"A city full of history" a Galveston Travel Page by Jefie

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Mardi Gras action on the Strand

History buffs won't know what to visit first in Galveston! Haunted by the ghosts of such pirates as Jean Lafitte, 19th century millionaires and the victims of the Great Storm of 1900, Galveston makes for a great tourist destination. Founded in 1836 by fellow quebecois(!) Michel Menard of La Prairie QC, Galveston quickly grew into one of the richest cities of the United States thanks to its prolific port, and The Strand became the "Wall Street of the southwest".

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Memorial to the victims of the Great Storm

The Great Storm hit Galveston on September 8, 1900, destroying 1/3 of the city and killing over 6,000 people, making it the worst natural disaster in American history. Drastic measures were taken to prevent such an disastrous event from ever happening again: a 55,000 feet seawall was built along the Galveston's ocean front, and a large part of the city was literally raised by about 4 to 6 feet. The city thus overcame this great tragedy and although it never regained its pre-storm prosperity, it became a popular tourist spot thanks to its mild winters, cool summers and numerous attractions.