Historic Galveston

Galveston Island has been occupied since the early 1500’s by the Karankawa Indians who camped, fished and hunted in the area. In 1786, the Spanish colonial governor, Bernardo de Galvez, sent a party to chart the Gulf of Mexico from the Texas coast to New Orleans. The leader of the party named what is now Galveston Bay in honor of Bernardo de Galvez. Later, the island and city took the same name. In 1817, the privateer, Jean Lafitte, set up his base of operations on the island. A thriving community with a large slave market, shipyard, saloons, gambling house and Lafitte’s own mansion soon followed. In 1821, Lafitte attacked an American ship and was forced to abandon his operations here. That same year, the first Anglo-Saxon native Texan, Mary Jane Long, was born on Bolivar Peninsula. In 1836, four ships of the Texas Navy made their headquarters on the island protecting the coast from harassment by the Mexican Navy. These same vessels prevented supplies and men from reaching Gen. Santa Anna at San Jacinto, thus insuring victory – and Texas independence -- for Sam Houston’s army. In 1837, Congress designated Galveston as a port of entry thus earning for the city the nickname "little Ellis Island". Prior to the Civil War, with the Strand along the waterfront filled with mercantile firms, the area became known as the "Wall Street of the Southwest". In 1900, the devastating storm almost destroyed the city. Rebuilding from the ruins, Galveston became a top resort from the 1920’s into the 1940’s with supper clubs and casinos attracting top performers and people from throughout the United States. Today, Galveston is a major visitor destination with world-class beaches, attractions, museums, historic landmarks and restaurants welcoming travelers throughout the year.