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Galveston, Texas: History, Hurricane, and Recovery

Explore the fascinating history of Galveston, Texas, from its origins as a Native American settlement to its rise as the "Wall Street of the Southwest." Learn about the devastating Hurricane of 1900 and the city's remarkable recovery. Today, Galveston remains a thriving port city and popular tourist destination.

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Galveston, Texas: History, Hurricane, and Recovery

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  1. Chapter 20 Section 1

  2. Galveston, Texas • Galveston is located on Galveston Island, 2 miles off the Texas coast, and 50 SE of Houston • Galveston has been the home to Native Americans, Pirates, Revolutionary Governments and many Texas residents • The city of Galveston was begun in April of 1838 and was officially organized in 1839

  3. Galveston, Texas • Mexico had used Galveston as a point of entry and used it as a port due to its naturally deep harbor. • During the 1800s Galveston was a center for Cotton shipping for Texas and the United States. • It grew to be the largest city in Texas by 1870 and remained that way through 1880 with a population of 22,248 people

  4. Loading Cotton in Galveston

  5. “The Wall Street of the Southwest” • During the late 1800s Galveston was Texas’ most refined city. • Beautiful architecture adorned the streets of the city, and Galveston enjoyed its role as the financial center of Texas, a true White-Collar City. • Galveston was the first Texas city to have electric lights, a telephone and baseball team

  6. Ashton Villa

  7. The Bishops Palace

  8. The Grand 1894 Opera House

  9. September 1900 • By early September, 1900, citizens of Galveston had heard there was a storm in the Gulf of Mexico, but they did not know how powerful it was • Most citizens disregarded the warnings given by Isaac Cline, the city’s representative of the U.S. Weather Bureau

  10. Dr. Isaac Cline

  11. September 7, 1900 • Dr. Cline notices unusual swells in the gulf as he makes his rounds, but nothing signaling what’s to come. • Dr. Cline continued to receive messages from the Weather bureau as Galveston had been put under a storm warning as early as Sept 4. • Galveston’s 38,000 residents go to sleep that night unaware of the fate that awaits them

  12. 1900 Storm Path

  13. Hurricane Ike Path

  14. September 8, 1900 • Early in the day, water begins to flood homes blocks from the beach • Galveston’s highest point above sea level was only 8.7 feet and people begin to move to higher ground and into tall buildings • As the flood waters rise the bridge to mainland is destroyed by a boat that escapes its moorings

  15. September 8, 1900 • By the early evening, the winds began to blow the deadly storm surge onto the island • A storm surge of 15.7 feet swept over the island and completely submerged it. People fled to the second and third stories of high buildings • The winds estimated at near 130 mph gusts

  16. September 8, 1900 • As people fled the storm, many were killed by flying debris from houses that had been destroyed by wind and water • People clung to anything to keep themselves afloat. • By night time the city was in utter darkness as the gasworks for city lighting was destroyed.

  17. September 8, 1900 • By 11:00 pm, the winds turned from the south and the storm began to weaken • By the next morning the storm was gone and devastation was left in its wake: • 6,000-8,000 people dead on the island • 3,600 building destroyed • $20 million in damage done to the island

  18. Causeway before the storm Causeway after the storm

  19. Aftermath • Galveston had to recover • Bodies were collected to be identified and then a plan was made to dispose of them • Bodies were staked on barges and weighted down to be sunk in the gulf. A few days later the bodies washed back onto the island.

  20. Aftermath • The city officials decided to burn all the bodies, and began to stack them down on the beaches. Many African-American citizens were put in charge of burning the bodies. • Galveston asked for assistance from the governor to prevent riots in the city • 125 people were shot for looting from houses and from the dead bodies.

  21. Changes • Galveston changed its City Government to a commission system to speed up the process of recovering • A seawall was proposed to block the island from deadly storm surges and the the city planned to raise it’s elevation by bringing in sand from the gulf

  22. The Seawall • Galveston built a 17 foot sea wall that extends for over three miles of the islands coastline. • They increased the elevation of the town by 16 feet • These projects were completed by 1904, causing Galveston to miss out on the oil boom.

  23. Galveston Today • Galveston resumed its role as a port of entry for Texas immigrants after the Hurricane • However, Houston overtook Galveston as the most important port city in Texas when the Houston Ship Channel was built.

  24. The Strand Historical District

  25. Galveston Today • Galveston’s economy today is based largely on tourism. • It is also the home of two Universities: • Texas A&M University @ Galveston • University of Texas Medical Branch

  26. VIEW OF GALVESTON TEXAS LOOKING TOWARDS THE GULF

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