Galveston Unscripted | VisitGalveston.com

Did you know that the American Civil war made its mark in Galveston?

During the American Civil War, in October of 1862, The Union Navy had finally seized control of the Port of Galveston. Galveston was the premier port along the Texas Coast, key for shipping cotton. On New Year’s Day 1863, A joint effort between the confederate army, and a makeshift confederate naval force attacked the Union Naval ships in Galveston harbor. The confederacy hatched a plan to utilize cotton clad warships. These vessels were essentially steam powered packet steamers, with pressed cotton stacked up around the edges as armor. The confederate army, Led by General John Bankhead Magruder, used the Hendley building, and other smaller buildings on Strand and 20th Street. Confederate Cannon fire hailed from the Hendley Building and the cotton clad vessels steamed into the Port of Galveston from Houston, the confederate forces surprised the Union Navy. The battle was quick as the Union Navy was ill prepared and the confederacy once again claimed Galveston. After this battle, the union was never successfully able  to maintain control of the port of Galveston, making Galveston the only confederate port not successfully captured during the Civil War.

For more from Galveston Unscripted or to deep dive into Galveston history: visitgalveston.com

Galveston Unscripted on video!

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

Located at Pier 19 and 20 , the Mosquito Fleet is home to many of Galveston‘s shrimp boats. It is said that the name “Mosquito fleet” comes from the shrimping boats insect like profiles. The mosquito fleet area is home toThe mosquito fleet area is home to the historic 1838 Kuhn’s wharf, the popular Katie’s Seafood Market and restaurant. , and plenty of hungry Pelicans! Before Galveston’s first bridge connected to the mainland in 1860, the area around the mosquito fleet became the cities open market. Boats would arrive from the mainland bringing produce, beef, and other goods to barter. The area between the grass and the mosquito fleet was once a wooden pier extending to the location of the entrance to the Ocean Star. This was known as Kuhn’s Wharf.  During the Civil War, Kuhn’s Wharf was the location of USS Harriet Lane as the confederacy began what is now known as the Battle of Galveston. Be sure to take a close look at some of those shrimp boats! Chances are, if you’ve eaten Texas gulf shrimp they were caught by one of them!

Galveston Unscripted on video!

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

The ocean star oilfield energy center is a retired offshore drilling rig that has been converted into a museum and education center exhibiting the process of onshore and offshore drilling. The Ocean Star is a jack up rig and was built in 1969 in Beaumont, Texas. This rig worked throughout the Gulf of Mexico, mainly along the Texas and Louisiana gulf coast and has drilled approximately 200 wells during her active years. Since retirement, she has been converted into a fascinating education center and energy history museum. Go check out the Ocean Star and see if you can imagine life onboard a jack up oil rig!

For more from Galveston Unscripted or to deep dive into Galveston history: visitgalveston.com

Galveston Unscripted on video!

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

While standing on Pier 21, you will be able to see pelican Island across Galveston Harbor.
Pelican Island is home to Texas A&M University in Galveston, Seawolf Park, and the Galveston Naval Museum, which exhibits a World War II era destroyer escort and submarine.Pelican Island is mostly man-made from mud pulled from the Galveston, Texas City, and Houston ship channels during dredging projects over the past century. When a ship channel is deepened and widened, there needs to be a place to put the mud and pelican island became the ideal place for engineers looking for a place to expand real estate in Galveston bay. Maps dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s show two small islands north of Galveston itself known as Pelican Island and Pelican Spit. I highly recommend driving to the far east end of pelican Island to experience the Galveston Naval Museum and Seawolf Park. Seawolf Park is known in this part of Texas as a first class fishing destination. As you look across the water from Pier 21, you probably see ships, oil rigs, tugboats, or possibly all of the above. Pelican Island is Home to multiple Maritime related businesses including dry docks for vessel and oil rig repair, tugboat companies, offshore vessel services and even a dock specifically made to load crude oil onto shipping vessels. 

Galveston Unscripted on video!

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

For more from Galveston Unscripted or to deep dive into Galveston history: visitgalveston.com

Galveston Unscripted on video!

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

The monument on the grass at Pier 21 is dedicated to the first Navy of the republic of Texas. The Texas Navy descended from the Texian Navy, developed during the Texas Revolution. The Texas Navy is credited for keeping the Mexican Navy focused on defending the Mexican supply lines to their ground troops during the Texas Revolution as well as the beginnings of the Republic of Texas. Throughout the lifetime of the republic of Texas, the Texas Navy had quite a few skirmishes with the Mexican Navy and even assisted the Republic of the Yucatán in their rebellion against Mexico. When Texas became a part of the United States the Texas Navy was merged into the United States Navy.

For more from Galveston Unscripted or to deep dive into Galveston history: visitgalveston.com

Galveston Unscripted on video!

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

Elissa was built in Aberdeen, Scotland as a merchant vessel in a time when steamships were overtaking sailing ships. She was launched on October 27, 1877. Elissa has sailed under multiple sailed under Norwegian and Swedish flags. After nearly a century of sailing the open seas, the Elissa fell into a state of disrepair. Several attempts were made by various organizations around the globe to acquire the Elissa from Greece, as she was one of the last of her kind that had survived a life at sea. She was finally rescued by the Galveston historical foundation in 1975. Check out the Galveston historic Seaport to tour their Ship to Shore exhibit as well as a tour on the Elissa.

For more from Galveston Unscripted or to deep dive into Galveston history: visitgalveston.com

Galveston Unscripted on video!

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

Standing on Pier 21 is one of the best ways to experience the port of Galveston short of hopping on one of those cruise ships.  Pier 21 is where the downtown district meets the 200 year old port of Galveston. While standing on Pier 21 looking towards The harbor you can see pelican Island across the ship channel. Pelican Island is mostly man-made from dredge mud pulled from what is now the Houston, Galveston, and Texas City ship channels.  While looking west, you may be able to spot the masts of the 1877 Tall Ship Elissa at the Galveston in Historic Seaport. If you look to the east, you will see the ocean star offshore drilling rig and museum. Behind you on the grass, you will find the official historic marker for the Texas Navy. Be sure to check out some of the exciting dolphin and harbor tours they offer at Pier 21 in front of Willie G‘s seafood. Go roam round pier 21 and explore everything you can see of the port that built Texas 200 years in the making.

For more from Galveston Unscripted or to deep dive into Galveston history: visitgalveston.com

Galveston Unscripted on video!

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!