Post by Chris O (Lazy Owl) on Aug 7, 2008 14:14:52 GMT -6
Founded in 1836, Galveston has a history as old and phantom-filled as the entire state of Texas. Tales of pirates and civil war soldiers, of drowned victims of the Great Storm of 1900 that still wander the Galveston streets looking for home. These are but a few of the phantoms of Haunted Galveston.
Galveston was the first Texas city to have electric lights, electric street cars, a post office, naval base, a newspaper, public library and hospital and many other products of civilization. Galveston is rich in history and was the area known as the "Strand" encompasses many of the most historic buildings in the old city including the 1894 Grand Opera House, many museums, shops and eateries. The Galveston Strand was once called "The Wall Street of the Southwest" because it's location and climate attracted so many of the formidable "old money" families of the Northeast. This barrier island also boasts one of the country's largest bird migratory flyways, beautiful beaches and amazing, rich salt marshes.
In the early 1800's the island was used as a headquarters by the famous buccaneer pirate Jean Lafitte who used the remote and trackless surroundings to hide his treasure and further his clandestine trade with outlying territories.
Legends abound of the buried treasure left behind by Jean Lafitte and his men and treasure hunters still seek the lost booty to this day. In 1821, Lafitte was ordered to leave by the American forces aboard the warship "Enterprise." Lafitte sailed out of Galveston aboard his frigate "Barataria Bay" was never seen in Galveston again - at least not by any living eye.
Galveston was the first Texas city to have electric lights, electric street cars, a post office, naval base, a newspaper, public library and hospital and many other products of civilization. Galveston is rich in history and was the area known as the "Strand" encompasses many of the most historic buildings in the old city including the 1894 Grand Opera House, many museums, shops and eateries. The Galveston Strand was once called "The Wall Street of the Southwest" because it's location and climate attracted so many of the formidable "old money" families of the Northeast. This barrier island also boasts one of the country's largest bird migratory flyways, beautiful beaches and amazing, rich salt marshes.
In the early 1800's the island was used as a headquarters by the famous buccaneer pirate Jean Lafitte who used the remote and trackless surroundings to hide his treasure and further his clandestine trade with outlying territories.
Legends abound of the buried treasure left behind by Jean Lafitte and his men and treasure hunters still seek the lost booty to this day. In 1821, Lafitte was ordered to leave by the American forces aboard the warship "Enterprise." Lafitte sailed out of Galveston aboard his frigate "Barataria Bay" was never seen in Galveston again - at least not by any living eye.