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The Grand 1894 Opera House Before and After the 1900 Storm

Front cover of March 4, 1895, program from the Grand 1894 Opera House. The Grand 1894 Opera House Before and After the 1900 Storm
In May 1894, Henry Greenwall, theatre manager, and notable Galveston civic leaders including Leon Blum, John Sealy Jr., and Morris Lasker formed the Grand Opera House Company and were able to raise $100,000 for construction of the building. In almost every way, the Grand was intended to be an upgrade of the Tremont Opera House, formerly located on Tremont and…
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Fort Point Light Station

Photo of September 1900 page from the Fort Point Light Station Log, MS73-0381 Fort Point Light Station
Fort Point Light Station was a lighthouse on the northeast tip of Galveston Island, on the south side of the entrance to Galveston Bay. Construction began in 1881, four years after Congress earmarked $15,000 for the light. Its beacon was finally shown on August 15, 1882, and it would light the Galveston channel until 1909. The lighthouse was an eight-sided…
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Juneteenth Experiences in Galveston

Juneteenth Experiences in Galveston
As the birthplace of Juneteenth, Galveston is overflowing with opportunities to dig deep into the history behind its celebration. Here at the Rosenberg Library and Galveston and Texas History Center, you can find a wide variety of experiences and resources unique to Galveston to get you into the Juneteenth spirit.
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Galveston Cemeteries From Yesteryear

Photo of gravestones lying in a pool of water in Rosewood Cemetery, Galveston, Texas Galveston Cemeteries From Yesteryear
Galveston and Texas History Center has resources available for research on cemeteries across the island -- those located along Broadway Avenue and those elsewhere. For the latter group, these include two cemeteries that were almost lost to history: Rosewood Cemetery and Magnolia Grove Cemetery. Rosewood Cemetery was founded in 1911 by a group of African American shareholders that organized themselves…
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The Pumping Station and the Power House

Photograph of Galveston Water Works after the Storm of 1900. The Pumping Station and the Power House
The hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900, remains one of the most destructive hurricanes to hit the United States to date. Many of the places affected were severely damaged but soon after repaired and are still standing today. Other places were destroyed altogether but were later rebuilt. Two buildings that went through the latter fate were the…
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Two Galveston Lifesavers

Photograph of Charles Bertolino, circa 1905. Two Galveston Lifesavers
Carmelo "Charles" Bertolino (1887-1960), nicknamed the "Dean of Galveston's Lifeguards," was born in Galveston on September 4, 1887, to Italian immigrants Salvatore Bertolino and Rosalia Trapani Bertolino. He worked as a commercial fisherman and as a baker at Graugnard's Bakery on 13th Street and Avenue L. Reportedly he would swim for five miles in the Gulf of Mexico every morning…
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StoryMap Exhibit of 1900 Storm Damage

Photo of men searching through debris after the Storm of 1900 in Galveston, Texas. StoryMap Exhibit of 1900 Storm Damage
On Saturday night, September 8, 1900, a massive hurricane struck Galveston, Texas. The hurricane killed approximately 8,000 people on the island and several thousand more on the mainland. Galveston suffered an estimated $30 million worth of property damage. It remains to this day the deadliest storm to ever hit the United States. Galveston & Texas History Center has published a…
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Children’s Artwork from a Former Merchant Seaman

Painting featuring Doctors Without Borders ship, by Perry Ellis Children’s Artwork from a Former Merchant Seaman
Galveston and Texas History Center (GTHC) recently acquired and processed a collection of children's paintings by Admiral Perry Duane Ellis, as well as correspondence from pediatric hospitals and dignitaries from all over the world thanking him for sending them samples of his work. Admiral Ellis completed the paintings free of charge and sent them to hospitals such as University of…
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How Gender and Sexuality Influenced the Suffrage Movement

How Gender and Sexuality Influenced the Suffrage Movement
When the United States Constitution was written in the 18th century, it did not guarantee women the same voting rights and protections as men. It wasn’t until 1920 when the 19th amendment was ratified, that women were legally granted the right to vote. Gender and sexuality impacted every social, personal, and political component of the suffrage movement that parallels contemporary…
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Galveston’s Trailblazing Women

Galveston’s Trailblazing Women
Women’s History Month celebrates contributions women have made throughout history, while national or worldly figures are often highlighted, the Rosenberg Library would like to recognize pioneering women within our own Galveston community. Galveston as a whole has a unique and diversified history, many people and communities have created the makeup of what we know of Galveston as of today, but…
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The Wigwam: Galveston’s Beach Convention Center

Black-and-white drawing of the Wigwam, Galveston Daily News, July 24, 1898, page 15. The Wigwam: Galveston’s Beach Convention Center
Casey Edward Greene, Rosenberg Scholar Galveston was unable to host beach conventions during the late 1890s. The closest structure that could meet this need, Olympia-by-the-Sea, was a wood pavilion at the foot of 25th Street. Opening in the summer of 1896, Olympia was geared toward hosting theatrical and acrobatic events and concerts. The Democratic State Convention wished to hold its…
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Virtual Preservation Series Saturdays in August

Virtual Preservation Series Saturdays in August
Recordings of all three programs are available on the Rosenberg Library's YouTube channel:Making it Last: Preserving Your Family's Papers and PhotographsI Just Bought an Old House - Now What?Your History Matters - To Your Family and To Your Community ------ Please join us for Saving Your History, a series of virtual workshops hosted by the Galveston and Texas History Center…
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Rosenberg Library Museum
2310 Sealy Avenue, 4th Floor
Galveston, TX 77550

Weathering the Storm: Life for Black Galvestonians in 1900 and Beyond and The Great Storm of 1900 exhibitions are located on the 4th floor. Many other artifacts and fine art collections are available to view throughout the building, including the Treasure of the Month and Subject Unknown on the 2nd floor.

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