Texan Edge

When The Lights Went Out in Galveston


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Episode Description 

Today on The Texan Edge, we head down the coast to Galveston—a place that knows something about storms, loss, and resilience. 

In 1900, Galveston was one of the most prosperous cities in Texas, often called the Wall Street of the Southwest. Then, on September 8th, the deadliest hurricane in U.S. history struck, devastating the city and taking thousands of lives. 

What followed was one of the most remarkable rebuilding efforts in American history. Galveston didn’t just rebuild what was lost—it rebuilt wiser. The city raised its elevation, constructed a seawall, and made deliberate choices to protect its future. 

This episode explores what that moment in Texas history teaches us about resilience—not denying the storm, but refusing to let it have the final word.  

Show Notes 

  • Why Galveston was once known as the “Wall Street of the Southwest”
  • The impact of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane
  • How the storm reshaped the city—physically and emotionally
  • The bold decision to raise the grade of the entire city
  • Building seawalls, boundaries, and wiser systems after tragedy
  • Reflection: where are you still standing in the wreckage?
  • Practical steps for rebuilding after personal storms
  • A Texas definition of resilience: facing reality and choosing forward motion


Today’s Texas history takeaway:
Resilience isn’t pretending the storm didn’t happen. It’s deciding the storm doesn’t get the final word.

Our porch light is always on. We’ll meet you again next week on The Texan Edge.
 
 

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Texan EdgeBy Tweed Scott