January 25, 2025
By Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO
If you’re a history buff like me, you enjoy learning about our island’s history. During this, the port’s 200th anniversary year, we’re doing a deep dive into the port’s history. Through this research, I’ve learned that our maritime history is woven into the fabric of the stories of our city, state and nation.
We’ll share the historical information and images we gather on our bicentennial website, PortofGalveston200.com, on social media, in displays, and in a very special 120-page history book that we’re producing with the help of the Galveston Historical Foundation.
The First Century
The history book will be filled with tales and images of pirates, naval battles, resilience and commercial milestones. I’ll touch on some highlights of the 19th century in this column.
French pirates Louis-Michel Aury and Jean Lafitte inhabited the island and used the natural harbor in the early 1800s when the land now known as Texas still belonged to Mexico. The Congress of Mexico issued a proclamation on October 17, 1825, to officially establish the port of entry and custom entry point.
During the Texas Revolution in 1836, Galveston was homeport for the Texas Navy. After the Republic of Texas seized independence from Mexico, the U.S. Congress designated Galveston an official federal port in 1837.
Although there were fewer than a dozen framed buildings, people recognized Galveston’s growing role in the Texas Republic’s commercial future. New York native Charles Morgan established the earliest steamship line in 1837.
As the natural harbor grew in prominence, the city of Galveston, founded in 1839, developed around the port. Wholesalers, commission merchants, cotton brokers, attorneys, and slave auctioneers all found work on The Strand area, Galveston’s commercial center adjacent to the harbor.
By the 1870s, the Port of Galveston was a major U.S. commercial center with far-reaching maritime and rail connections. This fact helped Galveston win $6.2 million in federal funding in 1890 to become a deepwater port. By 1899, the port was the world’s foremost cotton port.
Be a Part of Port History
We’re planning a full year of activities to share the port’s history, spotlight the contributions of the port and its port partners, and celebrate our past, present and future. We invite the Galveston community and our port partners to join us in a year of celebrations. Activities include the following:
The Galveston Wharves also is inviting community partners to present their own programs that describe the port’s connection to Galveston’s community, commercial and maritime histories.
Visit the port’s bicentennial website, www.portofgalveston200.com, for more information about bicentennial events, sponsorship opportunities and port history. Follow the Galveston Wharves on social media, and email Email for sponsorship information and to sign up for port news, including bicentennial updates.
