Galveston Historical Foundation

Basement to Attic Tours of the 1892 Bishop's Palace
2026-07-25 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-07-18 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-07-11 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-06-27 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-06-20 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-06-13 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | 1892 Bishop’s Palace, 1402 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Offering participants a rare look into parts of the National Historic Landmark that are typically off-limits, the 1892 Bishop’s Palace Basement to Attic Tours feature Mrs. Gresham’s studio. An exclusive third-floor view to a truly one of a kind panoramic of the Gulf of Mexico. Tickets are limited to 20 total guests and are $40 per person.
Built of stone and steel for the railroad magnate Walter Gresham and his family, this famous house was designed by Nicholas Clayton, Galveston’s premier Victorian-era architect. Bishop’s Palace is recognized as one of America’s finest examples of Victorian exuberance and Gilded-Age extravagance and is listed by the U. S. Department of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark. The Bishop’s Palace Basement to Attic Tours are the best opportunity the public has to view all floors of the historic property.

Sunset Harbor Cruise
2026-07-24 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-07-18 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-07-17 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-07-11 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-07-10 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-07-04 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-07-03 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-06-27 18:30 - 20:30 and 6 more dates | Galveston Historic Seaport, 2200 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Experience Galveston Harbor in its most beautiful light aboard our new Sunset Harbor Cruise. As the sun dips below the horizon, enjoy a relaxing evening with unforgettable views (and a dolphin or two!) on the water, filled with some stories of Galveston’s incredible history.

Pirates of the Caribbean - Strand Summer Series
2026-07-18 19:30 - 22:00 | Hendley Green, 2028 Strand Street, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Galveston Historical Foundation invites you to enjoy historic downtown Galveston for the 2026 Strand Summer Series! These movie nights are held at Hendley Green and feature free films from April through September.
ABOUT PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN | Capt. Jack Sparrow arrives at Port Royal in the Caribbean without a ship or crew. His timing is inopportune, however, because later that evening the town is besieged by a pirate ship. The pirates kidnap the governor’s daughter, Elizabeth, who’s in possession of a valuable coin that is linked to a curse that has transformed the pirates into the undead. A gallant blacksmith in love with Elizabeth allies with Sparrow in pursuit of the pirates.

Galveston Historical Foundation's Annual Meeting
2026-07-17 17:30 - 19:30 | 1859 Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, 77550, United States
GHF’s Executive Director Dwayne Jones and outgoing president Clay Rogers will lead the 2026 GHF annual meeting on Friday, July 17 at 5:30 p.m. The event is held at the 1859 Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway, and will include complimentary beverages and gourmet hor d’oeuvres.
The main order of business is the election of officers and directors for 2025-2026, along with an overview of GHF’s accomplishments over the past fiscal year. The GHF annual meeting will include the “passing of the gavel” from the outgoing board president to incoming president Tiffany Vaiani.
For more information or to purchase a membership, call 409-765-7834 or click here.
ABOUT GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) merged with the Historical Society of Galveston, formed in 1871, to create a new non-profit entity in 1954 devoted to historic preservation and history in Galveston County. Over the last sixty years, GHF has expanded its mission to cover community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, coastal resiliency, and stewardship of diverse historic properties. GHF embraces an inclusive and broader view of history and architecture that encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences. GHF recognizes the intersection of historic buildings and coastal life and conceives of history as an engaging story of individual lives and experiences on Galveston Island from the 19th century to the present day.

Aaron Lee Tasjan Live at the 1859 St. Joseph's Church
2026-07-12 19:00 - 21:00 | 1859 St. Joseph’s Church, 2202 Avenue K, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
A St. Joseph’s Debut!

Over the last decade, Aaron Lee Tasjan has established himself as a standout songwriter and performer. Through five critically acclaimed albums, he’s built a loyal worldwide audience on the strength of his unique songs, passionate live shows, and indie folk grit style of storytelling and performing. Accolades for his work include a 2022 Grammy Nomination for Best American Roots Song, and several Americana Music Association Award nominations, including International Album of the Year in 2021, Song Of The Year in 2022, and Best Emerging Artist in 2017. His most recent studio album, Stellar Evolution, was named one of the best albums of 2024 by Variety Magazine.

This year, Tasjan is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his solo debut, In the Blazes, with a special rerelease. Long beloved by fans for its blend of sharp songwriting and alt-country swagger, In the Blazes is being reissued with never-before-heard bonus material and, for the first time since 2015, pressed on vinyl. To mark the occasion, Tasjan will hit the road for a 10th anniversary solo tour, performing songs from the record alongside highlights from his ever-evolving catalog. It’s a full-circle moment for an artist who has consistently pushed boundaries while staying true to the heart of his craft.

Aaron Lee Tasjan - Strand Summer Series
2026-07-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Saengerfest Park, 2302 The Strand, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Galveston Historical Foundation invites you to enjoy historic downtown Galveston for the 2026 Strand Summer Series! These movie and music nights are located in The Strand’s principal parks and feature free-to-the-public concerts and movies from April through September. Performances are free to the public with on-site beer and wine, select vendors, and a reserved VIP area with reserved seating, complimentary drinks, meet and greets, and more.
ABOUT AARON LEE TASJAN | Aaron Lee Tasjan is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter known for his sharp wit, genre-blurring sound, and fearless authenticity, blending glam rock, folk, country, and pop into songs that are as emotionally incisive as they are catchy. A skilled guitarist and dynamic performer, Tasjan pairs clever, conversational lyrics with anthemic melodies that explore identity, love, vulnerability, and modern life with humor and heart. He has released several critically acclaimed albums, including Karma for Cheap, Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!, and Elephants, earning praise for both his songwriting craft and his bold artistic voice. Equally respected as a collaborator and sideman, Tasjan has worked with artists such as Kacey Musgraves and toured extensively, building a reputation as a compelling live act whose music challenges expectations while remaining deeply accessible.

Smarty Pints Trivia Night
2026-07-09 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-06-11 18:00 - 20:30 | Galveston Historic Seaport, 2200 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Think you’re the know-it-all of Galveston? Come flex those brain muscles and join us for a series of trivia nights supporting Galveston Historical Foundation and the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA! Held on the second Thursday of each month, our Smarty Pints Trivia Nights are all-ages evenings held at the Galveston Historic Seaport’s ELISSA Room. Craft beer and snacks will be available for purchase, and we’ll open the gates at 6 for dockside access before heading up to test your smarts at 6:30.

Smarty Pints Trivia Nights
2026-07-09 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-06-11 18:00 - 20:30 | Galveston Historic Seaport, 2200 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL NOT HAVE SMARTY PINTS IN DECEMBER BUT WILL RESUME IN JANUARY OF 2026.

Think you’re the know-it-all of Galveston? Come flex those brain muscles and join us for a series of trivia nights supporting Galveston Historical Foundation and the Tall Ship ELISSA!

Held on the second Thursday of each month, our Smarty Pints Trivia Nights are all-ages evenings held at the Galveston Historic Seaport’s ELISSA Room. Craft beer and snacks will be available for purchase and we’ll open the gates at 6 for dockside access before heading up to test your smarts at 6:30.

Bring your besties, your brainiacs, and maybe even your “lucky guessers.” With categories ranging from local history to pop culture, there’s something for everyone.

Hidden Figures - Strand Summer Series
2026-06-20 20:00 - 22:00 | Hendley Green, 2028 Strand Street, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Galveston Historical Foundation invites you to enjoy historic downtown Galveston for the 2026 Strand Summer Series! These movie nights are held at Hendley Green and feature free films from April through September.
ABOUT HIDDEN FIGURES | Hidden Figures is a biographical drama that tells the true story of three brilliant African-American women—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—working at NASA as “human computers” during the 1960s Space Race. Despite facing intense racism and sexism, they play a crucial role in calculating the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.

Kam Franklin Live at the 1859 St. Joseph's Church
2026-06-13 19:00 - 21:00 | 1859 St. Joseph’s Church, 2202 Avenue K, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
A St. Joseph’s Debut!

Kam Franklin is a singer-songwriter, music producer, activist, writer, orator, model, visual artist, and actress from Houston, TX. She is best known for her work with the Gulf Coast soul band, The Suffers, but Kam began performing gospel music at the age of five. A three-time recipient of the Houston Press Music Award for Best Female Vocalist, Kam has performed on five continents and has performed with the Suffers backed by The Houston Symphony in addition to being featured solo. Kam is also known for her unique collaborations, some of which include: her 2018 collaboration with Grammy Award winning Tejano legends, La Mafia, filling in for H.R. (of Bad Brains) during the 2016 Afropunk Festival Superjam alongside members of Bad Brains, Fishbone, and Living Colour, performing in the 2016 March For Science band alongside Jon Batiste and Stay Human, Questlove, Judith Hill, and Fred Wesley (longtime James Brown and Parliament collaborator), and repeated appearances at Newport Folk Festival where she has participated in numerous tributes and collaborations, most notably with Chaka Khan, Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Lucius, and Deer Tick. In 2022, she released the Bayou City Comeback Chorus EP, a social justice album funded with a grant by The Houston Arts Alliance that features the voices and musicianship of over 20 artists from around the Houston area.

Both Forbes and Vice have featured Kam for her activism and business ventures that seek to create a more equitable and inclusive environment in the arts for black, queer, and femme artists working in all mediums and from all backgrounds. In fall 2018, she joined the board for Headcount.org. Kam’s unique style and fashion-sense has also been covered by Buzzfeed, Refinery 29, and Nylon. Fronting The Suffers, Kam has performed nationally on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and Jimmy Kimmel Live in addition to speaking with Ailsa Chang and Ari Shapiro on NPR’s All Things Considered, Brené Brown’s “Dare To Lead” Podcast, Samantha Brown’s “Places To Love”, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and National Geographic’s “Texas: Spirit and Soul” short film.

At home, Kam remains a very active participant in the Houston music scene, producing events that have featured up-and-coming acts from around the Gulf Coast area while leveraging her and The Suffers’ international platform to represent the City of Houston and champion her entrepreneurial approach to finding success in the arts for women, minorities, and independent artists. She currently serves on the board of HeadCount.org, as Governor for the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy, and she also served as the inaugural Texas Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ambassador for the Texas Chapter of The Recording Academy.
