visit texas a&m galveston

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Visit aggieland or take a virtual tour.

Touring our campus in College Station is by far the best way to learn about Texas A&M's unique history and traditions, stellar academic programs and vibrant student life. Tours are led by the Howdy Crew, student leaders who love sharing with prospective students and families what sets us apart from the rest.

WE WELCOME ALL PROSPECTIVE AGGIES TO VISIT AGGIELAND!

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On-campus group visits

We welcome high school students! Groups of 11-44 are invited to participate in a 90-minute walking tour led by a member of the Texas A&M Howdy Crew.

Plan Your Visit

Learn what you should expect from your trip to Aggieland. Find a place to stay, a bite to eat and all the fun to be had in Bryan/College Station.

EXPERIENCE WHAT MAKES TEXAS A&M UNIQUE

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Types of tours.

FAMILY CAMPUS VISITS

Family campus visits are offered on specific scheduled weekdays from 10:00am-12:00pm when the University is open.    Advance registration is required . 

We do not offer family campus visits:   (1) On weekends; (2) When the University is closed; (3) During New Student Conferences; (4) The week before the first week of classes for Fall and Spring semesters; (5) During the first week of classes for Fall and Spring semesters; and (6) During final examinations for Fall and Spring semesters.

The last family campus visit offered for Summer 2024 will be Friday, August 9.

The Fall 2024 family campus visit schedule will be published the week of July 1 with Monday, August 26 being the first available date.  The last family campus visit for Fall 2024 is Wednesday, December 4.

For questions, please email the Campus Visits Team at [email protected] .

GROUP CAMPUS VISITS

Group campus visits for schools (i.e., middle school, high school) and college-interest organizations (i.e., AVID, TRIO, etc.) must be scheduled in advance  and can only be for days/times during University business hours of operation (Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 4:00pm). 

Click the link below for more information and to complete the Inquiry for Group Campus Visit form.

For the month of August 2024, we are not able to accommodate group campus visits the week of August 12 (the week week before the start of the Fall 2024 semester) and the week of August 19 (the first week of classes for the Fall 2024 semester).

ENGINEERING AT GALVESTON

Explore Engineering at Galveston   through a family campus visit.  If you have any questions about Engineering at Galveston, please email [email protected] .

INTERESTED IN CAMPUS EXPERIENCES?

We offer hands-on marine adventures for schools and groups at the Texas A&M University Galveston Campus.

FIELD TRIPS AND CAMPS

Texas A&M University at Galveston offers field trips and experiences for all ages through  Sea Camp  and  Sea Campus Kids ! These range from week-long adventures and hands-on research experience to day camps for young marine biologists in training.

Visitor Center

Howdy welcome to texas a&m, appelt aggieland visitor center.

A campus visit is the best way for prospective Texas A&M University students and families to learn what being an Aggie is all about. Our extraordinary visitor experience is led by the Howdy Crew. These friendly student guides are experts on Texas A&M history, traditions, academics and student life, and they take pride in showing you what sets us apart from the rest.

ON-CAMPUS VISITS

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Frequently Asked Questions

See frequently asked questions about Texas A&M University's engineering program in Galveston.

1. How are the general engineering programs in Galveston and College Station related?

The Texas A&M College of Engineering is a single unit that offers the first-year curriculum at multiple locations, including College Station, Galveston and McAllen. The good news is that no matter which location you begin your academic career at, you are a Fightin’ Texas Aggie!

2. How do I apply to the Engineering at Galveston program?

Students interested in the Engineering at Galveston program have two options to apply:

• Option 1: Students should submit the traditional freshman application to Texas A&M University — Galveston, available at goapplytexas.org . And select one of the following College of Engineering majors offered in Galveston: computer science, interdisciplinary engineering, multidisciplinary engineering technology or ocean engineering.
• Option 2: Students should submit the traditional freshman application to Texas A&M University — College Station, available at goapplytexas.org . It is recommended to indicate Galveston as your preferred location and to select one of the following majors: computer science, interdisciplinary engineering, multidisciplinary engineering technology or ocean engineering. This will ensure you are given full consideration for the Engineering at Galveston program. For detailed instructions, visit Applying to Galveston .

3. What are the advantages of beginning my engineering education on the Galveston campus of Texas A&M University?

• With less than 2,500 students, the Galveston campus offers a small campus atmosphere. This means smaller class sizes, easier access to faculty and the ability to develop an academic community with your peers. In addition, the quiet nature of campus is conducive to studying and academic success.
• Beginning your education on the Gulf Coast offers a unique experience to which students in College Station don’t have access. From the beaches, to the many island festivals, to Galveston’s night life, our students find many ways to balance their academic and social lives.
• Galveston is the ideal setting to study ocean- and marine-oriented disciplines. Students who choose to complete their four-year engineering degree at Galveston will experience the perfect location for studying all aspects of engineering that deal with the ocean, ships and the coast.

4. If I begin my engineering education on the Galveston campus, what is the process for entering into a degree-granting engineering major?

The Entry to a Major (ETAM) process is the same for all students regardless of where they begin their engineering education. Once students successfully meet the minimum ETAM requirements, they apply to at least three of the 20+ majors offered in the College of Engineering, and they also have the option to specify a location. Once accepted into a major, students move to the location where that major is offered. More information about the ETAM process can be found on the ETAM website .

5. Can I complete my full degree on the Galveston campus? What majors are offered?

In addition to the four-year degree programs offered at the College Station campus, general engineering students can also choose to complete their four-year engineering degree on the Galveston campus. At Galveston, there are currently four engineering degrees being offered that take advantage of the campus’s unique setting on the Gulf of Mexico. These include:

• Computer Science
• Ocean Engineering
• Interdisciplinary Engineering: Engineering for Marine Environments
• Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology: Electro Marine Engineering Technology

You will hear more about these programs at your New Student Conference and will be given the opportunity to explore all of them during your first year. Regardless of where you complete your degree, you will earn the same Texas A&M University diploma and the same Texas A&M Aggie Ring!

6. Will the General Engineering program on the Galveston campus prepare me for my intended engineering major?

Regardless of location, students in general engineering complete three foundational engineering courses. These are taught by faculty from the Texas A&M College of Engineering and are overseen by the general engineering program in College Station. In addition, all students in general engineering complete several rigorous math and science courses taught by Texas A&M faculty that have been reviewed and aligned for content by their respective departments in College Station. In summary, the general engineering curriculum is designed to prepare you for success in your intended major!

7. Will I have access to student organizations, research opportunities, etc. on the Galveston campus?

While your first year in engineering will be challenging, and success in academics should be your top priority, we recognize the importance of pursuing extracurricular activities that enhance your education. The Galveston campus offers opportunities with multiple technical student organizations including Student Government Association, Society of Women Engineers, and Marine Technology Society to name a few. In addition, there are numerous faculty members pursuing research both in engineering and in other departments on campus. Interested students often find research opportunities working in their labs. In terms of student employment, there are lots of on-campus job opportunities for students as well.

8. Am I required to take a math placement exam? What is this exam and how can I prepare for it?

The College of Engineering requires that all students take the Math Placement Exam (MPE) prior to attending a New Student Conference. The MPE tests students on their knowledge of pre-calculus and determines which math course they will enroll in during their first semester at Texas A&M. It is important that all students follow the guidance of the MPE, since proficiency in mathematics is a key factor to your success in an engineering program. To find out more about the MPE and how to prepare, visit the MPE website .

9. Does the Galveston campus offer services to students with disabilities?

In addition to the Disability Services office in College Station, the Galveston campus has the Counseling and Career Services office that assists in providing students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the full range of college experiences. The office is also available to provide students with counseling services. For more information, visit the following:

• Galveston Campus Disability Services
• College Station Campus Disability Services

10. I have questions regarding residence life, dining, extracurricular activities, etc. offered on the Galveston campus. Who can I contact?

The best way to find out more about the Galveston campus is to schedule a campus visit (see FAQ question 11). However, for questions about specific services, visit the webpages listed below. There you will find information about services offered, as well as contact information.

• Dining Services
• Housing  
• Student Activities
• Library Services  

11. Can I visit the Galveston campus? Who can I contact to schedule a visit and tour?

Texas A&M University at Galveston hosts individual and family tours. Tours begin in the Academic Building (Bldg. 3034) with a presentation about admissions, financial aid, academic programs, and the Corps of Cadets. A walking tour of campus is offered after the presentation. The walking tour will include campus housing, classroom buildings, the Ocean and Coastal Studies building, the Powell Marine Engineering Complex, the Mary Moody Northen Student Center, the Jack K. Williams Library, the Physical Education Facility and the small boat basin. The best way to schedule a tour of the campus is to visit Galveston’s Office of Admissions webpage . 

Galveston   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Galveston Tourism Board |

21 Best Things To Do in Galveston

Updated Sep. 22, 2021

Soaking up the sun on shorelines like Stewart Beach or East Beach , and taking the free ferry over to Port Bolivar are some of the best ways to take advantage of Galveston's seaside locale. Visiting families can head to Moody Gardens for amusement

• All Things To Do

Stewart Beach Stewart Beach

Stewart Beach is one of the most popular strips of sand in Galveston, and with its host of beachside amenities, it's no wonder. There are lifeguards, restrooms, showers, concession stands, plus chair and umbrella rentals – and even a playground for kids. Recent visitors appreciated this beach's large parking lot and loads of amenities, as well as the beach's proximity to the  Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier . 

Stewart Beach sits where Broadway Avenue and the Seawall intersect. Parking costs $12 between Monday and Thursday and $15 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the beach welcomes visitors from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Offseason hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday Keep in mind that this family-friendly beach prohibits alcohol. For more information, visit Galveston's tourism board  website . 

The Strand The Strand free

The Strand is a five-block, National Historic Landmark District featuring shops, galleries, bars and restaurants housed in 19th-century buildings in downtown Galveston. As you walk along its strip, you'll get an idea of what Galveston was like back in its heyday. Look for placards highlighting the district's historical must-sees, such as the Grand 1894 Opera House , which is still an operating theater. 

Visitors to The Strand remarked on the architecture of the buildings, and some of the cute shops and restaurants, not to mention the vendors that sell beer and ice cream, which you can enjoy on the sidewalks. However, some recent travelers said you had to weed through a bunch of ho-hum souvenir shops to find the real gems. 

East Beach East Beach

Located at the easternmost point of Galveston, East Beach is a wide swath of sand that welcomes visitors to relax and soak up the sun or partake in the many ongoing events and festivals throughout the year. A few popular summertime events travelers may want to check out include the annual American Institute of Architects Sandcastle Competition, where artists build intricate and impressive structures out of sand, and the live concerts on the entertainment stage. This beach features numerous amenities, such as a pavilion, restrooms with showers, beach chair and umbrella rentals, beach volleyball courts, lifeguards and a boardwalk. Concessions are also available, where visitors can purchase food and drinks (including alcohol). Leashed pets are also allowed on this beach. Keep in mind, glass is prohibited and tents and tarps are only permitted in specific areas.

Recent beachgoers appreciated this clean beach and noted it's great for walking. Visitors say East Beach is a convenient option in Galveston, and many appreciate the on-site amenities available here. You can also watch the cruise ships sail in and out of Galveston's port from this beach, which many said was a fun activity. A few were disappointed about the rules regarding tents and tarps (you're not allowed to have them particularly close to the ocean).

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East End Historical District East End Historical District free

Gorgeous pastel-hued houses line flower- and tree-filled streets in Galveston's East End Historical District, which stretches across more than 50 blocks in the city center. This charming area was Galveston's first residential neighborhood and it is home to some of the best-preserved 19th-century residential architecture in Texas. The scenic spot is on the National Register of Historic Places – and it's a popular neighborhood for visitors and locals to peruse. Travelers might also notice the neighborhood's tree sculptures: Artists took advantage of debris and uprooted trees left behind from Hurricane Ike's wake in 2008 and created whimsical sculptures (think: dolphins, dogs, alligators, geishas, guitars, mermaids and more) from the remains.

The nonprofit East End Historical District Association is dedicated to "preserving, restoring and protecting the cultural and architectural integrity" of the neighborhood, and the entity owns several of the homes in the district. The EEHDA also hosts numerous fundraising events in the area throughout the year as well, including the popular fall garden and holiday home tours.

Bishop's Palace Bishop's Palace

Bishop's Palace – also known as Gresham's Castle – was commissioned by Col. Walter Gresham, an attorney and entrepreneur, and designed by one of Galveston's famous architects, Nicholas Clayton, at the turn of the 19th century. In 1923, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston bought the building, using it as a bishop's residence until 1963 (hence the name, Bishop's Palace). The Victorian home – a National Historic Landmark – is now open to the public for tours and is filled with architectural treasures, such as an all-silver fireplace, bronze dragons and stained-glass windows. 

Recent visitors described the house as "magnificent" and "grand" and were especially complimentary of the attraction's gift shop, which is housed within several rooms of the palace's basement. Most said a visit here is worth every penny of the admission price. However, some cautioned that children may not find this attraction interesting. 

The Grand 1894 Opera House The Grand 1894 Opera House

This incredibly ornate theater hosts musical and art performances year-round, showcasing everything from Broadway musicals and concerts to dance performances and comedy shows. The Grand 1894 Opera House is an impressive and historical Galveston landmark: It has survived numerous storms and hurricanes, it's been restored and refurbished, and it's one of the few remaining theaters of its era. As such, this beautiful theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and it enjoys recognition as "The Official Opera House of Texas." The theater seats 1,000 and features plush navy cushioned chairs framed in wood, intricate detailing on the walls and carpet, and a grand ruby red curtain on its stage. 

Past visitors say there's not a bad seat in the house at this theater and many appreciate the acoustics and intimate setting. Several patrons highly recommend catching a show here, so plan to look at the calendar of events to see if there's anything that piques your interest when you're in town. 

Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston

Located about 5 miles west of downtown Galveston, this 26-acre water park offers plenty of fun for visitors and is especially popular with families. Schlitterbahn Waterpark is home to numerous water playground areas, several pools, a zip line and dozens of waterslides. The waterslides are the standout attractions here: The Screaming Serpents are side-by-side racing slides, the thrilling Cliffhanger body slide plunges 81 feet, the Thunder Tub raft slide takes three-person tubes through dips and twists, and the Massiv Monster Blaster water coaster takes riders on a twisting, turning, splash-filled journey via tube. Schlitterbahn's website classifies the "thrill level" of each attraction, so daredevils can make sure to hit the most exhilarating waterslides and families can make sure to head toward the more relaxing or low-impact attractions. The water park also features cabanas for rent and several dining options (ranging from pizza to barbecue to ice cream), plus it occasionally hosts events.

Recent travelers say a visit here makes for a fun day for families, especially those with teens and young children. Visitors particularly enjoyed the lazy rivers and the thrilling water slide options. A few expressed disappointment that some attractions were not open when they visited, so you may want to call ahead to make sure most of the options are open before scheduling your trip.

Moody Mansion Moody Mansion

Moody Mansion is a 28,000-square-foot estate, which was home to the Moody family, one of the Lone Star State's most eminent entrepreneurs. It dates back to 1895 and is filled with historical artifacts and beautifully decorated rooms. Visitors can tour 20 rooms across the four-floor home, which feature the furniture and curios collected by the family over their 86 years of living there.

Recent visitors said they learned a lot about one of Texas' most influential families, as well as the architecture of the time, through the self-guided audio tours of the mansion. However, others wished that the whole home was on view, not just the first and second floors. 

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Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is a wharf that juts out from the Texas Gulf Coast. Here you'll find amusement park rides, shops and eateries. The Pleasure Pier is also a study in resilience: It was originally built in the 1940s, but in 1961 Hurricane Carla completely destroyed it; later in 2008, Hurricane Ike severely damaged it too, and in 2017 Hurricane Harvey battered it with wind and waves. Still, it's up and running once again. Rides available include a rollercoaster and a Ferris wheel, and there are multiple eateries located on the pier, serving everything from barbecue to pizza to ice cream and milkshakes.

Recent visitors said visiting the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is a great activity for the whole family, though they also caution that the rides and businesses along the boardwalk are pricey. If you're not interested in the rides or games, reviewers still recommend Pleasure Pier for its people-watching and Gulf Coast views. Plus, you'll find plenty of places to sit along the boardwalk.

Moody Gardens Moody Gardens

Moody Gardens is a 242-acre theme park, complete with a variety of attractions and a hotel and convention center. The complex houses a wave pool, a beach and a lazy river, which is open seasonally. The gardens also contain a zip line and ropes course, an aquarium, a rainforest zoo and more. Moody Gardens provides several educational experiences and even private and public animal encounters with penguins, otters and seals (for an additional fee). 

Visitors say that although admission to Moody Gardens is expensive, it makes for a fun day. Travelers particularly enjoyed the rainforest and its exhibits, and seeing all of the animals in the aquarium. The attraction is especially fun to visit during the holidays, when the park twinkles with lights and ice sculptures, according to recent travelers. 

Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry free

To travel from Galveston Island to the Port Bolivar peninsula – or to simply see the sights along the way, which is what most visitors seem to do – the ferry is the way to go. One of the greatest things about the ferry, which is operated by the Texas Department of Transportation, is that it's free. 

Recent visitors said the trip is a great activity, as well as mode of transportation, since along the way you might spot dolphins in the water and seagulls in the sky. Many recommend this as an activity to do with kids, as they enjoy the birds and the boating experience. Others warn that the ferry is prone to long waits in the summer, but they recommend persevering even still.

Galveston Children's Museum Galveston Children's Museum

The Galveston Children's Museum is filled with engaging activities and interactive exhibits for little ones. Geared toward kids 1½ to 12 years old, the museum is a great way to spend a fun, family-filled day learning and playing. Exhibits here range from the Kids Clinic, where children can learn about their bodies, medicine and doctors, to A Stroke of Genius art studio for painting and sculpting to the Building Zone for creating and interacting with a large Lego wall. Other areas of exploration include a puppet theater, an engineering area and a food-focused play station, among other options. Travelers are allowed to bring their own food and drink to the museum (although staff notes you cannot eat in the exhibit areas). There are both indoor and outdoor areas available for visitors to enjoy snacks and drinks.

Recent visitors raved about the Galveston Children's Museum, saying it is an excellent place to bring young kids. Families said their youngsters were able to enjoy the exhibits and run around and play with other children visiting the museum, keeping them occupied for long periods of time. Museumgoers also said there were plenty of spots for parents to hang out while the kids played. 

Galveston Island Brewing Galveston Island Brewing

Billed as Galveston's largest brewery, Galveston Island Brewing invites craft beer enthusiasts to sample its tasty creations. The beers on tap are all brewed on-site and range from year-round drafts to seasonal brews to specialty options. Year-round beers include a wheat beer, a German-style ale, two IPAs, a porter and an American amber ale. Seasonal options include the Flip Flop Lager (spring), the Hefen-A and Coconut Hefen-A wheat beers (summer), the Oktoberfest (fall) and the Pit Pat Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter (winter). Specialty options might range from seltzers to double IPAs.

Visitors can sip their beers in the taproom or in the yard area, which features picnic tables, Adirondack chairs and umbrellas (dogs are welcome on the lawn as well). Beer drinkers who get hungry can enjoy snacks and food items like chips, soft pretzels and sandwiches.

First Mate Open Cockpit Biplane Ride in Galveston

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Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum

A museum on offshore drilling may not sound like the most enticing thing to see on your trip to Galveston, but visitors say it's quite a hidden gem. Recent museumgoers describe the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum as "fascinating," "fun" and "interesting." The museum is located on a retired oil rig in the Galveston Channel and features a variety of interactive exhibits to help visitors learn more about offshore drilling and the oil and gas industry. The tours are self-guided and begin with an introductory video. Travelers can then explore the three floors of the museum and its exhibits, and the two exterior areas of the rig.  

What's more, the second Saturday of each month is the museum's Family Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which is focused on different themes surrounding the oil and gas industry. There are hands-on displays and fun experiments presented that make it easier for young visitors to learn, plus anyone 18 or younger can enter for free with a paying adult during Family Days. The museum also offers specialty programs for boy and girl scouts, overnight programs and more.

The Bryan Museum The Bryan Museum

Home to a variety of art, artifacts, interactive displays and more, The Bryan Museum invites visitors to explore the story of Texas and the American West. The museum, which opened in 2015, got its name from J.P. Bryan who – at 10 years old – acquired two antique firearms, then started a rare book and printing business in college, continued to amass eclectic art and literature, and the collection grew from there. The pieces showcased in this collection span 12,000 years, including artifacts and art from ancient Native Americans, 20,000 rare books and rare maps, antique firearms, thousands of documents in a variety of languages and 21st-century objects. The permanent collection also includes numerous pieces of fine art, portraits, religious art and folk art. The Bryan Museum hosts rotating exhibits and special collections as well; before your visit, you should check what offerings are available. The museum often features after-hours events and programs on-site, such as wine nights and a few history series. What's more – the museum itself is located in the historic Galveston Orphans Home, surrounded by beautiful flora, and occupies a Renaissance revival-style building.

Those who love Texas history or history in general should pencil in a visit to The Bryan Museum, according to reviewers. Many previous museumgoers say they weren't expecting such an interesting and wide range of exhibits, and several say the staff members were particularly knowledgeable and helpful.

Galveston Railroad Museum Galveston Railroad Museum

The Galveston Railroad Museum is all about trains and railroads, and helping visitors learn more about both. The museum features both permanent and rotating exhibits, and it is home to one of the largest restored railroad collections in the country. Permanent fixtures include large Santa Fe Warbonnet trains, numerous steam and diesel locomotives, freight cars, a variety of passenger cars to explore and more. The museum also hosts several events throughout the year, including holiday celebrations and kid-focused programs. Visitors can also ride in an open-air caboose (weather permitting) if visiting on a Saturday.

Recent visitors said they found this museum to be particularly interesting and informative, and many said if you're already a train buff this is a must-visit attraction. Several families with kids said their children got a kick out of all of the big trains and loved exploring the exhibits. Many also really enjoyed the train ride and said that although it was short, it was worth the extra fee.

Galveston Island State Park Galveston Island State Park

For a dose of natural beauty, visitors should make some time for Galveston Island State Park. Located about 15 miles down the coast from The Strand , the park offers plenty of outdoorsy activities, such as swimming, fishing, hiking and bird-watching, among other options. Plus, its campsites are also an affordable way to spend the night.

Along with the peaceful beach environment at Galveston Island State Park, visitors also appreciated the shower and restroom facilities.

Pier 21 Pier 21 free

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Seawolf Park Seawolf Park

Galveston Pocket Parks Galveston Pocket Parks

Galveston Ghost Tours Galveston Ghost Tours

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Pictured: Latte can be found at Sugar Bean Coffee & Cream in Evia.

Explore 62 vibrant Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle statues across the island.

Galveston Tours

See Galveston, TX with expert-guided and self-guided tours of the city. Visit the tree sculptures, Turtles About Town, the Seawall Interpretive Traill, and more.

With an abundance of things to see and learn, Galveston Island has several tours for you to soak it all in.

pictured: Galveston Duck Tours

Guided Tours

Experts provide immediate answers to your questions on a guided tour of Galveston. You’ll have a chance to meet other people with similar interests and exchange information about favorite places you’ve been in Galveston.

Self-Guided Tours

Are you a traveler who enjoys self-guided tours? There are no arrival or departure times. Many of the experiences are free. And if you want to experience our island alone or with just your family, these self-guided tours are ideal. Walk, rent a golf cart, bike or Segway to visit the tree sculptures — the silver lining to the damage wrought by Hurricane Ike. Find the Turtles About Town , a public art project about the Turtle Island conservation efforts. Explore Galveston’s rich African-American heritage , with its 14 historically African-American churches that were organized more than 100 years ago and still serve the community today. Many unique experiences crisscross the island and are ready for your discovery. Take your time, bring a book and stop for something to eat at one of our wonderful cafes and restaurants. After lunch, head out on another self-guided tour. Walk the Seawall Interpretive Trail , with plenty of artist-designed benches to sit. Park your car and board the free ferry to Bolivar Peninsula and back. And polish off the day by watching the sunset on a cruise or sitting on the sand at Pirates Beach in Galveston Island State Park .

Ditch the car and experience all that the island has to offer in these unique transportation options.

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13330 Settegast Rd Galveston, Texas 77554

2101 Harborside Dr. Galveston, Texas 77550

2100 Harborside Galveston, Texas 77550

2127 Broadway Galveston, Texas 77550

1 Hope Blvd Galveston, Texas 77554

2415 Seawall Blvd Galveston, Texas 77550

4001 Ave K Galveston, Texas 77550

19 Pier 21 Galveston, Texas 77550

521 Seawall Blvd Galveston, Texas 77554

Galveston, Texas 77550

2121 Market Street Galveston, Texas 77550

2711 Market St Galveston, Texas 77550

2100 Harborside Drive Galveston, TX Galveston, Texas 77550

2216 Avenue H Galveston, Texas 77550

2602 Santa Fe Pl Galveston, Texas 77550

14302 Stewart Rd. Galveston, Texas 77554

2313 Harborside Dr Galveston, Texas 77550

722 21st Galveston, Texas 77550

23rd and Sealy Galveston, Texas 77550

2528 Postoffice St Galveston, Texas 77550

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Texas A&M Wetlands

Birding location.

Pelican Island, Galveston, TX ( Directions )

Texas A&M has dedicated a portion of the Pelican Island Campus to the study of coastal wetlands.  The acreage encompasses various habitats, including salt marsh, bay water and beach, sea-grass beds, and freshwater marsh.  Over a mile of trails extend around the sea-grass nursery, the saltwater marsh, to the fresh water wetlands, and along the bay shoreline.

Look for wading birds, shorebirds, and neo-tropical migrants.

Free parking is available in the lot on the way to the trail.

Inland Trail with Trees

Nearby Places of Interest

Seawolf Park

Texas A&M Galveston

Turtles About Town: "Zeke"

Galveston Naval Museum

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TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT GALVESTON - WHERE YOU BELONG

You’ll find a second home and family with students that share your personal and career interests while getting a world-class education at Texas A&M University’s island campus. The Galveston Campus gives you all the benefits of a renowned university with access to top-of-the-line resources, undergraduate research opportunities, and excellent faculty. Located on the Texas coast, we are in the perfect location for you to earn your marine or maritime degree. Students excel where they feel comfortable. The Galveston Campus has more than 60 student and professional organizations, interest-based living options, smaller classes and strong student-faculty relationships. Texas A&M helps send well-rounded individuals into the world. You will learn the skills necessary for your degree and grow in leadership, communication and teamwork.

Students from across the world call Aggieland their home — we believe it’s Where You Belong .

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Galveston’s Texas-Size Plan to Stop the Next Big Storm

S outheast Texas’ coast is flat and twiggy, bordered mostly by the sea and emblems of the region’s biggest economies—high-rise hotels and oil and smoke-puffing gas refineries. The coastal resort city of Galveston, about an hour’s drive southeast of downtown Houston, transports more tons of cargo than any other port in the United States. It’s a peaceful, watery place. Two long, thin bodies of land stretch toward each other along the Gulf Coast—Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula, separated by less than three miles of water at the entrance to Galveston Bay. Each is about 27 miles long and 3 miles wide at its widest point. In between the two is the mouth of the Houston Ship Channel, which provides an estimated $906 billion in economic value to the U.S. each year. Much of that comes from oil and gas entering and leaving the refineries that cluster around Houston.

From the eastern edge of Galveston Island, looking across the bay on an April afternoon, Bolivar Peninsula is barely visible above the sand dunes that line the shore. Cargo tankers stretch far enough to resemble mountains on the watery horizon of the Gulf of Mexico. As tranquil as Galveston may seem, it has been the site of monstrous storms. In September 1900, the Great Galveston Storm flooded the city with a nearly 16-foot storm surge, killing an estimated 8,000 people, to this day the deadliest natural disaster in American history. In September 2008, Hurricane Ike smacked down onto Bolivar Peninsula, destroying 3,600 homes and leaving at least 15 people there dead. More than a million people in the Texas Gulf had to flee, and nearly 2,000 had to be rescued from the storm surge—violent waters thrust up to 20 feet above standard sea levels.

Since then, Texas engineers and lawmakers have been scrambling to find a way to protect the Galveston coastline and the larger Houston region. They’re hardly alone. As climate change brings rising sea levels and as more intense storms batter coastlines, cities along the East Coast, including Miami, Charleston, and the metropolitan centers in New York and New Jersey, are working on plans for expensive coastal-protection projects.

But perhaps no plan is as ambitious—or as ready to go—as the $34 billion project that has emerged in the wake of Hurricane Ike. The coastal Texas project, as it is officially known, draws on techniques pioneered by flood-prone countries like the Netherlands. But it’s been custom-designed for all the different needs of the Galveston coast. Homeowners will be able to look out at sand dunes and restored wetlands, while the city’s business district will be surrounded by reinforced concrete floodwalls. The project’s most ingenious element is a series of 36 sea gates, including two massive gates at the mouth of the Houston Ship Channel, that will seal off Galveston Bay from a devastating surge in the event of an incoming storm. And Texas is due for one. “We have a cycle here of about one every seven years,” says Kelly Burks-Copes , who oversees the coastal Texas project for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “And it’s been about seven years.”

Burks-Copes, who has a PhD in interdisciplinary ecology and urban-rural planning, and more than a decade of experience on storm-related mega-projects, arrived in Galveston eight years ago. I met her this past spring, when she gave me a tour of the coastline and talked me through the long, complicated journey of the project’s conception and design. With short blond hair and a bright expression, she reminded me of a favorite college professor. “What happened was the storm hit, and a bunch of universities and other entities came up with designs, but nobody could settle on one,” she said. At that point, local Texas governments petitioned Congress to step in, and in 2015 Congress tapped the Army Corps of Engineers to come up with a solution. “We went through all of these plans, and basically drew from them pieces and parts.”

With its patchwork of influences and ideas, the coastal Texas project is unlike anything that has ever been put into practice. Burks-Copes and her colleagues have had to get feedback from a huge cast of characters—petroleum executives and neighborhood environmentalists, ship pilots and academics, federal and state lawmakers. The federal government has promised to pick up 65 percent of the construction costs. Texas will pay for the rest. After a lengthy review process, the final conceptual designs are now set. If the plan succeeds, it could forever change the way Americans mitigate storm damage.

The Army Corps of Engineers has been protecting the nation since the Revolutionary War, when it erected barriers to fortify an area near Bunker Hill. Since then, the corps has helped plan some of the world’s largest bridges and roadways, along with the Washington Monument and the Pentagon. Its projects have included dams that are widely hailed as marvels. But fortifying coastlines against climate change presents a new set of challenges. Congress gave her a mandate, Burks-Copes says: “Look at what everybody else has done and incorporate the good parts into your efforts.”

Galveston has had a seawall since the early 1900s, but the massive waves of Hurricane Ike poured right over it. The first person to put forward the idea of an offshore storm barrier for Galveston was William Merrell , a longtime marine scientist at Texas A&M at Galveston. He likes to tell the story of an epiphany that came to him on September 13, 2008, as he and his wife, daughter, grandson and two chihuahuas witnessed Hurricane Ike’s Galveston landfall from one of two 19th-century buildings he and his family had restored downtown. Merrell has spent his career studying storms—in particular, the physics of the ocean and the impacts of hurricanes. He has earned awards from the National Science Foundation, where he also served as an assistant director. A novel he wrote features the Great Galveston Storm of 1900.

During the storm in 2008, roughly eight feet of water filled the city’s streets; 110-mile-per-hour gales whipped the building’s brick walls. Through the wind’s howl, Merrell’s mind drifted back to a trip he’d taken in the 1970s to the Netherlands, to recruit Dutch researchers for the U.S. Deep Sea Drilling Project, a massive scientific effort that, among other things, helped support the theory of plate tectonics. In his off time, he’d toured Delta Works, an expanding series of flood-protection barriers that the Netherlands had been building since the 1950s. More than a quarter of the country’s terrain lies below sea level, and the earliest examples of flood barriers recorded in that area date back more than 2,000 years. Those barriers—known as dikes—evolved from careful stacks of earth to complex feats of modern engineering.

At the time of Merrell’s visit, engineers were working on the country’s largest and most ambitious barrier project. After a 1953 storm caused devastating floods in the Netherlands, the country launched the Delta Works project, which closed off vulnerable inlets with an array of dams, floodgates, locks and embankments. “Evidently, it imprinted on my mind,” Merrell told me. When he sat down to sketch out a plan for protecting Galveston, he came up with a coastal spine, with barriers and gates inspired by the multifaceted Dutch approach. The plan became known as the “Ike Dike,” a nod to both Hurricane Ike and Dutch engineering. The name was so catchy that people in the Houston area often refer to the current proposal as the Ike Dike, even though it’s significantly different from what Merrell originally proposed, and it isn’t a dike. (Technically, a dike protects land that would otherwise be underwater.)

At first, other scientists argued that Merrell’s plan would be too expensive and complex for the Texas coast. Critics told him he was crazy—to his face, in the offices of elected leaders, and through headlines, which pitted Merrell’s idea against other proposals. “The idea was violently opposed,” he said.

One of Merrell’s most prominent opponents was Jim Blackburn, an environmental lawyer and co-director of Rice University’s Severe Storm Prevention, Education and Evacuation from Disaster Center. “I started off saying it was nuts to put up a coastal barrier,” Blackburn tells me, sitting at a boardroom table in the Houston office of the environmental nonprofit BCarbon, where he’s the CEO. “He reminds me of the heroine in Gone With the Wind ,” Blackburn adds, comparing Merrell to Scarlett O’Hara, who famously declared, “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again!” That’s how Blackburn imagines Merrell having his dramatic epiphany: “As God is my witness, it’s never going to flood like this again!” He laughs at the thought.

Not surprisingly for an environmentalist, Blackburn rejected the idea of building walls and gates that would disrupt the natural habitat. He favored a plan that would spend $6 billion on green infrastructure, such as wetlands and human-made barrier islands with gates to help prevent a storm surge. He also emphasized the need for better forecasting technologies—not only to protect homeowners but also to ward off environmental disasters. A Category 4 or 5 hurricane, with at least 25 feet of storm surge, could rip refineries from their foundations. The result would be more than 100 million gallons of spilled oil and other hazardous substances requiring long-term remediation—tenfold worse than the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill, which occurred in a remote part of Alaska. “You could be talking about the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history,” Blackburn says.

The experts were still debating among themselves when local Texas governments finally petitioned Congress to step in. When the Army Corps of Engineers began working on the project, the first step was to meet with the experts. Burks-Copes credits Merrell for being the first to come up with the idea of putting a barrier out in the inlet. “What people tend to do is fortify the shoreline near the big cities,” she says. In fact, this is what Galveston had already tried to do with the ten-mile-long seawall that was built after the 1900 storm. Merrell’s idea, by contrast, was more about “putting a larger defense out front,” she says, not just walling off the land but putting gates at the entrance of the bay. “The idea was to keep the surge from even entering the bay. And that was novel.” Throughout the process, the local experts continued to give solicited (and sometimes unsolicited) advice, but it was up to the corps to come up with a plan.

That also meant making sure the residents of Bolivar Peninsula were on board. Many of the homes have waterfront views. These homeowners didn’t want their properties to flood, but they weren’t happy with the idea of huge structures blocking their views or diminishing the future value of their property. (Despite rising sea levels and increasingly damaging storms, development on the Bolivar Peninsula is growing, including new beachfront communities, hotels and a planned private airport.) “Most of the people that live on these barrier islands and peninsulas came for the sea,” Burks-Copes says. “They came so that they could engage with that kind of environment, day to day and hour to hour. And so you have to be sensitive to that. They’ve invested their lives in this, and so you have to think about how you protect them but still give them the benefits that they moved there for.”

Under her direction, the corps held meetings with neighborhood groups and invited local people to comment on drafts of the plan. When the corps presented its initial vision—with giant sea gates and walls on the peninsula—it got strong pushback in the form of some 13,000 negative comments. A revised plan later received only about 400 substantive complaints. “I call that a win,” Burks-Copes says.

When we toured the coast in April, Burks-Copes talked me through the details of the plan. The easternmost part, she explained, will begin along Bolivar Peninsula. Instead of built structures like sea gates and walls, the corps came up with a different approach: 25 miles of parallel dunes—12 and 14 feet high—separating beachfront homes from the water. “So—big. Really big,” Burks-Copes says. The dunes will be built from sand and sediment that will be dredged from the gulf or local ship channels. This will dramatically change the landscape of this part of the peninsula; homes, which are elevated, will still have a view of the beach, but the beach will no longer be visible from the road, and pedestrians will have to use wooden platforms and staircases over the dunes to get to the shoreline.

Between the dunes, the plan calls for “swales,” shallow channels whose slope will help manage water runoff and create micro-habitats for birds and other wildlife. In front of the dune system, the corps intends to extend the beachfront by 250 feet—actually adding areas for fishing and recreation, Burks-Copes points out. A similar dune system and beachfront extension, running for 18 miles, will protect the homes on the western end of Galveston Island. Because the dunes will erode over time, they will need to be rebuilt every six or seven years.

At the entrance to the bay itself—in the gap between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula—will stand the project’s most impressive engineering feat: a system of 36 gates. The two main gates, nearest the mouth of Galveston Bay, will each be 650 feet wide—two consecutive football fields apiece—and 82 feet tall. Three small islands will be built between Galveston and Bolivar Peninsula to house the gates, which will remain open to ships unless a storm approaches. At that point, the gates will swing shut, fill with water and sink to reach the channel bottom. The gates will be so large that it will take an entire year just to paint each one.

Those two main gates will be supplemented by a three-mile earthen levee, a steel-reinforced concrete floodwall, and two other types of gates, including 15 vertical lift gates that will rise from the bay’s muddy bottom like small skyscrapers pulling themselves up for air. Spanning a total of 4,500 feet across, those 15 gates will be suspended above the water’s surface year-round until they drop into the water to block a surge.

On Galveston Island itself, the city’s entire commercial district will be surrounded by what’s called a ring barrier system. A series of floodwalls and gates, both on land and in water, will seal the city off and protect it from bayside flooding of up to 14 feet. The north and west parts of the area will see construction of a new floodwall of reinforced concrete. In normal times, dozens of gates along the wall will allow car traffic to pass through. During a storm, these gates will slide or swing shut. (Cars will be able to evacuate using a causeway elevated above the floodwall.) On the gulf side, additions to the existing seawall will create a uniform barrier 21 feet tall. (The city is also building new pumping stations in areas that frequently flood, though the pumps are outside the scope of the corps’ work.)

There are still questions about how the whole system will click into action when a storm hits. But Burks-Copes offers a rough idea. She points toward a shrubby spot on one of east Galveston’s banks. There, she says, the corps plans to build one of several centers where operators will constantly gather data on incoming severe weather patterns. As soon as a storm hits the gulf’s warm waters—several days before a potential landfall in the area—the operations centers will send out alerts and trigger a series of responses.

First, ships in Galveston Bay will begin to evacuate as many as 48 hours before a storm makes landfall. That’s partly because of the complex process of timing the shuttering of 36 gates, Burks-Copes explains. Then the closing will begin. “We have to sequence the closing, because every time you close a gate, water gets constrained into smaller places,” she says, which could create its own damaging sloshing effect. The largest gates will require about an hour apiece to close.

Burks-Copes estimates that it will take seven years for engineers to finish designing the gate system. Then it will take at least 12 years to construct the gates, according to the project’s feasibility report. “That sounds enormously long,” she admits. “I get it, because I’m not an engineer, and the first time I heard it, I thought it was pretty long.” For perspective, though, storm prevention systems in Italy, the Netherlands and Russia required about 30 to 50 years to plan and build. “So, this is a very aggressive schedule.” Burks-Copes adds that while the gates are being designed, the corps can get started on other features of the plan. “We won’t be waiting seven years to put something in the ground. We’ll be working on things like beaches and dunes and ecosystem restoration all the way down the coast.”

Of course, construction of any part of the plan can’t begin until funding comes through. Many restless Texans were encouraged in July 2022 after the U.S. Senate authorized the plan. In May 2024, the federal government allocated the first funds for the project—though that amount was only $500,000 out of the $22.1 billion it’s ultimately expected to cover. But locals are encouraged by that small first step.

Nicole Sunstrum, executive director for the Gulf Coast Protection District —a body created by the Texas Legislature in 2021—said her group is “very excited that an initial allotment has been made.” The funding will help the project move from the planning phase into the construction phase, where, she said, it will be eligible for much bigger allocations. “It can take time for authorized projects to be funded, particularly when they are this large,” she noted. “Overall, the response to the project and its merits is very positive—largely because of the human life and supply-chain protections it affords.”

Burks-Copes points out that even the substantial cost of the project is dwarfed by the inevitable costs of being unprepared for the next storm, and the one after that. At the end of May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted that the coming hurricane season might be the worst in two decades, producing 17 to 25 tropical storms in the Atlantic. About half of those are expected to become hurricanes. “It’s getting more and more expensive to do nothing,” Burks-Copes says. The damages from Hurricane Ike, for example, came out to an estimated $30 billion. The combined cost in Texas and Louisiana for Hurricane Harvey, in 2017, is estimated at $125 billion. Hurricane Ian, which hit southwest Florida and the Carolinas in 2022, cost an estimated $112.9 billion. “If you get this in place,” she says of the Galveston barrier project, “it’s paid for in one storm.”

Some environmentalists remain worried about the impact of the project, especially the gates, which are projected to reduce the flow of seawater in and out of the estuary by up to 10 percent. This could make the water less salty, which would affect animal and plant life. Habitats along the bottom of the ocean will also be destroyed when construction workers dredge the ocean floor to build the gates. Even the color of sand chosen for the dunes is in question due to the habitat of endangered sea turtles, whose hatchlings’ sex is determined by the sand’s temperature. If the sand’s temperature gets above 88 degrees Fahrenheit, the hatchlings all tend to come out female. The darker the sand, the hotter it gets. If the conditions aren’t right, the turtles may choose not to nest there.

Blackburn points to the Netherlands’ Delta Works system as a cautionary tale for how ambitious engineering projects can cause unforeseen environmental issues. The project succeeded in its flood-prevention mission, but in the more than two decades since its completion, marine scientists have found that the ecosystems in at least three areas were damaged. Sedimentation patterns shifted in some places. Coastal erosion increased in others. “There were heavy environmental consequences, at a time when environment didn’t count. It just wasn’t in the equation back when those structures were built,” Blackburn tells me. “It is today.” Of course, the continued health, if not the very existence, of almost all of the Texas coast’s species would be even worse off if a major oil spill occurred in the area as a result of a major storm, like Ike, which narrowly missed the Houston Ship Channel when it made landfall on Galveston Island.

In 2008, when Ike rolled in, I was in my rural Texas hometown in Jasper County, about 100 miles northeast of Galveston Bay, watching the winds bend and break a towering expanse of pine trees surrounding my family’s property. I still remember being unable to distinguish between the thunderclaps and the violent snaps of tree trunks.

Days later, my father and godfather talked our county’s radio station into giving them press passes that allowed them to venture onto Bolivar Peninsula before it reopened to the public. We wanted proof that our modest vacation home and my godfather’s permanent home were gone. They wore vintage fedoras, and my dad carried his 1970s Nikon camera. Law enforcement rolled their eyes and let them pass, telling them they were on their own after dark.

Despite damage to both, our homes still stood—unlike those on much of the rest of the peninsula. I spent time there in the coming weeks and months to help clean up the mess Ike had left. The smell of those days has never left me. The rot within refrigerators that were thrown about the landscape, the constant waft of soggy belongings. The putrid stench of cattle carcasses. The locals who’d permanently left, or who’d stayed but gone missing after the water licked at their homes until they collapsed beneath them. I remember an excess of rodents and snakes scuttling about the area.

Over the years, I’ve traded stories with friends who lived through similar experiences, especially those based in New Orleans who made it out ahead of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in 2005, when horrified Americans watched the levee failures that killed nearly 1,400 people, displaced a million and caused roughly $125 billion in damages. Katrina remains the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history (adjusting for inflation), but the second through fifth costliest have all occurred in the past dozen years.

When it comes to the Texas coast, a massive storm would affect every single state in the country. Oil and gas prices would soar. And even a temporary closure of the Port of Houston would send shock waves through not only the domestic but also the global economy. “If it’s damaged so significantly that it can’t recover quickly, every state is going to feel this, and they’re going to feel it for a very long time,” Burks-Copes says. “It’s going to cause an escalation of prices everywhere, and not only in the U.S. but out there in the world. That is not even considering how many lives have been lost, or how many livelihoods.”

Before we said goodbye, Burks-Copes admitted that even she, at first, had difficulty grasping the scope and ambition of the Texas project’s goal. “It did take a little while for me to get an understanding of what we’re trying to undertake, and what we were trying to study,” she said. Her gaze across the bay suggested she now grasped the gravity of what her team is hoping to accomplish. She was eligible to retire in May, after 30 years of service, but she isn’t going anywhere.

“I’d like to get the system set up, get the staff set up, and get things rolling,” she told me. “This is the last project I’ll do in my whole career. This will be my legacy. I think. I hope.”

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Please arrive 15-30 minutes before your tour starts. If you will be late, call us at 979-845-5851 and we’ll do our best to work things out. Scheduled activities may be shortened or canceled for groups arriving more than 15 minutes late.

Students must be organized into groups with one chaperone for every 10 students prior to arrival. Chaperones must stay with the group at all times and are responsible for their group's behavior throughout the tour. If you have scheduled other activities on campus, such as dining or self-guided tours, please provide us with your itinerary. We want to help make sure your day runs smoothly.

Groups interested in eating on campus may contact Texas A&M Dining Services to arrange lunch at one of our on-campus dining facilities.

Tips for Your Campus Visit

Below are some suggestions for making your visit go smoothly:

• Plan ahead on how you'll get to College Station. Our campus is conveniently located within a three-hour drive of Houston, Dallas and Austin.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a bottle of water. We are proud of our big, beautiful campus, so tours are extensive.
• During warmer weather, apply sunscreen and bring an umbrella for shade. It's hot in Texas!
• Check current conditions and plan accordingly. Aggieland weather can change quickly.
• Prepare questions for our Howdy Crew tour leaders, who are well-versed in hot spots around campus and Bryan-College Station.
• Arrive 15-30 minutes before your tour starts. If you will be late, please call us at 979-845-5851. We'll do our best to work things out, and some events may have to be canceled or rescheduled.

Contact the Appelt Aggieland Visitor Center

Questions about your visit? Get in touch!

Call: 979-845-5851

Email: [email protected]

Visit: Texas A&M University, Rudder Tower, 401 Joe Routt Blvd., College Station, TX 77840

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Visitor Center Closures

Please note: Hours of operation for the visitor center and tour times are subject to change.

Ready to Learn More?

If you're interested in becoming an Aggie, we want to hear from you and help you explore your interests. Sign up to receive admissions details, important announcements and special event invitations, and to learn more about life as an Aggie.

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Events: how to celebrate the fourth of july in houston area.

Monday marked the first day Houstonians can buy fireworks.

Cookouts, pool parties and firework displays are ways Texans have shown their patriotism before.

For over three decades, Houstonians have celebrated at the annual Freedom Over Texas celebration with "Texas-sized" fireworks. Monday marked the first day Houstonians can buy fireworks. However, the Houston Fire Department warns the use of fireworks in the City is illegal and dangerous. Firing fireworks can result in $500-$2,000 fines for each individual firework, according to the Department.

Here are some ways to safely celebrate the Fourth of July in the Houston area.

Freedom Over Texas | 4-10 p.m. at Eleanor Tinsley Park, 3600 Allen Parkway

Houston's annual Freedom Over Texas will consist of six hours of festivities, tradition, and live concert stages along Allen Parkway. The 50,000-person event will end with a fireworks finale. A fraction of the food and beverage proceeds will go to the Houston Food Bank. Russell Dickerson will headline with guest Jo Dee Messina and Chapel Hart.

Tickets start at $10.Visit the events' webpage for more information.

Galveston Celebration | 6-9:45 p.m. on the Galveston Seawall

Galveston's Independence Day parade starts at 6 p.m. along the Seawall from 22nd to 45th streets. It will feature floats, decorated vehicles and performers. After the 30-minute parade, a firework show will begin at 9:15 p.m. on 37th Street and Seawall Boulevard.

Admission is free. Visit the events' webpage for more information.

POST Houston's Skylawn celebration | 5-10 p.m. at 401 Franklin Street Houston, TX 77201

POST Houston's celebration of America will feature multiple rooftop bars with a view of the City's Freedom Over Texas firework display. The event will feature cirque performers, complimentary balloon artists, face painting and live music performed by Houston Brass Band and Alias Band.

General admission starts at $25, and kids’ admission is free. Visit the event webpage for ticket and event information.

Friendswood's Music of America | starts at 10 a.m.

Friendswood's 129th annual Fourth of July celebration will start with a parade on Friendswood Drive between Heritage Drive and Stevenson Park at 10 a.m. Following the parade, Stevenson Park will hold a festival at 11 a.m. that features rides, games and food. The festival will move to Centennial Park at 7 p.m. where The Spazmatics, an 80s and 90s tribute band, will perform. At 9:10 p.m., a firework show and entertainment will wrap up the night.

The City will provide shuttle services to accommodate for lack of parking. For more information visit the event webpage .

Houston Symphony's Star Spangled Banner | 8:30 p.m. at Miller Outdoor Theater

For their largest concert of the year, the Houston Symphony will perform the Star Spangled Banner and other patriotic songs at Miller Outdoor Theater. A firework finale will follow the performance.

Tickets will be available for purchase starting on July 3, but admission is free. For more information visit the event webpage .

Kidnependce Day at Children's Houston Museum | 9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Children's Museum Houston, 1500 Binz St, Houston, TX 77004

The event features interactive activities, storytimes and demonstrations that engage in patriotism and historical tributes in a kid-friendly way. The ongoing activities include 21-Mentos geysers that erupt "in a patriotic salute", a confetti blast with Captain America and Lady Liberty, a storytime with Captain America, and a celebratory science show.

Kids' tickets start at $19.95. Visit the event webpage for more information.

Pasadena's 4th Fest Celebration | 4 p.m. at the Pasadena Municipal Fairgrounds, 7902 Fairmont Pkwy, Pasadena, TX 77507

The city of Pasadena's 4th Fest will offer amusement rides, a kids' zone and live music, including a performance by Grammy-nominated band La Fiebre. The event will also feature a fireworks display at 9:10 p.m.

Admission is free. Visit the event webpage for more information.

Baytown's Fourth of July celebration | 4 p.m. at Bicentennial Park, 1001 Market St, Baytown, TX 77520

The city of Baytown's annual two-day celebration starts on July 3 at 5:30 p.m. with three musical performances, including the Bellamy Brothers. The July Fourth celebration will feature a car show, firework display and live musical performances, including Brett Young and Tiera Kennedy.

Organizers recommend taking chairs and blankets. Admission and parking are free. Visit the event webpage for more information.

The Woodlands all-day celebrations | 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

The Fourth of July celebrations start with a 1.3-mile South County Fourth of July Parade at 9 a.m. The 48th annual parade will feature fire engines, floats, marching bands, horses and antique cars in the Woodlands Market Street. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Woodlands pools will offer activities and refreshments. After swimming, attendees can celebrate until 10 p.m. with food, music and one of the largest fireworks displays in the Houston area, according to their website.

Admissions vary per activity. Visit the event webpage for more information.

Missouri City's FourthFest | 5 p.m. at Missouri City's Houston Community College campus, 1600 Texas Pkwy

Missouri City's annual FourthFest offers entertainment, carnival games, food and live music. A firework display will end the night at 9 p.m.

Boardwalk Towne Lake | 2-5 p.m. at 9945 Barker Cypress Rd, Cypress, TX

Cypress' Boardwalk Towne Lake will host a Fourth of July celebration with live music, airbrush face painting, balloon artists and a photo backdrop.

Bellaire Parade and Festival | 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. on South Rice Avenue

The city of Bellaire's Celebration of Independence starts on South Rice Avenue and Valerie Street and ends on Linden Street. The Children’s Bike Parade will lead the big parade to the Bellaire Festival which will feature live music, vendors and entertainment.

Attendance is free. Visit the event webpage for more information.

Jersey Village July Fourth Festival | 6-9:30 p.m. at Jersey Meadow Nature Trail

A parade will kick off the city of Jersey Village's festival at the JV Meadows Golf Course. Following the parade, an Eagles cover band will then recreate the Eagles concerts from their most prominent time. The festival will also include food trucks, games and fireworks.

Attendance and parade registration are free. Visit the event webpage for more information.

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4th of July events: Fireworks, festivals and parades all over the Greater Houston area

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HOUSTON — Fireworks, festivals and parades return in full force this July 4th with events  planned across the Greater Houston area.

The celebrations of America's independence will include everything from traditional parades to festivals -- large and small -- concerts and, of course, the star of the show: fabulous fireworks .

Editor's note: The above video originally aired in 2023.

If you're looking for the best place to watch those fireworks light up the sky, we've got you covered in Houston and 20 nearby suburbs from The Woodlands down to Galveston and points in between.

Shell Freedom Over Texas

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the City of Houston's big Shell Freedom Over Texas celebration in Eleanor Tinsley Park along Allen Parkway. Enjoy six hours of live music, lawn games and a children's entertainment zone with games and rides.

This year's headliner is country-pop artist Russell Dickerson  and the 2024 lineup also includes Jo Dee Messina and Chapel Hart. Here's the full entertainment lineup .

The star of the show will be a Texas-sized fireworks finale with the gorgeous downtown skyline as a backdrop.

WHEN:  July 4, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

WHERE: Eleanor Tinsley Park along Allen Parkway

ADMISSION: Tickets are   $10 per person and children 5 and under are free. You can buy them online in advance online or at the gates. This year, a portion of food and drink sales will benefit the Houston Food Bank .

Event parking is available for a fee at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts parking garage at 800 Bagby Street or the Theater District Parking Garages .

Photos: Past Freedom Over Texas celebrations

Star Spangled Salute with the Houston Symphony

Miller Outdoor Theater  is the place to be for a free concert of patriotic music by the Houston Symphony followed by a fireworks finale at 10 p.m.

WHEN: July 4, 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Hermann Park

TICKETS : Admission is free but you'll need to buy tickets in advance for reserved covered seating. No tickets are needed on the hill.

City Centre

If you're on the west side, City Centre is hosting a  free concert that will include live music by Heather Rayleen and the People's Choice Band. Snow cones and snacks will be available for purchase from the @dailygather truck on the patio, along with refreshing beverages from @themoranhotel tent in The Plaza.

⁠⁠There will NOT be fireworks this year.

WHEN: July 4, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

WHERE:  City Centre , 800 Town and Country Blvd.

Baytown goes big with two days of 4th of July Celebrations featuring live music from the Bellamy Brothers, Brett Young and more! The event also includes activities for kids, food, shopping and a fireworks extravaganza Thursday night at Bicentennial Park .

Admission and parking are free!

Wednesday, July 3

Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

• Kashus Culpepper - 6:30 p.m.
• DJ Boris - 7:30 p.m.
• Headliner: Bellamy Brothers - 8 p.m.

Thursday, July 4

Gates open at 4 p.m. 

• Car Show - 4 p.m.
• Tiera Kennedy - 5 p.m.
• Ceremony begins - 6 p.m.
• Niko Moon - 6:30 p.m.
• Headliner: Brett Young - 8 p.m.
• Fireworks Show - 9:30 p.m.

The City of Bellaire invites you to a free Celebration of Independence Parade and Festival  at Loftin Park on Thursday.   Residents dress up in red, white and blue and line the streets to watch the traditional parade and children's bike parade.

A festival follows with live music, activities and food in Loftin Park and on the Great Lawn.

WHEN: July 4: 

• Parades - 9 a.m.
• Festival - 9:30 a.m. - noon

WHERE: The parade route starts at South Rice Avenue and Valerie Street.  The children's bike parade starts at South Rice Avenue and Evergreen Street. Both parades end at Linden Street.

ADMISSION : Free

Parking available at the Bellaire Library, Condit Elementary or the Bellaire Recreation Center.

Deer Park's Fourth Fest will feature music, food, fireworks, attractions and games, including a cornhole tournament.

WHEN : Thursday, July 4

• Cornhole tournament - 5 p.m.
• OMG Band - 7 - 9 p.m.
• Fireworks - 9:15 p.m.

WHERE : Jimmy Burke Activity Center

FRIENDSWOOD

Celebrate Independence Day all day long Thursday in Friendswood .

They'll kick off the day with the Grand Parade at 10 a.m. on Friendswood Drive between Heritage Drive and Stevenson Park .

At 11 a.m., the park will be the site of rides, games, food and entertainment.

At 7 p.m., the party moves to Centennial Park  for a free concert from the Spazmatics followed by a big fireworks display at 9:10 p.m.

The Seawall is the place to be for Galveston's Fourth of July parade featuring dozens of floats, decorated vehicles and performers. After the parade, enjoy a spectacular fireworks show over the Gulf of Mexico.

The parade starts on Seawall Blvd. at 22nd Street and rolls west to 45th Street.

Following the parade, there will be a fireworks show over the Gulf of Mexico from 37th and Seawall beginning at 9:15 p.m. Sync the firework show with music using the Pyro App . The code for the show is 8JUV.

WHEN : July 4, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

WHERE : The Seawall from 22nd St. to 45th St.

Typhoon Texas in Katy is the place to be for a day-long Red, White and Boom celebration.

Guests can enjoy activities throughout the day, including a thrilling performance by the high-flying Typhoon Texas Skydivers at 3:15 p.m. (weather permitting).

There will also be live music, patriotic stilt walkers, mermaids and more.

The City of Katy’s fireworks spectacular will be launched from the adjacent Katy Boardwalk at 9 p.m.

WHEN : July 4, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

WHERE : Typhoon Texas

COST : Tickets start at $49.99 (You can also watch the fireworks for free from Katy Mills Mall)

Head south for the Kemah! Back with a Bang!  4th of July parade on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Lighthouse District .

The Kemah Boardwalk's  celebration gets underway at 1:30 p.m. with live music followed by a free fireworks show over Galveston Bay at 9:30 p.m.

Kingwood gets the party started early Thursday with The Fishing Rodeo from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Foster's Mill ponds at the corner of Kingwood Drive & Forest Garden. Kids ages 15 and younger are invited to bring their fishing gear and compete for trophies in different categories. No registration is required.

The Bike Rodeo is at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at the Kingwood Bible Church on the corner of Oakwood Forest and Lake Houston Parkway , across from Creekwood Middle School. Kids are invited to bring their decorated bikes to compete for trophies and then participate in the parade afterward.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. from Creekwood Middle School to Kingwood High School.

JERSEY VILLAGE

Eagles fans might want to spend the holiday in Jersey Village because its free July 4th Festival features live music from an Eagles cover band called 7 Bridges.

First, there's a parade at 6 p.m. followed by the festival at 7 p.m. and then a fireworks display.

WHEN: July 4, 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Jersey Meadow Nature Trail

LEAGUE CITY

League City is getting a head start on the holiday with its   Fireworks Extravaganza on Wednesday, July 3. The free, family-friendly event includes live music, inflatables and food trucks. Fireworks start popping at 9 p.m.

Bring your lawn chairs or blanket to join the fun.

WHEN: July 3 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

WHERE: Chester L. Davis Sportsplex , 1251 W. League City Parkway

MISSOURI CITY

Missouri City's annual Independence Day Festival gets underway late Thursday afternoon on the HCC Southwest Campus.

Bring a lawn chair and find a spot in the grass to sit back, relax, and enjoy live music, carnival games and tasty treats. The fireworks display starts at 9 p.m.

There will also be carnival games and tasty treats with a fireworks show as the grand finale.

WHEN:  July 4, 5 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.

WHERE:  HCC Southwest College at 1600 Texas Parkway

Join the City of Nassau Bay  for a day-long Independence Day celebration.

12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Water Wars

Get your water guns and water hoses ready to soak your neighbors in Water Wars, a citywide water fight on foot, bicycles, wagons or golf carts.

6 p.m. Parade honoring veterans

The annual parade honoring Nassau Bay’s veterans starts at 6 p.m. at David Braun Park . Here's a map of the parade route .

9 p.m. Lakeside fireworks show

End the day with a bang at a fireworks show over the lake!

Freedom will ring in Pasadena at this year's 4th Fest . The free event includes live music, a Kids Zone, rides and food trucks with fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

ENTERTAINERS

• 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Pasadena Idol performers with Strawberry Festival
• 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. La Fiebre

WHEN : July 4, 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.

WHERE :   Pasadena Municipal Fairgrounds at 7902 Fairmont Parkway

The Celebration of Freedom in Pearland will feature live music from Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band. Enjoy inflatables, games, a craft market, food trucks and more.

They'll end the day with a big fireworks display at 9 p.m.

Admission is free, including inflatables and activities.

WHEN: July 4., 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

WHERE: Independence Park at 3449 Pearland Pkwy .

The Stafford Centre is hosting two days of free, family fun during its 45th annual  Independence Day Celebration .

Wednesday, July 3, 6:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.

• Live music from Grupo Vidal and DJ Rene Rosales
• Food & Drinks
• Kids Activities

Thursday, July 4, 7 p.m.

• Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra concert

The free Red, White and Boom celebration in Sugar Land kicks off at 4 p.m. at Crown Festival Park .

There will be live music from DJs, School of Rock, The Foo Fakers Band and more!

• Trackless Train Rides
• Climbing Rock Walls
• Aerial Artists
• Balloon Artists
• Face Painting & Airbrush Art
• Stilt Walkers
• Photo Stations
• Carnival Games
• Sports Inflatables

The finale will be spectacular fireworks at 9:40 p.m.

Rock on at Lagoonfest Texas during the action-packed Freedom Rocks Fest in Texas City.

The two-day festival on July 3 and 4 features live music from tribute bands including ZZ Top, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner and Motley Crue.

ZZ Roxx (Tribute to ZZ Top)

Supernaut (Tribute to Black Sabbath)

Big Shot (Tribute To Billy Joel)

Skidd Row (Tribute to Skid Row)

Nightbird (Tribute to Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac)

Double Vision (Tribute to Foreigner)

Poison I.V. (Tribute To Poison)

Motley True (Tribute to Motley Crue)

WHEN : 10 a.m. to sunset; drone show at 9 p.m.

WHERE:  Lagoonfest at 13900 Crystal View Boulevard 

ADMISSION:  Tickets start at $38 or $20 for kids ages 3-13.

The city of Tomball is holding its 51st annual July 4th Celebration & Street Fest .

The free event will include a cool zone with water inflatables and a kids zone starting at 4 p.m. with live music from Barefoot Nation at 5:30 p.m. followed by Tilluride.

Veterans and active-duty military will be honored with a special Armed Forces medley tribute and sing-along to patriotic tunes.

The celebration wraps up with a big fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

WHEN : July 4 at 4 p.m.

WHERE : Business Highway 249 just north of FM 2920

THE WOODLANDS

Star-spangled salute.

They're not waiting till the 4th to celebrate our freedom in The Woodlands!

The celebration kicks off Wednesday, July 3, at The Pavilion. The Houston Symphony's Star-Spangled Salute at  8 p.m. The concert is free and tickets aren't required. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for pre-concert activities.

Fourth of July Parade

Starting at 9 a.m. on July 4, spectators can enjoy the South County Fourth of July Parade in The Woodlands Town Center and Market Street. The 1.3-mile parade features marching bands, fire engines, clowns, floats, and more.

After the parade, residents are invited to cool down at community pools during Red, Hot and Pool from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily fees apply.

Red, Hot & Blue Festival and Fireworks 

This Red Hot & Blue Festival is so big, they need multiple locations! On July 4 from 6 to 10 p.m., enjoy a variety of activities at locations throughout The Woodlands. All sites will feature live music beginning at 6 p.m. with bands playing until the fireworks extravaganza at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Northshore Park  

Get your groove on with the Motown/funk band Level One. They'll also have face painting, balloon art and concessions.

Town Green Park  

Enjoy live music from Leslie Lugo and D’Luna plus strolling entertainment, children's arts and crafts and more.

Waterway Square  

Time Warp will provide live music with the Fourth of July Parade Awards at 7 p.m.

Hughes Landing  

Music from Flashpoint

Residents can enjoy the Fireworks Extravaganza from all four parks with simulcasted music from KSTAR Country 99.7 FM.

Please note:  For the comfort and safety of all attendees, oversized beach umbrellas and pop-up tents are not permitted at any location during the festival. Coolers, picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs are permitted. Glass is prohibited.

WHEN:  July 4, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. (fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.)

Is your community having a big fireworks display? If you're not on the list, please email details to [email protected].

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