I came on a Dolphin tour with my GS troup over the summer, and this tour was a highlight of the…read moretrip. Baywatch Dolphin Tours is one of the most popular dolphin excursions on the island, taking guests out onto the Galveston Harbor on a fleet of four different pontoon boats with shaded seating and open sides for sightseeing. Dolphins often swim through Galveston Bay and are easy to spot on wildlife-watching outings from Pier 21, and as such, a dolphin-watching trip is a perfect excursion while staying at your Galveston. The outings last 45 minutes and cover 3 miles of waterfront, so they're easy to squeeze in on a busy day of sightseeing in the Downtown Historic Strand Seaport Area. On this tour, you'll be able to see Galveston's waterfront attractions, like Pier 21, 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA, and the S.S.Selma while learning about some of the harbor's history. As a veteran, I was most impressed with the history of the S.S. Selma. Fun facts: The Selma is a 7500 ton reinforced concrete tanker built in Mobile, Alabama, was launched on June 28, 1919. The ship was one of several concrete ships conceived and designed during World War 1. Construction was not completed until the war ended. The ship had a length 420 ft., a beam of 54 ft. and a draft with full cargo of 26 ft.. and loaded displacement was 13,000 tons. This vessel marked the first use of shale aggregate expanded in rotary kilns for lightweight structural concrete. The tour guides were both entertaining and knowledgeable. If in the area, this tour is definitely one to go on as it's for all ages and can please those like me who like to learn historical facts on trips, for those who love nature (the dolphins were very active during our tour) and for all those in between. * Tours happen rain or shine

Had a great tour around the island. Appreciated the humor and knowledge that our driver/tour guide…read moreshared. I learned lots of new information about the island.

This was another incredible find when walking through the Strand Historic District on the way to…read morethe Railroad Museum. The "Absolute Equality" artwork was created by Reginald C. Adams as part of the Juneteenth Legacy Project. It's vibrant and large. It tells the step by step story visually and in writing. It's kind of difficult to capture the writing underneath it in photos unless you break it down into sections. It's easier to read in person. It also happens to be placed at the spot where Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger read General Order No. 3 at the former Osterman Building (now a paid parking lot) on the corner of 22nd Street and The Strand. Just watch out for cars pulling into the lot. I had no idea that the celebration of Juneteenth (Emancipation Day) started here in 1866. Just a year after the General Order was read. It has been an observed state holiday (now a federal holiday) in Texas since 1979. Amazing! It's a beautiful way to commemorate and memorialize this historical event. It's a must see mural! Don't miss it when in Galveston.

I figured since I was in Galveston I would make a stop at an area that is tied to an important part…read moreof history. Juneteenth, starting in Galveston, is a notable area in the city to visit. I wanted to visit here and since we were already out, I decided to drag my friends this way so that we could see where the proclamation was read. As we approached the area, it didn't look like much, but that is probably because of the direction we were approaching. When we got to the site of the building the proclamation was read from we realized the original building was no longer there. However, take the time to read the plaque to give yourself some context to the moment. The area is a welcoming one. Some benches to sit on but the thing that catches your eye is the mural on the building. It depicts the historic moment and give a bit more context to the plaque. I got to see this place in the late evening hours, but I am sure that it is better to see during the daylight hours. It is still an amazing and historic place that you should put aside some time to see.

The Powhatan House is a very well preserved example of early Galveston architecture. Built in 1847,…read moreit was the residence of one of Galveston's early mayors, John Seabrook Sydnor, who also grew up here. It was Sydnor's middle name of Seabrook for which the little town just north of Galveston on the edge of Galveston Bay was named. It is remarkable for the fact that it is in very good shape, and for the fact that it survived to 1900 Storm and several others since! It is located at 3427 Avenue O. It is very impressive to view and is surrounded by shrubs on the front facing avenue O and on the side facing 35th street. It is the current location for the Galveston Garden Club. With that being said, I would think that as a garden club they would keep those hedges a little more manicured! There is a Texas Historical marker located on the 35th street side and it is kind of hard to see, or photograph as the hedges are a little high and somewhat obscure the view. There are times when the Galveston Historical Society do tots of the islands historical homes and sometimes this one is included. It is usually the first two weekends of the month of May. It's a good way to learn about a lot of Galveston's past history, and there is a lot to learn as there are quite a few historic old homes left in Galveston with seeing and learning about!

The perfect spot to take festive and fun pictures!! The lights at night also make this arch really…read morestand out. Always see tons of people taking group pics, and even seen wedding pics in front of the arch. It is right near the tremont hotel, the strand, bars, and restaurants!

I've been to several GHF events; Bishops Palace midnight tour, their warehouse, dang, I can't…read moreremember them all since 2013 when I moved here. So tomorrow April 7th, 2018 I'm going to the Plank-owners Captain Dinner and walking aboard on the 6 ships

Boat tour Seagull 2 was excellent I enjoyed the dolphins. Nathan was very informative about the…read morehistory of the area. Brian handle the boat suberbly. I would highly recommend the tour and seeing the Elissa as well as other tours Galveston historical foundation.

March 18, 2022 Galveston Island Texas…read more Went to an event that was sponsored by the Villa but was put on by "Rockstar Beer Festivals" We sat at a sold out show for about an hour 15 minutes. We listened to the narrator tell us ghost stories about the owners of Ashton Villa and other well knowns while we sipped cocktails (not one craft beer though which there is plenty of local breweries here) They "tried" to make it like the ghosts were present in the home, but, that was funny not haunted. We stayed in the big banquet room the entire time; we never toured the home (I've seen this home before but, I'm sure others had not, my friend included) C'mon, now if you're during a haunted ghost story event in a beautiful 3 story "historical" home that's a survivor of the 1900 storm that wiped out this island...you gotta move around and see the place. Disappointed. The drinks were very tasty. The crew was nice. The narrator was a good story teller AND he hammered a 6 inch nail into his nose, besides the awesome location, these were the best parts. For $46...and a BIG emphasis on tipping, it wasn't worth it. 5 STARS for the location. 3 for the event.

I grew up coming here and as an adult went to a few weddings. Today I went to celebrate Juneteenth…read morebecause it began in Galveston and this is where General Gordon Granger read off the proclamation for the emancipation of the slaves. As Ashton Villa was the site of the reading, it holds a special place in history. I am proud of this beautiful home in my wonderful hometown.

It was the "Wallstreet of the Southwest" prior to the 1900 Storm. A financial district in a booming…read moreport city that was thriving due to the cotton industry and port location. The restored Victorian style buildings along The Strand still keep that memory alive. Unfortunately, it was all built close to sea level which had devastating consequences when the hurricane hit. It took the city over a decade to recover. All the buildings that survived were raised 17-20 feet higher. At the time, it was considered a feat of ingenuity along with the construction of the massive seawall. The Strand went through a period of disrepair up until about the 1970s. That's when many of the buildings that you see today were restored and given a historical landmark status. It started with the Old Strand Emporium. The King family opened up La King's Confectionery around the same time that the Mitchell's were revitalizing the Blum Building. This would eventually become the rebirth of the Tremont House Hotel. I mean, this is just a summary of events that made this district what it is today. There's really a lot more that went into all of this. Let's just say it was a very interesting visit full of charm. There's so many attractions to see in this part of town. There are many touristy shops mixed in with boutique shops and restaurants. I swear there's a bar on every corner, and some in between. The pier is nearby where you can get fresh fish. Some of the cruise ship terminals are within walking distance from here. There's at least 4 different museums including a railroad station and an oil rig. I think our favorite stop was La King's Confectionery. If that's not enough, then go there during one of their festivals. They have one for Mardis Gras, FeatherFest, Juneteenth, Shrimp Festival, Lone Star Rally and the Dickens at The Strand. It was an enjoyable visit!

Galveston's Strand Historic District is a remarkable journey through time with a contemporary…read moreatmosphere. Once a bustling center for commerce and trade, the history is astounding. Before 1900, Galveston was the New York of the Gulf Coast with the Strand as its spine. With the discovery of oil, its status grew. Then, came tragedy. Without modern weather forecasting the monster hurricane of 1900 roared ashore. 8,000-12,000 would die. The event remains the deadliest in U.S. history. Today, much of the Strand has been beautifully restored, celebrating historic significance while embracing revitalization. Visitors are treated to delightful shops, cultural sites and restaurants. Off-Strand: Mechanic Street, Gaido's and Shrimp 'N Stuff are near by. The Strand and Galveston proper are not just about history but where past and present exist harmoniously.

Very cool piece of not only national but local naval history. The destroyer escort is an enjoyable…read morewalk through display of WW2 history. The submarine is also walk through with good written descriptions of each compartment and a testament to the heroism of those that served on her! $10 mandatory free for park entrance and parking. $14 per adult to tour the naval displays.

Well worth the drive to the tip of Pelican Island off of Galveston Island, this hidden park is a…read moregreat way to spend an afternoon. You can find a fishing pier, playground, picnic area, and great views of Galveston Harbor. Entrance fee is $10 a vehicle to park and visit the park. If you want to tour the historic ship and sub, it will be an extra charge of $10-15 a person but is not mandatory to visit the park. My family enjoyed walking around the park, taking in the sights of fisherman hauling in their catch, the wildlife (pelicans, dolphins, sea turtles), and the ships passing through and by the harbor. We also decided to tour the sub and destroyer from WW2. It took about an hour for us to walk through both ships, self guided. A fair amount of history with both vessels but wish the tour would have been a little longer, especially on the destroyer. Fun time to spend an afternoon in Galveston, great for families. If you skip the ships, it makes for a very cheap activity while in Galveston. Even with the ships, it is still pretty affordable afternoon.

One of my absolute favorite pieces of Galveston architecture, of which there are many. Garten…read moreVerein and the surrounding old city neighborhood is joyous driving, biking or strolling.

Sept 16th, 2022 My…read morefirst time here. I came for an appreciation dinner for the volunteers of the historical foundation It's a nice BIG open space with pretty landscaping.

A very neat experience that takes no time at all. Easy to navigate and very enjoyable to see the…read morehistory of Galveston.

During a long weekend trip last week to Galveston, I was fortunate enough that a waitress at BLVD…read moreSeafood recommended I check this old house out. It was nicely laid out and you could walk up and buy a ticket with a self guided audio tour of the place that included historical tid bits about the family and what was happening in the area at the time they lived in it. They apparently have private tours of the upstairs/attic areas but those you have to book and pay for in advance. I enjoyed the audio tour and even bought a few items at the quite spacious gift store! At times I felt like I was the only one in the house because it was probably a non tourist heavy day. You can easily park on the street and walk in to buy a ticket the day of...well at least on the day I was there!