Galveston in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Saengerfest Park
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 14, 2018
1. Saengerfest Park Marker
The park takes its name from Saengerfest, a biennial singing contest sponsored by German immigrant choral societies around the State of Texas in the 19th century. A choral group from Galveston, “the Salamanders,” took top honors in the 1879 competition in New Braunfels, Texas, thereby receiving the honor of hosting the next Saengerfest in April 1881. In honor of this occasion, the City of Galveston built a lighted pavilion and giant, temporary arches along the Strand. Four hundred singers from 13 choral societies across the state were welcomed to the island with a torchlit parade that passed beneath these arches. Today’s Galveston Arches, constructed in 1986 celebrating Galveston’s revived Mardi Grass, took their inspiration from these festival monuments. Saengerfest Park, a project of George and Cynthia Mitchell, is inspired by the same spirit of civic celebration.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Man-Made Features • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.
Location. 29° 18.438′ N, 94° 47.676′ W. Marker is in Galveston, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker is at the intersection of 23rd Street and Strand Street, on the left when traveling south on 23rd Street. Marker is located
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Thomas Jefferson League Building (within shouting distance of this marker); 1871 Thomas Jefferson League Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Greenleve, Block & Co. Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Armour & Company Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Thompson Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Magale Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Galveston Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Merchants Mutual Insurance Company Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galveston.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Saengerfest and the 1986 Galveston Mardi Gras Arches
Also see . . . Saengerfest Park. Saengerfest Park is a small square park located on the corner of 23rd Street and The Strand in Galveston's Historic Strand District. (Submitted on June 19, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 14, 2018
2. Saengerfest Park Marker (wide view)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 14, 2018
3. Powell Arch
Powell Arch, located beside The Tremont House on Ship Mechanic Row Street at 24th Street, is part of the civic design project undertaken in 1985 and based on temporary decorative arches constructed in 1881, when the City of Galveston hosted Saengerfest, a biennial singing contest sponsored by German immigrant choral societies around the state of Texas.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2018. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 248 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 19, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
