Galveston, Texas: History and Resilience

1. Unit 10 (Ch. 20, Sect. 1)

2. Galveston, Texas: Basic Facts • Galveston is located on Galveston Island, 50 SE of Houston • Galveston has been the home to • Native Americans (Karankawas) • Pirates(Jean Laffite) • Revolutionary Governments (Ad interim) • Began in April of 1838

5. Galveston, Texas: Basic Facts • Mexico used Galveston as a port due to its naturally deep harbor. • In 1800s Galveston was a center for cottonshipping for Texas and the U S. • Largest city in Texas from 1870-80 • 22,248 people

6. Loading Cotton in Galveston

7. “Wall Street of the Southwest” • During the late 1800s Galveston was Texas’ most refined city. • Beautiful architecture • Galveston enjoyed its role as the financial center of Texas, a true white-collar city. • First Texas city to have: • electric lights • telephone • baseball team

8. Ashton Villa Built 1859; one of first brick structures in Texas; survived 1900 storm

9. The Bishops Palace Built 1893; Hundreds of survivors stayed here during 1900 storm

10. The Grand 1894 Opera House Still in operation today with noted theater plays, musicals, concerts, etc.; Survived 1900 storm

11. September 1900 • By early September 1900, citizens of Galveston hear about a storm in the Gulf of Mexico • Did not know how powerful it was • Most citizens disregarded the warnings given by Dr. Isaac Cline

12. Dr. Isaac ClineThe city’s representative of the U.S. Weather Bureau

13. September 7, 1900 • Dr. Cline notices unusual swells in the gulf as he makes his rounds, but nothing signaling what’s to come. • Dr. Cline received messages from the Weather bureau as Galveston had been put under a storm warning as early as Sept 4. • Galveston’s 38,000 residents go to sleep that night unaware of the fate that awaits them

14. 1900 Storm Path

15. September 8, 1900: Early Morning • Early in the day, water begins to flood homes blocks from the beach • Galveston’s highest point above sea level was only 8.7 feet and people begin to move to higher ground and into tall buildings • As flood waters rise the bridge to mainland is destroyed by a boat that escapes its moorings

16. September 8, 1900: Early Evening • By the early evening, the winds began to blow the deadly storm surge onto the island • A storm surge of 15.7 feet swept over the island and completely submerged it. • People fled to the second and third stories of high buildings • Winds estimated at near 130 mph gusts

17. September 8, 1900: Late Evening • As people fled the storm, many were killed by flying debris from houses that had been destroyed by wind and water • People clung to anything to keep afloat. • By night time the city was in utter darkness as the gasworks for city lighting was destroyed.

18. September 8, 1900: Midnight to Early Morning Next Day • By 11:00 pm, the winds turned from the south and the storm began to weaken • By the next morning the storm was gone and devastation was left in its wake: • 6,000-8,000 people dead on the island • 3,600 buildings destroyed • $20 million in damage done to the island = to $700 million today

21. Causeway before the storm Causeway after the storm

24. Aftermath • Galveston had to recover • Bodies were collected to be identified and then a plan was made to dispose of them • Bodies were staked on barges and weighted down to be sunk in the gulf. • A few days later the bodies washed back onto the island.

25. Aftermath • The city officials decided to burn all the bodies. • Many African-American citizens were put in charge of burning the bodies. • Galveston asked for assistance from the governor to prevent riots in the city • 125 people were shot for looting from houses and from the dead bodies.

27. Changes After the Storm • Galveston changed its City Government to a commission system to speed up the process of recovering • A seawall was proposed to block the island from deadly storm surges • The city planned to raise it’s elevation by bringing in sand from the gulf

29. The Seawall • Galveston built a 17 foot sea wall that extends for over three miles of the islands coastline. • They increased the elevation of the town by 16 feet • These projects were completed by 1904, causing Galveston to miss out on the oil boom.

32. Galveston Rebuilds • Galveston resumed its role as a port of entry for Texas immigrants after the Hurricane • However, Houston overtook Galveston as the most important port city in Texas when the Houston Ship Channel was built.

33. Galveston Today • Galveston’s economy today is based largely on tourism. • It is also the home of the two Universities: • Texas A&M University @ Galveston • University of Texas Medical Branch

34. Galveston Tourism

35. Dickens on the Strand • With a nod to the ghost of Charles Dickens (author of A Christmas Carol) past and an eye towards the future, Galveston’s world famous Victorian holiday festival returns to Galveston Island December 4-6. The annual holiday street festival, based on 19th-century Victorian London, features parades, non-stop entertainment on six stages, strolling carolers, roving musicians, bagpipers, jugglers and a host of other entertainers. Costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with holiday food and drink, Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations and gift items.

36. VIEW OF GALVESTON TEXAS LOOKING TOWARDS THE GULF