Dublin Core
Title
Introduction to Galveston - Click the arrow above to begin the narration
Description
Galveston, TX, is located on an island just off the Gulf Coast south of Houston. The island is 27 miles long and never more than 3 miles wide.
The city of Galveston, on the eastern end of the island, was settled in the early 19th century and by 1870 it was the largest city in Texas, a very important port, and a major point of immigration. Galveston owes its unique character to the diversity and wealth of this period. Many German, Norwegian and Jewish immigrants settled here. Others came from established cities on the east coast and built thriving businesses, financial institutions and grand homes.
After the Great Storm of 1900 – still considered the greatest natural disaster in US history – Galveston rebuilt, added a seawall, raised the entire island and continued to grow as a tourist destination although Galveston’s fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout the twentieth century. In 2008, Hurricane Ike once again devasted the city but also showcased the resilience and character of the residents as they recovered, rebuilt and reimagined the city once again.
Today, Galveston’s approximately 50,000 residents play host to cruise ships, beachgoers, history buffs, naturalists, conventions and special events. They are employed in the hospitality, medical, financial, retail, education and other service industries. The fulltime population lives in neighborhoods, where residents are racially and socioeconomically diverse. This exhibit visits Williams Borden, a neighborhood in midtown Galveston. The aim of the project is to celebrate the character of Williams Borden and to encourage conversation about ways to enhance and protect that character in the future.
The city of Galveston, on the eastern end of the island, was settled in the early 19th century and by 1870 it was the largest city in Texas, a very important port, and a major point of immigration. Galveston owes its unique character to the diversity and wealth of this period. Many German, Norwegian and Jewish immigrants settled here. Others came from established cities on the east coast and built thriving businesses, financial institutions and grand homes.
After the Great Storm of 1900 – still considered the greatest natural disaster in US history – Galveston rebuilt, added a seawall, raised the entire island and continued to grow as a tourist destination although Galveston’s fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout the twentieth century. In 2008, Hurricane Ike once again devasted the city but also showcased the resilience and character of the residents as they recovered, rebuilt and reimagined the city once again.
Today, Galveston’s approximately 50,000 residents play host to cruise ships, beachgoers, history buffs, naturalists, conventions and special events. They are employed in the hospitality, medical, financial, retail, education and other service industries. The fulltime population lives in neighborhoods, where residents are racially and socioeconomically diverse. This exhibit visits Williams Borden, a neighborhood in midtown Galveston. The aim of the project is to celebrate the character of Williams Borden and to encourage conversation about ways to enhance and protect that character in the future.
Creator
Nancy Flint-Budde
Date
Nov 2020
Sound Item Type Metadata
Original Format
mp3
Duration
5 seconds
Transcription
intro galv