Galveston in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Galveston Office of the National Weather Service

Photographed By Jim Evans, June 9, 2012

1. Galveston Office of the National Weather Service Marker

Inscription. First weather service office in Texas, and one of first in the United States; established April 19, 1871, slightly over a year after Congress passed an act in Feb. 1870 creating the Public Weather Service of the United States under the Army Signal Corps.

For a century the Galveston service has issued Gulf storm forecasts. It correctly posted warnings prior to Texas' greatest natural disaster -- the 1900 hurricane that left more than 6,000 dead -- but had its own office demolished (although records were saved). Its men shared the common sorrows of the city in losses of family members and property.

In Sept. 1961 the first live and direct televised picture of a hurricane—the famous and devastating Carla—was broadcast from the Galveston station. This set a pattern for other radar-equipped coastal weather stations throughout the United States.

Galveston is the only weather station directly on the Gulf Coast west of Florida. Although many meteorological stations have moved with the coming of the aviation age, this oldest Texas station has compiled charts for 100 years within a 5-block area.

Erected 1971 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 7473.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics

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. A significant historical date for this entry is April 19, 1935.

Location. 29° 18.154′ N, 94° 47.739′ W. Marker is in Galveston, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker is at the intersection of 25th Street and Avenue F, on the right when traveling south on 25th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 601 25th Street, Galveston TX 77550, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Original Oleander Planting in Galveston (approx. 0.2 miles away); Texas Society, Sons of the American Revolution (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Rosenberg Library (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Eugenia & George Sealy Pavilion (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church of Galveston (approx. 0.2 miles away); Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Building (approx. ¼ mile away); The Moody Home (approx. ¼ mile away); William Lewis Moody, Jr. (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galveston.

More about this marker. Incise on base: Galveston County Historical Survey Committee

Regarding Galveston Office of the National Weather Service. The building (not the marker) is in the National Registry of Historic Places listed as "Galveston US Post Office, Custom House and Courthouse"

Also see . . . This Building (not this marker) is on the National Register of Historical Places.

Galveston Office of the National Weather Service image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jim Evans, June 9, 2012

2. Galveston Office of the National Weather Service

The marker is to the far left above the vehicle.

This building is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places as the "Galveston US Post Office, Custom House and Courthouse." The list is alphabetical. (Submitted on June 11, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 794 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.