Galveston is home to a multitude of museums. There are museums located in residential areas, museums along the main drag and museums on the waterfront. Everything from ships to rail roads with a few mansions thrown in.
Cheat Sheet
Texas Seaport Museum
Shiver me timbers! Where else can you see a completely restored tall ship from 1877? The pride of the museum is the tall ship Elissa, completely restored in 2013 and it looks like it’s ready to sail to pick up the next load. Bonus – you’ll be able to sail on the ship in April, 2019! See their website for details. No word on whether they’re going to make you swab the decks or walk the plank though.
Bryan Museum
Located in the Galveston’s Orphan’s Home(no, it’s not still active), it features exhibits on Texas and the American West with an emphasis on the Spanish influence in the region. With permanent exhibits and periodically different special exhibits it’s no wonder they have been voted the #1 Galveston Museum.
Moody Mansion
There’s a quaint little brick house that pops out at you as you drive along Broadway. That would be Moody Mansion, at a very compact 28,000! square feet, this mansion is jaw dropping. Restored to it’s 1900 glory, you will learn about the Moody family(spoiler alert, they were rich), how they lived, and how they accumulated their wealth. There is an audio tour that you can take on your own, but splurge for the guided tour and you can Instagram rooms that the regular Joe can’t.
The Bishops Palace
The Bishops Palace, also known as the Gresham house, towers over Broadway. It’s a Nicholas Clayton designed Victorian castle(yes, castle) wonder of intricate carvings and spires. The interior wood work is amazing and there’s a stained glass window that will amaze you! This is a must see Galveston museum.
, also known as the Gresham house, towers over Broadway. It’s a Nicholas Clayton designed Victorian castle(yes, castle) wonder of intricate carvings and spires. The interior wood work is amazing and there’s a stained glass window that will amaze you! This is a must see Galveston museum.
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum
Sitting in the ship channel is an actual drilling rig that you can visit. Retired drilling rig Ocean Star offers a hands on experience so that you can see how what it’s like to be on an oil rig in the middle of the Gulf. The only thing that’s missing is the solitude of being at sea for a month at a time.
Galveston Naval Museum
located on the appropriately named Pelican island, the Galveston Naval Museum is home to a submarine and a destroyer. Both saw action in WWII, the submarine USS Cavalla even sank an aircraft carrier. Tour both of these ships with the available audio tour and really feel like you’re in the action! When you’ve had your fill of the ships, there’s a picnic area where you can eat and watch the ferry and dolphins go by. Free admission for veterans and active military in March.
Galveston Railroad Museum
All Aboard! Complete with a mock up terminal, the Galveston Railroad Museum boasts restored trains from as early as 1892. Showcasing locomotives, dining cars, and mail cars you’re free to get on and see how people traveled before the airlines became the greyhound of the skies.
