City of Galveston

City of Galveston. . Galveston was named after the Spanish governor of Cuba, Louisiana, and Florida; Bernardo de Galvez. The Port of Galveston, the oldest deepwater port on the Gulf of Mexico west of the Mississippi River, began operating in the 1830's. In 1836, Galveston was founded and received a city charter in 1839. Galveston was the largest city in Texas in 1880. , Galveston was the most important seaport in the south during the Civil War. It exported large amounts of cotton. France, England, and Spain had consulates in Galveston. After 1875, the U.S. Immigration Station was established at Galveston's Pier 29, and the city was the port of entry for thousands of immigrants. In 1900, the city was devastated by a hurricane, later known as the Storm of 1900. (See Marker #3) Two things were necessary for the city to revive: a seawall and a grade raising of over two thousand structures. The Ashton Villa is an example. , The causeway connecting Galveston Island to the mainland of Texas opened in 1912. Galveston is still a major port, connected by a channel with the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The city exports cotton, tea, rice, and oil-drilling equipment. It has a ship repair industry and services offshore oil drilling rigs. Galveston is the Texas Queen of Victorian architecture. Festivals include Dickens on the Strand and Mardi Gras. The Oleander City is also a popular convention and tourist resort city. , The economic life and spiritual welfare of Texas owes much to those who came to Galveston aboard sailing vessels and whose influence spread throughout this great state. , Texas Firsts. . The first Chamber of Commerce in Texas was established in 1845. Soon after, in 1847, the first convent was established in Galveston – The Ursuline Convent. , . The oldest railroad in Texas, the Galveston, Houston, Henderson Railway, is still operating under its original charter. It was organized in Galveston and incorporated on February 7, 1853. , . The first terminal, the Galveston Wharf Company, was established in Galveston in 1854, and is now known as the Galveston Wharves.