"Slipping Through The Swirling Clouds Of... " a Galveston Travel Page by nomorewars

I made my first visit to Galveston in late 1997 shortly after starting a relationship with my soon-to-be wife. Initially, I didn’t think much of Galveston as I formulated my opinions on the city based upon the grotesque conditions of its public beaches, the overbearing presence of the city’s oil refineries, & the eerie feeling I had just walking the public streets. However, as time went on my interest in the city quickly rose to the point of an obsession.

Galveston is a city full of history, specifically two pieces of history that I find particularly fascinating: labor & civil rights. Prior to the City of Houston’s ascension as a powerhouse along the Gulf Coast, Galveston was the economic & political capitals of the region. Unfortunately for the city, the forces of Mother Nature had much to do with Galveston’s eventual decline. Although not much infrastructure from this previous error exists as a result of numerous Hurricanes, the city has done an excellent job in preserving certain artifacts, records, & even some buildings. All of these small pieces of time are proudly displayed in several different city museums & can be viewed by all visitors to the island.

The Juneteenth Holiday, which is celebrated all around the world, has its origins in the City of Galveston. It is here where the Union Army landed roughly two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, a two-part executive order issued by former President of the United States Abraham Lincoln, was signed into law. Led by General Gordon Granger, over 2,000 Union soldiers entered the State of Texas on June 19, 1865. General Granger read the Emancipation Proclamation before a massive public gathering, advised all in attendance that slavery in the State of Texas was now abolished, & forced the abolishment of slavery by taking control of the state. This date spawned the annual celebrations of Juneteenth, which is recognized & celebrated all around the world.

Today, Galveston is a hub for Gulf Coast festivals, outdoor concerts, & a wide assortment of other entertainment. It is a tourist-friendly city loaded with restaurants, amusement parks, wildlife refuges, & historic venues. Galveston is such a marvelous city. I hope my page shows you why.

Welcome to Galveston!!