the city of Houston had long outpaced Galveston in population and economic growth. Beginning in 1957, the Galveston Historical Foundation began its efforts to preserve historic buildings. The 1966 book The Galveston That Was helped encourage
888-520: A masked ball at Turner Hall (Sealy at 21st St.) and a theatrical performance from Shakespeare's "King Henry IV" featuring Alvan Reed (a justice of the peace weighing in at 350 pounds) as Falstaff. The first year that Mardi Gras was celebrated on a grand scale in Galveston was 1871 with the emergence of two rival Mardi Gras societies, or "Krewes" called the Knights of Momus (known only by the initials "K.O.M.") and
999-623: A parade, just tableau and ball. The Knights of Momus and Rex came about in 1872, with the last of the old-line krewes the Krewe of Proteus being formed 10 years later. Of these 5 groups only Rex and Proteus still formally parade, with the Knights of Chaos replacing Momus. The parades of the largest krewes (colloquially known as "super krewes") came later, during the 1960s/70's, and traditionally occur immediately prior to and on Shrove Tuesday, including those of Endymion (Saturday, which also culminates with
1110-515: A red-brick Victorian Italianate home, was constructed in 1859 by James Moreau Brown. One of the first brick structures in Texas, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a recorded Texas Historic Landmark. The structure is also the site of what was to become the holiday known as Juneteenth , where on June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger, standing on its balcony, read
1221-587: A single generation Galveston went from being Texas' most populous (and most important) city to being a tragic footnote to a century of frontier violence, urban lawlessness and civic greed, throughout the state. Apart from reducing Galveston to rubble, the one-two punch that nature dealt the island stiffened the spines of those who survived. As Gary Cartwright observes (see fn 40), residents prided themselves on having stayed behind, though it meant being marooned for decades. They became cynical, hard-boiled, and had no use for outsiders (including Texans, and those who fled to
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#17330859489471332-749: A square bell tower with trefoil window. The U.S. Custom House began construction in 1860 and was completed in 1861. The Confederate Army occupied the building during the American Civil War , In 1865, the Custom House was the site of the ceremony officially ending the Civil War. Galveston's modern architecture include the American National Insurance Company Tower ( One Moody Plaza ), San Luis Resort South and North Towers, The Breakers Condominiums, The Galvestonian Resort and Condos, One Shearn Moody Plaza, US National Bank Building,
1443-530: A storm surge which nearly wiped out the town. The natural disaster on the exposed barrier island is still ranked today as the deadliest in United States history, with an estimated death toll between 6,000 and 12,000 people. The city subsequently reemerged during the Prohibition era of 1919–1933 as a leading tourist hub and a center of illegal gambling , nicknamed the Free State of Galveston until this era ended in
1554-538: A wide beach were left with a narrow strip of sand at low tide and a gloomy vista of waves on rocks when the tide was high." To further its recovery and rebuild its population, Galveston actively solicited immigration . Through the efforts of Rabbi Henry Cohen and Congregation B'nai Israel , Galveston became the focus of an immigration plan called the Galveston Movement that, between 1907 and 1914, diverted roughly 10,000 Eastern European Jewish immigrants from
1665-401: A year with some areas typically receiving over 50 inches (1,300 mm). Temperatures reaching 20 °F (−7 °C) or 100 °F (38 °C) are quite rare, having last occurred on December 23, 1989, and June 25, 2012 , respectively. Record temperatures range from 8 °F (−13 °C) on February 12, 1899 , up to 104 °F (40 °C) on September 5, 2000; the record cold maximum
1776-458: Is French for " Fat Tuesday ", reflecting the practice of the last night of consuming rich, fatty foods in preparation for the Christian fasting season of Lent , during which the consumption of such foods is avoided. Related popular practices are associated with Carnival celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. In countries such as
1887-524: Is 25 °F (−4 °C) on February 7, 1895, and again on the date of the all-time low, while, conversely, the record warm minimum is 87 °F (31 °C) set on August 31 – September 3, 2020. On average, the warmest night is at 84 °F (29 °C), seldom straying far from averages. Hurricanes are an ever-present threat during the summer and fall season, which puts Galveston in Coastal Windstorm Area. Galveston Island and
1998-462: Is a major tourist attraction for the island city. It is the center for two very popular seasonal festivals . It is widely considered the island's shopping and entertainment center. Today, "the Strand" is generally used to refer to the five-block business district between 20th and 25th streets in downtown Galveston, near the city's wharf. Since the early 20th century, Galveston has been popularly known as
2109-499: Is an important celebration in Lutheran , Anglican and Catholic European nations. The three-day Carnival of Binche , near Mons , is one of the best known in Belgium. It takes place around Shrove Tuesday (or Mardi Gras) just before Lent . Performers known as Gilles wear elaborate costumes in the national colours of red, black and yellow. During the parade, they throw oranges at
2220-591: Is filled with large banquets held by the various organizing societies and generally comes to a climax beginning on what is variously known as Schmutziger Donnerstag or Fetter Donnerstag ( Fat Thursday ), Unsinniger Donnerstag (Nonsense Thursday), Altweiberfastnacht , Greesentag and others. In standard German , schmutzig means "dirty", but in the Alemannic dialects schmotzig means "lard" ( Schmalz ), or "fat"; thus "Greasy Thursday", as remaining winter stores of lard and butter used to be consumed at that time, before
2331-474: Is recorded to have taken place in 1833 with Bernard de Marigny funding the first organized parade, tableau, and ball. The tradition in New Orleans expanded to the point that it became synonymous with the city in popular perception, and embraced by residents of New Orleans beyond those of French or Catholic heritage. Mardi Gras celebrations are part of the basis of the slogan Laissez les bons temps rouler ("Let
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#17330859489472442-411: Is referred to as the "West End", roughly corresponding to the area west of the western end of the seawall. Communities in eastern Galveston (the area east of the western end of the seawall) include Havre Lafitte, Offats Bayou, Central City, Fort Crockett, Bayou Shore, Lasker Park, Carver Park, Kempner Park, Old City/Central Business District, San Jacinto, East End, and Lindale. As of 2009 many residents of
2553-528: The 2020 census , there were 53,695 people, 23,375 households, and 12,505 families residing in the city. There were 34,259 housing units. As of the 2010 census , there were 47,743 people, 19,943 households, and 10,779 families residing in the city. As of the 2016 U.S. Census estimate d, the city had a total population of 50,550. The population density was 1,159 people per square mile (447 people/km ). There were 32,368 dwelling units at an average density of 786 per square mile (303/km ). The racial makeup of
2664-664: The American Civil War , Confederate forces under Major General John B. Magruder attacked and expelled occupying Union troops from the city in January 1863 in the Battle of Galveston . On June 19, 1865, two months after the end of the war and almost three years after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation , General Gordon Granger of the Union Army informed the enslaved people of Texas that they were now free. This news
2775-518: The Bolivar Peninsula are generally at the greatest risk among the communities near the Galveston Bay. However, though the island and peninsula provide some shielding, the bay shoreline still faces significant danger from storm surge. Talks of building a coastal storm barrier with a mix of federal and state funding to protect Galveston and Houston have been ongoing for years. Notes: As of
2886-639: The Galveston Railroad Museum , Victorian architecture , horse and carriage rides, historical markers, an old fashioned trolley for transportation, and a giant chess set in Saengerfest Park, a small square park located on the corner of Tremont St (23rd St) and Strand St (Avenue B). It was created in the early 1990s by George and Cynthia Mitchell. The historic district also contains a variety of retailers, including clothing, factory outlets, souvenir shops, art galleries, antique galleries. On
2997-533: The U.S. state of Texas . The community of 211.31 square miles (547.3 km ), with a population of 53,695 at the 2020 census , is the county seat of surrounding Galveston County and second-largest municipality in the county. It is also within the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area at its southern end on the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico . Galveston, or Galvez's town,
3108-613: The UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage List . The celebration on the same day in Germany knows many different terms, depending on the region, such as Fastnacht , meaning the eve of the fast that takes place during Lent, or Veilchensdienstag (Violet Tuesday), as it is called in the Lower Rhine region. The celebrations often stretch from Epiphany, known in sections of Germany as Heilige Drei Könige, through
3219-467: The United Kingdom , Mardi Gras is more usually known as Pancake Day or (traditionally) Shrove Tuesday, derived from the word shrive , meaning "to administer the sacrament of confession to; to absolve". During the liturgical season of Lent, some Christians abstain from the consumption of certain foods such as meat, eggs, dairy products, and alcoholic beverages. Most Christian denominations observe
3330-800: The Western Hemisphere of the Americas in Central and South America in the 1810s and 1820s. The Port of Galveston was established in 1825 by the Congress of Mexico following its independence from Spain. The city was the main port for the fledgling Texas Navy during the Texas Revolution of 1836, and later served temporarily as the new national capital of the Republic of Texas . In 1865, General Gordon Granger arrived at Ashton Villa and announced to some of
3441-428: The poverty line , including 32.1% of those under age 13 and 14.2% of those age 89 or over. Mardi Gras Mardi Gras ( UK : / ˌ m ɑːr d i ˈ ɡ r ɑː / , US : / ˈ m ɑːr d i ɡ r ɑː / ; also known as Shrove Tuesday ) is the final day of Carnival (also known as Shrovetide or Fastelavn ); it thus falls on the day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday . Mardi Gras
Strand Historic District - Misplaced Pages Continue
3552-524: The " Free State of Galveston ". The island had entered what would later become known as the "open era". The 1930s and 1940s brought much change to the Island City. During World War II , the Galveston Municipal Airport, predecessor to Scholes International Airport , was re-designated a U.S. Army Air Corps base and named "Galveston Army Air Field". In January 1943, Galveston Army Air Field
3663-458: The 'Oleander City' because of a long history of cultivating Nerium oleander , a subtropical evergreen shrub which thrives on the island. Oleanders are a defining feature of the city; when flowering (between April and October) they add masses of color to local gardens, parks, and streets. Thousands were planted in the recovery following the Hurricane of 1900 and Galvestonians continue to treasure
3774-476: The 1950s with subsequent other economic and social development. Much of Galveston's economy is centered in the tourism , health care , shipping , and financial industries. The 84-acre (34 ha) University of Texas Medical Branch campus with an enrollment of more than 2,500 students is a major economic force of the city. Galveston is home to six historic districts containing one of the largest historically significant collections of 19th-century buildings in
3885-560: The 1960s came the expansion of higher education in Galveston. Already home to the University of Texas Medical Branch, the city got a boost in 1962 with the creation of the Texas Maritime Academy, predecessor of Texas A&M University at Galveston ; and by 1967, a community college , Galveston College , had been established. In the 2000s, property values rose after expensive projects were completed, and demand for second homes by
3996-566: The City of Galveston and there are also Oleander-themed tours of the city exploring the history of the plant on the island. Since 1967 the International Oleander Society has operated in Galveston, which promotes the cultivation of the plant, organizes an Oleander festival every spring and maintains a commemorative Oleander garden in the city. Galveston contains a large and historically significant collection of 19th-century buildings in
4107-639: The East End Historic District of Galveston, Texas. The American Institute of Architects listed Bishop's Palace as one of the 100 most significant buildings in the United States, and the Library of Congress has classified it as one of the fourteen most representative Victorian structures in the nation. The Galvez Hotel is a historic hotel that opened in 1911. The building was named the Galvez, honoring Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez , for whom
4218-495: The Gulf Coast in 1785, the Spanish explorer José de Evia labeled the water features surrounding the island "Bd. de Galvestown" and "Bahia de Galvestowm" [sic]. He was working under the orders of Bernardo de Gálvez. In his early chart, he calls the western end of the island "Isla de San Luis" and the eastern end "Pt. de Culebras". Evia did not label the island itself on his map of 1799. Just five years later Alexander von Humboldt borrowed
4329-468: The Knights of Myth, both of which devised night parades, masked balls, exquisite costumes and elaborate invitations. The Knights of Momus, led by some prominent Galvestonians, decorated horse-drawn wagons for a torch lit night parade. Boasting such themes as "The Crusades", "Peter the Great", and "Ancient France", the procession through downtown Galveston culminated at Turner Hall with a presentation of tableaux and
4440-559: The Rainforest Pyramid at Moody Gardens, John Sealy Hospital Towers at UTMB and Medical Arts Building (also known as Two Moody Plaza). Galveston's climate is classified as humid subtropical ( Cfa in Köppen climate classification system ), and is part of USDA Plant hardiness zone 10a. Prevailing winds from the south and southeast bring moisture from the Gulf of Mexico . Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90 °F (32 °C) and
4551-401: The Strand became a popular place for major businesses to locate, including the state's five largest banks at the time, wholesalers, commission merchants, cotton brokers, attorneys and slave auctioneers. In 1881, businesses in the Strand district sold about US$ 38 million worth of merchandise and services. Between 1838 and 1842, 18 newspapers were started; The Galveston News , founded in 1842, is
Strand Historic District - Misplaced Pages Continue
4662-524: The Strand date to 1855 and 1858; other historic buildings date back typically to the 1870s and 1880s. Throughout the 19th century, the port city of Galveston boomed; and the Strand, which is very close to the harbor, grew into the region's main business center. For a time, it was known as the "Wall Street of the South." Because of the Port of Galveston 's enormous vessel traffic (between 700 and 1,400 vessels annually),
4773-420: The Strand features shops, historical exhibits, museums, art galleries and many restaurants and night clubs. It is also the location of a very popular annual Mardi Gras celebration, as well as a Christmas festival known as Dickens on the Strand , which celebrates the city's Victorian heritage with participants roaming the Strand in period dress. Attractions within the area include The Galveston County Museum,
4884-808: The U.S., with over 60 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places , maintained by the National Park Service in the United States Department of the Interior . Indigenous inhabitants of Galveston Island called the island Auia . Though there is no certainty regarding their route and their landings, Cabeza de Vaca and his crew were shipwrecked at a place he called "Isla de Malhado" in November 1528. This could have referred to Galveston Island or San Luis Island . During his charting of
4995-532: The Union during the Civil War, and join the Republican Party after the war. During this expansion, the city had many "firsts" in the state, with the founding of institutions and adoption of inventions: post office (1836), naval base (1836), Texas chapter of a Masonic order (1840); cotton compress (1842), Catholic parochial school (Ursuline Academy) (1847), insurance company (1854), and gas lights (1856). During
5106-569: The United States. Galveston's architectural preservation and revitalization efforts over several decades have earned national recognition. Located in the Strand District, the Grand 1894 Opera House is a restored historic Romanesque Revival style Opera House that is currently operated as a not-for-profit performing arts theater. The Bishop's Palace , also known as Gresham's Castle, is an ornate Victorian house located on Broadway and 14th Street in
5217-584: The West End of Galveston was quickly eroding and the city should reduce construction and/or population in that area. It recommended against any rebuilding of the West End in the event of damage from another hurricane. Galveston is home to six historic districts with over 60 structures listed representing architectural significance in the National Register of Historic Places. The Silk Stocking National Historic District, between Broadway and Seawall Boulevard and bounded by Ave. K, 23rd St., Ave. P, and 26th St., contains
5328-586: The addition of the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and the replacement of the bascule -type drawbridge on the railroad causeway with a vertical-lift -type drawbridge to allow heavier freight. The city of Galveston is situated on Galveston Island, a barrier island off the Texas Gulf coast near the mainland coast. Made up of mostly sand-sized particles and smaller amounts of finer mud sediments and larger gravel-sized sediments,
5439-406: The allowance of one vegetarian meal and water after sunset. The tradition of pancake breakfasts during Shrovetide, as well as that of pancake races, owes itself to this practice of "using up the surplus eggs, milk and butter" prior to Lent. In many Christian parish churches, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, a popular Shrove Tuesday tradition is the ringing of the church bells (on this day,
5550-508: The area's humidity drives the heat index even higher, while nighttime lows average around 80 °F (27 °C). Winters in the area are temperate with typical January highs above 60 °F (16 °C) and lows near 50 °F (10 °C). Snowfall is generally rare; however, 15.4 in (39.1 cm) of snow fell in February 1895, making the 1894–95 winter the snowiest on record. Annual rainfall averages well over 40 inches (1,000 mm)
5661-558: The capital of the Republic of Texas when in 1836 the interim president David G. Burnet relocated his government there. In 1836, the French-Canadian Michel Branamour Menard and several associates purchased 4,605 acres (18.64 km ) of land for $ 50,000 to found the town that would become the modern city of Galveston. As Anglo-Americans migrated to the city, they brought along or purchased enslaved African-Americans , some of whom worked domestically or on
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#17330859489475772-411: The city was 62.5% White , 19.2% Black or African American , 0.9% Native American , 3.2% Asian , <0.1% Pacific Islander , 11.0% from other races , and 3.3% from two or more races. 31.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 19,943 households, out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 14.7% had
5883-458: The city was named. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 4, 1979. The Michel B. Menard House , built in 1838 and the oldest surviving structure in Galveston, is designed in the Greek revival style. In 1880, the house was bought by Edwin N. Ketchum who was police chief of the city during the 1900 Storm. The Ketchum family owned the home until the 1970s. Ashton Villa ,
5994-462: The city. As these vice industries crashed, so did tourism, taking the rest of the Galveston economy with it. Neither the economy nor the culture of the city was the same afterward. In 1947, buildings in the city were damaged when a ship carrying 2,200 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded at the nearby Port of Texas City , in what became known as the Texas City disaster . The island's economy began
6105-428: The comparative safety of East Texas) who either pitied or prayed for them. Indifference may have masked anxiety, but it enabled those who committed themselves to Galveston to endure their fate with a measure of dignity, even when they were forced to compromise with conventional morality in order to do so. Thus Galveston became a unique port of call, even as automobile travel became ubiquitous, and ended its isolation from
6216-472: The contents of "General Order No. 3", thereby emancipating all slaves in the state of Texas . St. Joseph's Church was built by German immigrants in 1859–1860 and is the oldest wooden church building in Galveston and the oldest German Catholic Church in Texas. The church was dedicated in April 1860, to St. Joseph, the patron saint of laborers. The building is a wooden gothic revival structure, rectangular with
6327-597: The country have notable celebrations. Mardi Gras arrived in North America as a French Catholic tradition with the Le Moyne brothers, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville , in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiane , which included what are now the U.S. states of Alabama , Mississippi , Louisiana and part of eastern Texas . The expedition, led by Iberville, entered
6438-454: The country. Although founded in the 1760s, the St. Louis Mardi Gras festivities only date to the 1980s. The city's celebration begins with "12th night," held on Epiphany, and ends on Fat Tuesday. The season is peppered with various parades celebrating the city's rich French Catholic heritage. Mardi Gras, as a celebration of life before the more-somber occasion of Ash Wednesday, nearly always involves
6549-601: The crowd. In 2003, it was recognized by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity . In the Czech Republic , it is a folk tradition to celebrate Mardi Gras, which is called Masopust (meat-fast, i.e. beginning of the fast there). There are celebrations in many places including Prague , but the tradition also prevails in villages such as Staré Hamry , whose door-to-door processions made it to
6660-655: The devastation caused by the first flood, a second one struck in August, 1915, thanks to a major hurricane that originated in the central Atlantic, tore through the Caribbean, and then left a long trail of destruction across the Gulf of Mexico before it dissipated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, nearly three weeks later. While the newly constructed seawall spared the island the worst, over 400 Galvestonians died, and damages totaled $ 30 million USD, equivalent to $ 903 million in 2023. Thus, in less than
6771-477: The fasting began. Altweiberfastnacht often featured women wearing men's clothing and assuming their roles. In many towns across the state of North Rhine Westphalia, a ritual "takeover" of the town halls by local women has become tradition. In Italy Mardi Gras is called Martedì Grasso (Fat Tuesday). It is the main day of Carnival along with the Thursday before, called Giovedí Grasso (Fat Thursday), which ratifies
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#17330859489476882-409: The festival is spelled Carnevale. In Sweden the celebration is called Fettisdagen, when fastlagsbulle is eaten, more commonly called Semla . The name comes from the words "fett" (fat) and "tisdag" (Tuesday). Originally, this was the only day one should eat fastlagsbullar . While not observed nationally throughout the United States, a number of historically ethnically French cities and regions in
6993-458: The final three-day period before Ash Wednesday as the Mardi Gras. In Mobile, Alabama , Mardi Gras– associated social events begin in November , followed by mystic society balls New Year's Eve, followed by parades and balls in January and February, celebrating up to midnight before Ash Wednesday . In earlier times, parades were held on New Year's Day. Carnival (or Fastelavn or Shrovetide )
7104-490: The good times roll"), as floats "roll." Festivities formally began in 1853 when a group of Protestant Anglo-Americans , some members of Mobile Mystic Societies , formed the first "old-line" krewe, The Mistick Krewe of Comus , based on Bernard de Marigny 's 1833 parade of paper-mached wagons, a formal tableau vivant and presentation of debutants, followed by a formal ball . The Twelfth Night Revelers were formed in 1870, again with ties to Mobile , but no longer stage
7215-566: The government constructed Fort Crockett defenses and coastal artillery batteries in Galveston and along the Bolivar Roads. In February 1897, the USS ; Texas (nicknamed Old Hoodoo), the first commissioned battleship of the United States Navy, visited Galveston. During the festivities, the ship's officers were presented with a $ 5,000 silver service, adorned with various Texas motifs, as
7326-506: The influence of Sam Maceo and Rosario Maceo , the city exploited the prohibition of liquor and gambling in clubs like the Balinese Room , which offered entertainment to wealthy Houstonians and other out-of-towners. Combined with prostitution, which had existed in the city since the Civil War, Galveston became known as the "sin city" of the Gulf. Galvestonians accepted and supported the illegal activities, often referring to their island as
7437-507: The island is unstable, affected by water and weather, and can shift its boundaries through erosion. The city is about 45 miles (72 km) southeast of downtown Houston. The island is oriented generally northeast-southwest, with the Gulf of Mexico on the east and south, West Bay on the west, and Galveston Bay on the north. The island's main access point from the mainland is the Interstate Highway 45 causeway that crosses West Bay on
7548-594: The island's northeast side. A deepwater channel connects Galveston's harbor with the Gulf and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 211.31 square miles (547.29 km ), of which 41.04 square miles (106.29 km ) are land and 170.27 square miles (441.00 km ), or 80.31%, are water. The island is 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Houston . The western portion of Galveston
7659-433: The island's shopping and entertainment center. The district includes properties along the south side of Harborside Drive (Avenue A) and both sides of The Strand (Avenue B) and Mechanic Street (Avenue C) from 20th Street westward to 26th Street. The street labeled "The Strand" is actually named Avenue B, which runs parallel to Galveston Bay . The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and
7770-479: The last enslaved African Americans that slavery was no longer legal . This event is commemorated annually on June 19, the federal holiday of Juneteenth . During the 19th century, Galveston became a major U.S. commercial center and one of the largest ports in the United States. It was, for a time, Texas' largest city, known as the "Queen City of the Gulf". It was devastated by the unexpected Galveston Hurricane of 1900 , whose effects included massive flooding and
7881-482: The late 1830s, includes Avenue B. The name 'strand' for Ave. B was coined by a German immigrant named Michael William Shaw who opened a jewelry store on the corner of 23rd and Ave. B. Shaw, not liking the name "Ave. B", changed the name of the street on his stationery to "Strand", thinking that the name (named after a street in London) would have higher-class connotations for his jewelry store. He later convinced other owners on
7992-630: The like, though death may be a theme in some. The Venice tradition has brought golden masks into the usual round of costumes. Although the Church teaches that it is sinful and that it contravenes the Christian standards of modesty , the practice of some women exposing their breasts during Mardi Gras in New Orleans , US, has been documented since 1889, when the Times-Democrat decried the "degree of immodesty exhibited by nearly all female masqueraders seen on
8103-443: The lone survivor. Because of the Strand's close proximity to Galveston's harbor, the area suffered some damage during several battles during the Civil War, particularly when Union forces barricaded the city. During the Battle of Galveston , Confederate forces fought from every corner of the area; several buildings suffered damage from shots and shelling. The battles forced many businesses to close and move to nearby Houston until
8214-508: The mouth of the Mississippi River on the evening of 2 March 1699 (new style), Lundi Gras . They did not yet know it was the river explored and claimed for France by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in 1683. The party proceeded upstream to a place on the east bank about 60 miles (100 km) downriver from where New Orleans is today, and made camp. This was on 3 March 1699, Mardi Gras, so in honour of this holiday, Iberville named
8325-459: The natural harbor of Galveston Bay along the Gulf of Mexico made it the center of trade in Texas. It was one of the nation's largest cotton ports, in competition with New Orleans . Throughout the 19th century, the port city of Galveston grew rapidly and the Strand was considered the region's primary business center. For a time, the Strand was known as the "Wall Street of the South ". In the late 1890s,
8436-621: The need to diversify from the traditional port-related industries. In 1905 William Lewis Moody, Jr. and Isaac H. Kempner , members of two of Galveston's leading families founded the American National Insurance Company . Two years later, Moody established the City National Bank, which would become the Moody National Bank . During the 1920s and 1930s, the city re-emerged as a major tourist destination. Under
8547-595: The night before Ash Wednesday, and is variously known by different names, such as Karneval or Fasching in Germany, Austria and German-speaking areas of Switzerland. It is also often referred to as the "fifth season", which traditionally begins with Hoppeditz Erwachen (the waking of Hoppeditz, the Fool who embodies the Karneval season) on 11 November at 11:11 AM (11/11 11:11). and ends with his comic funeral mass on Fastnacht. Karneval
8658-421: The opera house (1870), and orphanage (1876), and installation of telephone lines (1878) and electric lights (1883). Having attracted freedmen from rural areas, in 1870 the city had a black population that totaled 3,000, made up mostly of former slaves but also by persons who were free men of color and educated before the war. Blacks comprised nearly 25% of the city's population of 13,818 that year. During
8769-745: The outer edges of the Strand is the Post Office district, known for its antique galleries, art galleries, the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe , and the Grand 1894 Opera House . Closer to the water is Pier 21, which has daily showings of the movies The Great Storm of 1900 and The Pirate Island of Jean Lafitte , the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum , and the Texas Seaport Museum with tall ship Elissa . The Strand sustained significant and catastrophic damage from
8880-463: The pirate Jean Lafitte . Lafitte organized Galveston into a pirate "kingdom" he called "Campeche", anointing himself the island's "head of government". Lafitte remained in Galveston until 1821, when the United States Navy forced him and his raiders off the island. In 1825 the Congress of Mexico established the Port of Galveston and in 1830 erected a customs house . Galveston served as
8991-568: The place names Isla de San Luis, Pte. De Culebras, and Bahia de Galveston. Stephen F. Austin followed his predecessors in the use of "San Luis Island", but introduced "Galveston" to refer to the little village at the east end of the island. Evidence of the name Galveston Island appears on the 1833 David H. Burr. The island first permanent European settlements were constructed around 1816 by the pirate Louis-Michel Aury to support Mexico's rebellion against Spain. In 1817, Aury returned from an unsuccessful raid against Spain to find Galveston occupied by
9102-427: The plan to raise much of the existing city to a sufficient elevation behind a seawall so that confidence in the city could be maintained. The city developed the city commission form of city government , known as the " Galveston Plan ", to help expedite recovery. Despite attempts to draw investment to the city after the hurricane, Galveston never returned to its levels of national importance or prosperity. Development
9213-425: The plant for its low water needs, tolerance of heat, salt spray and sandy soils. This makes them especially resistant to the after-effects of hurricanes and tropical storms. Galveston is reputed to have the most diverse range of Oleander cultivars in the world, numbering over 100, with many varieties developed in the city and named after prominent Galvestonians. In 2005 the month of May was declared "Oleander Month" by
9324-478: The post–Civil War period, leaders such as George T. Ruby and Norris Wright Cuney , who headed the Texas Republican Party and promoted civil rights for freedmen , helped to dramatically improve educational and employment opportunities for blacks in Galveston and in Texas. Cuney established his own business of stevedores and a union of black dockworkers to break the white monopoly on dock jobs. Galveston
9435-465: The preservation movement. Restoration efforts financed by motivated investors, notably Houston businessman George P. Mitchell , gradually developed the Strand Historic District and reinvented other areas. A new, family-oriented tourism emerged in the city over many years. In September 1961, Hurricane Carla struck the city, generating an F4 tornado that killed eight and injured 200. With
9546-507: The rest of the region. Galveston has a worldview all its own, as if the Zeitgeist had decided to linger awhile, so that past and present might become one, and the forgotten boom town that went bust, not once but twice, might yet be resurrected, lifting the burden of history while daring fate. Though the storms stalled economic development and the city of Houston developed as the region's principal metropolis, Galveston economic leaders recognized
9657-483: The rich foods before Lent" in order to prepare for the coming season of repentance. The festival season varies from city to city; Mardis Gras often refers to the last day of Shrovetide (or Fastelavn or Carnival), thus being synonymous with Shrove Tuesday . Some traditions, such as the one in New Orleans , Louisiana , consider Mardi Gras to stretch the entire period from Twelfth Night (the last night of Christmas which begins Epiphany ) to Ash Wednesday. Others treat
9768-484: The same period, the city drew a boundary known as a "fire zone," within which new buildings could not be constructed of wood. In 1867 Galveston suffered a yellow fever epidemic; about 1800 people died in the city. These occurred in waterfront and river cities throughout the 19th century, as did cholera epidemics. The city's progress continued through the Reconstruction era with numerous "firsts": construction of
9879-472: The spot Point du Mardi Gras (French: "Mardi Gras Point") and called the nearby tributary Bayou Mardi Gras. Bienville went on to found the settlement of Mobile, Alabama in 1702 as the first capital of French Louisiana. In 1703 French settlers in Mobile established the first organised Mardi Gras celebration tradition in what was to become the United States. The first informal mystic society , or krewe ,
9990-555: The start of the celebrations. The most famous Carnivals in northern Italy are in Venice, Viareggio and Ivrea, while in the southern part of Italy the Sardinian Sartiglia and the intriguing apotropaic masks, especially the mamuthones, issohadores, s'urtzu (and so on), are more popular, belonging to a very ancient tradition. Ivrea has the characteristic " Battle of Oranges " that finds its roots in medieval times. The Italian version of
10101-520: The storm surge of Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008, prompting the National Trust for Historic Preservation to add the district to the 2009 list of America's Most Endangered Places . Galveston, Texas Galveston ( / ˈ ɡ æ l v ɪ s t ən / GAL -vis-tən ) is a coastal resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in
10212-605: The street to change the names they used for the street as well, and the name stuck. (The word strand comes from the Old English word for "shore" or "river bank"; in German , Swedish and Dutch , the word means "beach".) The Strand's very earliest buildings were typically wooden and vulnerable to fires and storms that hit the island frequently throughout the 19th century. Eventually those structures were replaced with iron-fronted brick buildings. The two oldest buildings still standing on
10323-801: The streets." The practice was mostly limited to tourists in the upper Bourbon Street area. In the crowded streets of the French Quarter, generally avoided by locals on Mardi Gras Day, flashers on balconies cause crowds to form on the streets. In the last decades of the 20th century, the rise in producing commercial videotapes catering to voyeurs helped encourage a tradition of women baring their breasts in exchange for beads and trinkets. Social scientists studying "ritual disrobement" found, at Mardi Gras 1991, 1,200 instances of body-baring in exchange for beads or other favors. (federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to
10434-499: The toll is known as the Shriving Bell) "to call the faithful to confession before the solemn season of Lent" and for people to "begin frying their pancakes". As such, a hallmark of Shrovetide is the opportunity for a last round of merrymaking associated with Mardis Gras before the start of the somber Lenten season. The last day of Shrovetide, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), is named as such "because people felt bloated having eaten up all
10545-524: The tradition of Lent; exceptions include many churches within the Anabaptist , Baptist , Methodist , and Reformed traditions. Shrovetide provided Christians with the opportunity to use up these foods prior to the start of the 40-day fasting season of Lent. Prior to the 6th century, Lent was normatively observed through the practice of the Black Fast , which enjoins fasting from food and liquids, with
10656-515: The use of masks and costumes by its participants, and the most popular celebratory colors are purple, green, and gold. In New Orleans, for example, these often take the shape of fairies, animals, people from myths, or various Medieval costumes as well as clowns and Indians ( Native Americans ). Many costumes today are simply elaborate creations of colored feathers and capes. Unlike Halloween costumery, Mardi Gras costumes are not usually associated with such things as zombies, mummies, bats, blood, and
10767-484: The usual destinations of the crowded cities of the Northeastern United States . Additionally numerous other immigrant groups, including Greeks , Italians and Russian Jews , came to the city during this period. This immigration trend substantially altered the ethnic makeup of the island, as well as many other areas of Texas and the western U.S. Unfortunately, just as the island was starting to recover from
10878-460: The war drastically reduced military investment in the island. Increasing enforcement of gambling laws and the growth of Las Vegas, Nevada , as a competitive center of gambling and entertainment put pressure on the gaming industry on the island. Finally in 1957, Texas Attorney General Will Wilson and the Texas Rangers began a massive campaign of raids that disrupted gambling and prostitution in
10989-415: The war's end. But most moved back into their regular quarters and enjoyed prosperity until the turn of the next century. The Galveston hurricane of 1900 was devastating to much of the city, and the Strand district was no exception. Many of its buildings suffered catastrophic damage — some buildings lost entire floors, others lost elaborate cornices and flourishes. Many businesses elected to move away from
11100-480: The waterfront, including on riverboats. In 1839, the City of Galveston adopted a charter and was incorporated by the Congress of the Republic of Texas . The city was by then a burgeoning port of entry and attracted many new residents in the 1840s and later among the flood of German immigrants to Texas , including Jewish merchants. Together with ethnic Mexican residents, these groups tended to oppose slavery, support
11211-477: The wealthy increased. It has made it difficult for middle-class workers to find affordable housing on the island. Hurricane Ike made landfall on Galveston Island in the early morning of September 13, 2008, as a category-2 hurricane with winds of 110 miles per hour. Damage was extensive to buildings along the seawall. After the storm, the island was rebuilt with investments in tourism and shipping, and continued emphasis on higher education and health care, notably
11322-501: The west end use golf carts as transportation to take them to and from residential houses, the Galveston Island Country Club, and stores. In 2009, Chief of Police Charles Wiley said he believed golf carts should be prohibited outside golf courses, and West End residents campaigned against any ban on their use. In 2011 Rice University released a study, "Atlas of Sustainable Strategies for Galveston Island", which argued
11433-532: The wharf and, by extension, away from the Strand. The area became a warehouse district , and was not revived until the 1960s when the Junior League of Galveston County restored two buildings. That restoration effort sparked a revitalization project that is still ongoing. In 1973 the Galveston Historical Foundation followed suit, creating a trust fund for dramatic restorations of the Strand district that has sparked significant private investment as well. Today,
11544-406: Was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 13 and over, there were 90.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 28,895, and the median income for a family was $ 35,049. Males had a median income of $ 30,150 versus $ 26,030 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 18,275. About 17.8% of families and 22.3% of the population were below
11655-523: Was a cosmopolitan city and one of the more successful during Reconstruction; the Freedmen's Bureau was headquartered here. German families sheltered teachers from the North, and hundreds of freedmen were taught to read. Its business community promoted progress, and immigrants stayed after arriving at this port of entry. By the end of the 19th century, the city of Galveston had a population of 37,000. Its position on
11766-582: Was also hindered by the construction of the Houston Ship Channel , which brought the Port of Houston into competition with the natural harbor of the Port of Galveston for sea traffic. Finally, the Seawall itself created an insurmountable problem: passive erosion resulting in the gradual disappearance of the once-wide beach and the resort business with it. "Within twenty years, the city had lost one hundred yards of sand. People who once watched auto racing on
11877-411: Was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its unparalleled collection of commercial Victorian architecture in Texas, and its role as the state's major port in the 19th century. Today "the Strand" is generally used to refer to the entire five-block business district between 20th and 25th streets in downtown Galveston, very close to the city's wharf . The original plat of Galveston, drawn in
11988-620: Was formed in Mobile in 1711, the Boeuf Gras Society . Then came the Striker's Independent Society in 1842, followed by the oldest parading mystic society the Order of Myths or "OOMs" in 1867. In 1720, Biloxi had been made capital of Louisiana. The French Mardi Gras customs had accompanied the colonists who settled there. In 1723, the capital of Louisiana was moved to New Orleans , founded in 1718. The first Mardi Gras parade held in New Orleans
12099-587: Was named after 18th-century Spanish military and political leader Bernardo de Gálvez, 1st Count of Gálvez (1746–1786), who was born in Macharaviaya , Málaga , in the Kingdom of Spain . Galveston's first European settlements on the Galveston Island were built around 1816 by French pirate Louis-Michel Aury to help the fledgling empire of Mexico fight for independence from Spain , along with other colonies in
12210-539: Was officially activated with the 46th Bombardment Group serving an anti-submarine role in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1942, William Lewis Moody, Jr., along with his wife Libbie Shearn Rice Moody, established the Moody Foundation , to benefit "present and future generations of Texans". The foundation, one of the largest in the United States, would play a prominent role in Galveston during later decades, helping to fund numerous civic and health-oriented programs. The end of
12321-400: Was transmitted via General Order No. 3 , an event now commemorated on the federal holiday of Juneteenth . After the Civil War, Galveston mandated street improvements and construction standards. The city required property owners facing commercial streets to construct and maintain sidewalks of wooden planks or bricks, or pay an assessment to the city for the construction of the same. During
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