historic tours of galveston

Mansio n Hours: Open 10am to 5pm 7 days/week (last tickets sold at 4pm). Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Locat ion: 2618 broadway, galveston island, tx 77550, self-guided tour:.

• Adults: $15 • Students age 6 through 17: $7 • Children 5 & Under Free • Family & Friends Package:          SAVE 15% WHEN YOU PURCHASE FOUR OR MORE TICKETS IN THE SAME TRANSACTION, INCLUDING ADULTS AND STUDENTS.

Exclusive All-Access Guided Tour:  

All ages: $35

Guided tours include 1st and 3rd floors not normally open to the public

3:45 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27; tour concludes at approximately 5:45 p. m.

All-Access Tours must be booked by 3:30 p.m…. CLICK HERE (If the online ticket page says the event is ended,  call (409) 261-3117 to see if there have been any cancellations.)

To  view our orientation video about the moody family’s history: click here., to listen to the self-guided audio tour, click here, click here for 360-degree views of moody mansion.

Restored to its turn of the century splendor, Galveston’s 28,000 square-foot, four-story Moody Mansion is an historic home completed in 1895. The home has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior since 1994 and a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark since 1967.

Today, our guests visit 20 rooms on a tour that depicts the home life of a powerful Texas family. The Moodys established one of the great American financial empires. Based on cotton, it grew to include banking, ranching, insurance, newspaper publishing, railroading and hotels.

W.L Moody Jr. bought the Galveston Broadway mansion from the heirs of the original owners soon after the Great Galveston Storm of September 8, 1900. It was designed by British architect William H. Tyndall and decorated by the world-famous interior design firm of Pottier & Stymus of New York.

Mr. and Mrs. Moody and their four children celebrated their first Christmas in the house in December of that year, just three months after the 1900 hurricane. The house remained home to Moody family members until 1983, when Hurricane Alicia caused major damage. Following repairs and restoration, it was opened as a house museum in 1991. Today, its rooms are filled with the furnishings and personal effects of the family.

The philanthropic legacy of the Moody family of Galveston is carried on today by the Moody Foundation and the Mary Moody Northen Endowment. Both charitable foundations are major forces in health care, education, historic preservation, and the arts.

Moody Mansion Guide Book: To read our online guidebook, click here.

Also watch the new video about the Moody Family heritage by Tiffani Harris. Click here.

Your feedback is important to us. Click here to take our guest survey after your visit.

Moody Mansion is the Travel Channel’s most famous in Texas!

Moody Mansion has been listed as one of the most famous historic houses open for tours in the nation by the Travel Channel. To see our listing, go to Travelchannel.com and scroll to Texas, then come visit Moody Mansion!

Gather a group: Moody Mansion offers discounts for groups. Call (409) 762-7668 for details.

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Tours and Historical Houses in Galveston

Explore The Historical Homes of Galveston

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Galveston Historical Homes

Step back in time as you explore Galveston’s rich architectural heritage through its historical houses. The Bryan Museum invites you to wander through its vast collection of Western artifacts, art, and documents, offering a glimpse into the frontier history and diverse cultures that shaped the American West. Just a stone’s throw away, Moody Mansion stands as a testament to the opulence and glamour of the early 20th century, boasting luxurious interiors and meticulously preserved furnishings that transport you to the golden age of Galveston.

 Not far off, the Bishop’s Palace, a mesmerizing Victorian masterpiece, showcases intricate detailing, stained glass windows, and breathtaking views, narrating the story of its construction by architect Nicholas Clayton and exemplifying the island’s architectural grandeur.

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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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• Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch

See Galveston Harbor up close aboard Seagull II on the Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch, Galveston Historic Seaport’s 50-foot twin-engine motor vessel. Fast, stable, and sheltered, she was built specifically for harbor sight-seeing excursions and education and is a perfect platform for waterborne experiential learning. The boat is U.S. Coast Guard certified, and her operators are fully licensed and knowledgeable about the history and lore of her home waters. Seagull II has a comfortable main deck, sheltered from sun and rain, and an open upper deck affords a full panorama of water and sky.

WEATHER POLICY |  Seagull II and the Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch will not operate during lightning, thunderstorms, or sustained winds of 25 knots or higher or if The National Weather Service has issued a Small Craft Advisory. All other situations, such as rain, waves, vessel condition, and extraordinary circumstances, are at the Captain’s discretion. Seagull II will operate in a limited capacity in reduced visibility scenarios. At <1nm of visibility, tours will be restricted by the Captain’s discretion. At <1/2 Nautical mile of visibility, tours will be postponed or canceled. If the Galveston or Houston channel is closed or restricted by the USCG or Port of Galveston, Seagull II will follow all directions as broadcasted, which could include postponing or canceling tours.

PLEASE NOTE | Seagull II will not be operating on November 3-6, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. We will also close at 3 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

PRIVATE CHARTERS | Seagull II makes an excellent and unusual venue for birthday parties, office get-togethers, receptions, convention features, and more. The ever-changing scenery of the busy harbor, the excitement of a dolphin sighting, and a restful sunset over an island occupied only by birds combine to make your event one to remember. For reservation information, call us at 409-765-3432.

FIELD TRIPS & SCHOOL GROUPS | See the imprint of events and eras in Galveston’s nearly two centuries of history on a shifting shoreline. From the restored 1877 sailing vessel Elissa to the grounded ferroconcrete vessel Selma to the sites of the Civil War Battle of Galveston, history is visible on Galveston Bay. Social Studies take on new life as students explore the first and oldest seaport in Texas, which is still busy and evolving. Contact us at 409-763-1877 for booking.

• INTRODUCTION TO GALVESTON HARBOR TOUR: 1 hour. $10 per student & $15 per chaperone. Enjoy a tour of history, wildlife adventure, folklore, and more. See Galveston and Galveston Bay from a unique perspective. Experience close-up encounters with big ships, dolphins, and seabirds.
• MARINE BIOLOGY TOUR – FLOATING CLASSROOM: 90 minutes. $20 per student and chaperone. Students breathe the ocean air, visit area birding islands to see indigenous shorebird species, pose challenging questions, use the scientific method, and discuss their findings with the marine biologist aboard.
• MARINE BIOLOGY TOUR – FLOATING CLASSROOM/LABORATORY: 2 hours. $25 per student and chaperone. Our marine biologist leads students in trawling for fish and other sea creatures for hands-on and microscopic observation. Students pose challenging questions and explore answers using the scientific method. The tour visits area birding islands to see indigenous shorebird species and birds of passage in all their variety.

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Incorporated in 1954, Galveston Historical Foundation is one of the nation's largest local preservation organizations. Over the last 50 years, the foundation has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, public education, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation and stewardship of historic properties.

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Magical History Tour

On the Magical History Tour, our experienced tour guides will take you on a tremendous Segway journey and tell you about the marvelous Galveston’s history.

We’ll start the historic tour with the famous downtown area of Galveston – the Strand Historic District. For a time, it was also known as “The Wall Street of the South.”

Magical Galveston History Tour Description

You will pass the Railroad Museum used during prohibition, the most infamous era in Galveston’s history. Then, an average of 40,000 people a day got off the train to gamble and visit the “entertainment houses”.

At the port of Galveston, you will enjoy the fascinating view while hearing the horrifying stories about the storm of 1900. But the Galvestonians refused to give up. Instead, they rebuilt the city against all odds, and Galveston Island rose again.

Group photo of one magical history tour drive in Galveston, along with our tour guides.

Our next stop contains the largest collection of Victorian homes in America, which once housed the greatest concentration of millionaires in the United States.

You will learn how the families built their fortunes in Galveston, TX, while listening to the gossip associated with their rise to wealth.

There will be opportunities for taking photographs and videos along the tour, with special attention given to The Bishops Palace, The Sacred Heart Cathedral, and the Sealy and Moody Mansions.

This historic Galveston tour will pass by the rebuilt Pleasure Pier, which was once the home of the Flagship Hotel.

Finally, it will end at the sea where you can mingle with the surfers on the Seawall. Of course, you should remember to bring your suntan lotion and sunglasses for this most exciting, history-filled adventure.

Magical History – #1 Galveston History Tour

Our history tour is rated as one of the best tours in Galveston, TX. It’s fun, knowledgeable, and the perfect way to explore the beautiful island on a Segway.

Did you know: You don’t need to know how to ride a bike to ride a Segway. Most people that have come on tour with us have never ridden Segways in their life.

On our tours, everyone’s having fun. So join us in the adventure and experience the authentic local flavor of the history of Galveston Island.

Galveston Historic Tour 

Special Themed Tour for October!

Galveston Graveyard Tour

Take a historic walking tour of Galveston's oldest cemeteries. Learn about the history of the cemeteries, burial practices, and the stories of those buried there. See the graves of Galveston's most famous citizens including Menard, Williams, Childress, Miss Bettie, and more! Their stories include murder, suicide, and hauntings around the city. For dates, times, prices, and tickets, click the link! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/galveston-graveyard-tour-tickets-37542669134

Daily historic tour schedule: The daily tours are temporarily closed. Please look to the left for our special themed monthly tours.

Closed in 2020 for: Some Sundays, New Years Day, Mardi Gras (Feb. 15, 16, 22, and 23), Easter, Lone Star Biker Rally (Nov. 5-8), Thanksgiving, Dickens on the Strand (Dec. 5 and 6), & Christmas.

Prices: Adults $12, Teenagers 13-17 $10, Children 6-12 $5, and Children 5 and under are free.

Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover

Reservations: Tours are by reservation only, and can be made by calling 409-789-9911.

Location: Tours depart from the back parking of the Galveston Visitor Center at Ashton Villa located at 2328 Broadway. For those without transportation, pick up from the Galvez, Tremont, Pier 21, Chamber of Commerce, and Bed and Breakfasts is available.

Van: Our 14 passenger van is climate controlled and tours are rain or shine.

Step On Bus Tours: Have a group coming on a charter bus or precinct bus? Let us be your guide! $5 person per person. Call to set up a day and time.

Private Tours: $150 per tour. Call to set up a day and time.

Monthly Tours: Each month features a different tour on a specific topic of Galveston history. These special once a month tours are $17 per person. They are held every Friday and/or Saturday of the month, and tour times vary. Guests can take any of the monthly tours at any time for $20 per person. Each month's tour will be posted to left.

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Get To Know Galveston, Texas, The Birthplace Of Juneteenth

Conversations about Black history can elicit many emotions. On one hand, it’s mind-blowing to see the accomplishments of our people. On the other hand, as we journey deeper into the past, it can become unfathomable to imagine the depths of what our ancestors endured.

Despite all of that, one thing synonymous with Black people is celebration. Even in trying times, we have always found a way to persevere and celebrate the gift of life and community. Recognized on June 19, Juneteenth (also referred to as Freedom Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, or Emancipation Day) is a holiday that reflects the celebration tradition through street festivals, musical performances, parades, speeches, marches, and delicious food.

So, What Exactly Is Juneteenth?

“Juneteenth” blends two words: June and nineteenth. It marks the date (June 19, 1865) that enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas, were made aware of their freedom, which had been granted two years prior in 1863, after the Emancipation Proclamation. Yes, two whole years prior. For context, Lincoln’s proclamation to free slaves was only applied to certain states. We must also remember that enslavement was a lucrative industry for owners who used Black men, women, and children to perform forced and unpaid labor, especially during harvest season. Without their work, enslavers stood to lose crops and money. Therefore, many simply did not inform them of their freedom.

However, two months after the Civil War ended, Union General Gordan Granger and 2,000 of his troops arrived in Galveston to bring forth the news that slavery had ended. Reading the official decree ( General Order No. 3 ), nearly 250,000 Texans were free. In an interview conducted by the Federal Writers Project in 1937, Preely Coleman recalled his former owner telling him and other field workers, “You all are free as I am,” prompting them to “shout and sing” in celebration. As word spread throughout other plantations and the city, similar celebrations erupted. This made Galveston, Texas, the birthplace of Juneteenth.

The Journey From Local to Federal Recognition

As Black Texans began to migrate to other parts of the United States (and even parts of Mexico), the celebration went with them. Though it’s been honored in various cities for decades, it wasn’t widely recognized, not even in Texas. Marching alongside leaders like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rev. Jesse Jackson for civil rights, late state representative Al Edwards, also known as the Father of Juneteenth, understood the importance of having Juneteenth honored at a higher level. In 1980, after Edward’s advocacy and legislation support, Texas became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday.

In 2016, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee , embarked on a journey at age 89 to walk the 1400 miles from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. on a mission to make the celebration a federal holiday. In 2021, the efforts of Edwards, Lee, and other activists were rewarded when President Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday .

Key Juneteenth Celebrations in Galveston

Galveston is a great place to visit year-round to embrace Black History and culture. They have several guided and self-guided tours , monuments, and historic markers throughout the city. Their Juneteenth activations magnify community members’ efforts to bring awareness, education, and truth to the events of June 19, enslavement, and beyond.

Many early Juneteenth celebrations centered on gatherings at churches. As General Gordan Granger went through the city to read the decree, Reedy Chapel AME Church was his last stop, making it one of the early celebration sites. Each year, the church hosts an Emancipation March that reenacts freed slaves jubilantly marching from the church to the local courthouse. This year’s event will be at 6 p.m. on June 19.

The Reading of General Order No. 3 happens annually at Galveston’s official Juneteenth Marker in Ashton Villa. This year’s event will be on June 19 at 10 a.m. While in Ashton Villa, visitors can view the “And Still We Rise” exhibit . The exhibit chronicles the story of Juneteenth in Galveston using interviews, photos, audio clippings, and other artifacts.

What’s a celebration without a parade? Galveston’s annual Juneteenth Festival includes live music from local artists, art from Black vendors, and food trucks. It all kicked off with a parade on June 17. The festival feels like a big family reunion. 

Why Should We Be Celebrating Juneteenth?

As we contend with the erasure of Black History from school curriculums (or forced to present a palatable, white-washed version) at multiple academic levels, it’s even more critical that we honor and celebrate Juneteenth within our communities. It is a way to honor our ancestors’ plight, carry on their traditions, and forge new paths for future generations.

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The Annual Tour

Tours are held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 4-5 & 11-12, 2024.

For general information questions, please call 409-765-3424. For group sales of 20 or more, please contact us at 409-765-3426.

Tickets may be used all four days of the tour. Tickets are not sold for individual homes. There are no discounts for children; infants in arms are free. All tickets are non-refundable. Special event tickets are only available online.

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Galveston was home to the first Juneteenth. Here's how it'll celebrate this year

In this June 17, 2020, photo, a statue depicts a man holding the state law that made Juneteenth a state holiday in Galveston, Texas. David J. Phillip/AP hide caption

Americans will celebrate Juneteenth for the fourth year since it was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. But for many families in Galveston, Texas, where the holiday originated, celebrations have been a mainstay for generations.

June 19th commemorates the fall of slavery in Galveston in 1865 — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation ordered the liberation of Black people held in the Confederacy.

“I have newspaper records of my great-grandfather — who was by this time, in 1885, he would have been 25 years old — and he was given the role of reading the Emancipation Proclamation at that celebration,” said 67-year-old Roy Collins.

Collins grew up in Galveston and said his family lineage in the city dates back to the end of the Civil War.

He says the holiday was always recognized and celebrated by Black people in the city for as far back as he can trace.

“I can remember my mother telling us stories about there being large gatherings in the city park and people would have roasted meats,” Collins recounts.

“My father and his friends were very creative with the barbecue experience. They would use meats that you could recognize, and they also had some meats that no one could recognize, and you just didn't want to ask too many questions about what that meat was,” he recalled with amusement.

“I just enjoyed the lightness of it.”

Joyful celebrations today

To celebrate this year — as it does most years — the island city will host a reading of General Order No. 3, which served to enforce freeing those still held in slavery; a historic march recreating the early freedom celebrations; and even a swanky Juneteenth gala that runs $400 a table.

Candace Reese is another Texan who considers Galveston her hometown.

Her grandfather, Rev. James B. Thomas, was instrumental in getting Juneteenth celebrated as a Texas state holiday in the 1970s.

“He was intentional about making sure that the young people were participants,” Reese said.

She recalled her grandfather standing on a street corner with a megaphone yelling: “Galveston's only known for two things: hurricanes and Juneteenth. Why don't you celebrate Juneteenth?”

A former Ms. Juneteenth, Reese — who was raised in Dallas — would travel to Galveston every summer for Juneteenth, marching and showing off dance moves in the parade.

Reese’s family's 180-year history in Galveston is long and storied. Her great-great-great grandfather was John Menard Thomas, once enslaved by Michel Menard, the co-founder of the city.

As part of the celebrations, a recent tradition for Reese and her family is a “freedom tour” of the island, including the historic Menard House, where her ancestors spent much of their lives enslaved.

The spirit of the holiday

Also key in Reese's honoring the holiday is supporting Black businesses on Juneteenth, and the 19th of every month.

“Juneteenth is about economic empowerment for those who are the descendants of those who were enslaved because there's so much ground still that each generation has to make up,” she said.

Torin Collins considers herself lucky to have grown up in a culture that celebrates Juneteenth. Her family owns a former Confederate plantation in the state, and every year, her father hosts a massive Juneteenth celebration to educate and connect the community.

“The nation is kind of playing catchup,” she said. “I was raised with the awareness of, like, how important Juneteenth is and how much we need to remember history, and where we started, and kind of that dark chapter that everyone tries to sweep under the rug,” she said.

Collins' favorite memories of Juneteenth growing up include reenactments of the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation and Frederick Douglass’ scathing oration “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" as the family grilled hot dogs and hamburgers on the land where Black people were once held in bondage.

Collins has since moved away from her hometown and has settled in Florida while she works on a graduate degree, but she said she carries the memories and the message of Galveston and Juneteenth with her always.

“I've lived abroad, I've lived all over the country. You know, no matter where I go, I'll carry that history and honor my ancestors, and honor their struggle for freedom and their participation in the struggle for freedom.”