Galveston Historical Foundation

Kevin Russell Live at the 1859 St. Joseph's Church
2025-12-12 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | 1859 St. Joseph’s Church, 2202 Avenue K, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Kevin Russell is an Austin-based musician known for fronting the band Shinyribs, and formerly The Gourds. He’s a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, drawing inspiration from Gulf Coast roots music and blending genres like Texas blues, New Orleans R&B, Memphis soul, and country twang. Shinyribs, described as a swamp-pop-soul supergroup, is known for its energetic live shows, colorful attire, and eclectic musical style.
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The Texas Music Office (TMO) designated Galveston as a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community on February 26, 2024. The Music Friendly Texas program aims to create jobs and economic development in Texas communities by supporting the music industry. Galveston’s certification recognizes its rich musical heritage and the city’s connection to the arts. Learn more here.

Basement to Attic Tours of the 1892 Bishop's Palace
2025-12-13 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-12-20 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-12-27 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-01-03 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-01-17 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-01-31 11:00 - 12:30 | 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.

Holiday Tours of the 1892 Bishop's Palace
2025-12-13 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-12-20 17:30 - 18:30 | 1892 Bishop’s Palace, 1402 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Step into the 1892 Bishop’s Palace for this special tour highlighting the National Historic Landmark’s holiday decorations! The Bishop’s Palace Christmas Tours feature nine Christmas trees, live greenery, Poinsettias, and more. You’ll learn about the house and Victorian holiday traditions with complimentary champagne served. Photography is allowed.
ABOUT THE 1892 BISHOP’S PALACE
The Bishop’s Palace (a.k.a. Gresham House) is a contributing building in the East End Historic District, a National Historic Landmark. The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places at the national level of significance in the area of architecture. Architectural historians list the Bishop’s Palace as one of the most significant of Victorian residences in the country.

New Year's Day Open House at the 1892 Bishop's Palace
2026-01-01 13:00 - 15:00 | 1892 Bishop’s Palace, 1402 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
On January 1st, Galveston Historical Foundation celebrates the New Year at Bishop’s Palace with free admission from 1 to 3 pm. The tradition of an open house at the property started in 1893. Every other year the Gresham family would welcome visitors for a New Year’s Day calling.

ABOUT THE 1892 BISHOP’S PALACE | Bishop’s Palace, also known as the Walter and Josephine Gresham House, is one of the island’s best-known and most popular tourist attractions. Bishop’s Palace is recognized as one of the nation’s most important late 19th-century Victorian residences. Nicholas Clayton, Texas’ most accomplished architect of the period, designed the house for the Gresham family. In 1921, Galvestonians raised money to buy the house for the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese to make it the home of Bishop Byrne. GHF purchased the property in 2013 from the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. The foundation is the third owner of the property and assumed management in 2007. It welcomes over 65,000 local, national and international visitors each year.

ABOUT GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION | GHF was formed as the Galveston Historical Society in 1871 and merged with a new organization formed in 1954 as a non-profit entity devoted to historic preservation and history in Galveston County. Over the last sixty years, GHF has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, coastal resiliency and stewardship of historic properties. GHF embraces a broader vision of history and architecture that encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences and their intersection with 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.

Battle of Galveston Walking Tours
2026-01-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-01-03 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-04 12:00 - 14:00 | Galveston Historical Foundation, 2002 Strand, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Played out on both land and sea over the course of several hours, the Battle of Galveston, which took place during the early morning hours of January 1, 1863, is widely acknowledged as the most important military event in Galveston’s history. Led by author and historian Ed Cotham, Jr., Learn more about this historic day with historians, tours, and visits to many of the structures still standing today.

Rockets, Tanks, and Submarines
2026-01-06 11:30 - 13:00 | 1859 Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, 77550, United States
The Ingenuity of Civil War Texans
Few topics have fascinated American readers more than the Civil War. Occurring as it did at the beginning of a new industrial age, it fostered a wide variety of strange and innovative contraptions that shaped the course of the conflict. Texans were among the most creative in their designs, and added their talents to the mix, creating a variety of war machines and devices that are remarkable for their ingenuity. Ed Cotham is a veteran Civil War author, and his list of publications continues to grow. This latest offering takes the reader through a remarkable ride complete with all sorts of schemers, spies, tinkerers, and dreamers, trying to harness technology to help them win the war. In an age where innovation happens in real time, and new weapons like drones and cellphones are changing the nature of the battlefield, Cotham’s Rockets, Tanks, and Submarines reminds us that this process has been going on for a very long time! And Texans were there all along, adding their imaginations to the problems their comrades faced under fire.
You are welcome to bring your own lunch to enjoy. Lunch will not be provided.
Virtual tickets are also available for guests who would like to view the livestream. A link will be sent prior to the event with instructions on viewing. You are welcome to bring your own lunch to enjoy. Lunch will not be provided.
Current GHF member tickets are free for in-person or livestream attendance as part of their #GalvestonHistory+ account. Access will start at 11:15 a.m. on the day of the presentation.

Smarty Pints Trivia Nights
2026-01-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-02-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-12 18:00 - 20:00 | 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.

The Bettie Ball at the 1859 Ashton Villa
2026-01-30 19:00 - 22:00 | 1859 Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, 77550, United States
Galveston Historical Foundation is turning the page and turning up the charm with The Bettie Ball. Held at the 1859 Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway, this new Mardi Gras! kickoff keeps the spirit of our beloved Menardi Gras! while turning up the revelry. You’re invited to join the bold costumes, historic settings, can’t-miss cocktails, and new surprises worthy of one of the island’s favorite bonnes vivantes, Bettie Brown. Same joyful chaos, same reason to dress to impress, same unforgettable night…just with a new crown jewel.
Every room inside this historic landmark will hold an experience. From tarot card readings to sketch artists and more, you’re encouraged to explore and enjoy! Tickets are $40 per person ($50 per person with the VIP medallion add-on) and include beer, wine, and two complimentary French 75 cocktails. A food truck will be available on-site.

Bearcat Baseball and Basketball
2026-02-17 11:30 - 13:00 | 1859 Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, 77550, United States
Members of GHF’s AAHC will speak about Galveston’s Central High School basketball and baseball programs, including Coach Wilbur Byrd and star athlete Gus Allen III.
Galveston Historical Foundation’s African American Heritage Committee (AAHC) was established in 2002 at the 1859 Ashton Villa, when more than forty community members gathered with a shared passion for preserving the island’s Black history. Leading the charge was Maggie Williams—a Galveston native and retired schoolteacher—who was elected the committee’s first chair. Since its founding, this committee has dedicated itself to identifying, commemorating, and preserving historic sites important to African Americans and the Galveston community.

Did You Know - Part II
2026-03-03 11:30 - 13:00 | 1859 Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, 77550, United States
A continuation of their successful presentation in 2024, members of GHF’s African American Heritage Committe shares a new line-up of little-known facts about Galveston’s African American Community.
Galveston Historical Foundation’s African American Heritage Committee (AAHC) was established in 2002 at the 1859 Ashton Villa, when more than forty community members gathered with a shared passion for preserving the island’s Black history. Leading the charge was Maggie Williams—a Galveston native and retired schoolteacher—who was elected the committee’s first chair. Since its founding, this committee has dedicated itself to identifying, commemorating, and preserving historic sites important to African Americans and the Galveston community.

1877 Tall Ship ELISSA Daysail Series
2026-04-03 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-04 11:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-05 13:00 - 19:00, 2026-04-06 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-09 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-10 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-11 11:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-12 10:00 - 16:00 and 2 more dates | Galveston Historic Seaport, 2200 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Join us for a one-of-a-kind outdoor adventure aboard the 1877 Iron Barque ELISSA! 2026 sees the Official Tall Ship of Texas return to the Gulf Coast’s waters for her annual day sail series. As one of the oldest and longest continuously sailed vessels in the world, the yearly day sails keep her where she works best, with her sails set, sailing.
GHF is able to offer a limited number of ELISSA daysail spots on board as a sail training student. As a sail training student, participants will experience what life was like as a 19th-century sailor. The program combines both hands-on and lecture-based learning, with a focus on setting sails and navigating the 148-year-old ship through the Gulf. Join us on this journey through the past and discover your own piece of history.
