We were recently asked, "What makes Galveston feel like its own country?" Do people from Galveston think they live in their own country?
Ask about any locals; they will tell you they only leave the island when forced to leave. When they leave, we say we're going to America!
Ask about any locals; they will tell you they only leave the island when forced to leave. When they leave, we say we're going to America!
As a local, we become spoiled with this proximity, and unknowingly we get it ingrained in our heads that if it's more than five minutes away, it's too far! We are very proud of our small town! Although small, it has many big city amenities compared to other towns of the same size. It helps that locals don't need to leave the island to maintain their daily lives. The community is like no other. You may think a town of fifty thousand people would feel like a big city. However, feeling like you know everyone here doesn't take long! Living so close to the 4th largest city in America, you feel an immediate decrease in your blood pressure as you hit the island, and all your worries seem to fade away. Within minutes you are in island mode. The freeway vanishes, and the speed limit is 35 mph. The only decision you have to make next is, "Do I go to the beach or The Strand?" For many, the beach in itself is a time warp. The memories you create at the beach are forever.
Galveston has a long, fascinating history. The island has been a place of escape for many centuries. This sandbar dates back to at least the 1500s with the indigenous tribes that lived here. The first noted visitor was a shipwrecked Spanish explorer named Cabeza de Vaca in 1528. With that kind of beginning, we can only assume Galvatraz was the island's true destiny! The following noted visitor to the island were pirates in the 1800s. It was once the largest city in Texas and called The Queen City of the Gulf. It is also known as The Ellis Island of the South 1900s, and during the 1920s prohibition era, it was called The Free State of Galveston. Our little island is indeed extraordinary and unique. We know this island has attracted people who have wanted to escape over the centuries. There is a Galvatraz spirit engrained into the island's history! Either way, once you visit this little island, you will see it has something special about it, and you won't want to leave! Maybe it will even become your final destination!
Galveston has a long, fascinating history. The island has been a place of escape for many centuries. This sandbar dates back to at least the 1500s with the indigenous tribes that lived here. The first noted visitor was a shipwrecked Spanish explorer named Cabeza de Vaca in 1528. With that kind of beginning, we can only assume Galvatraz was the island's true destiny! The following noted visitor to the island were pirates in the 1800s. It was once the largest city in Texas and called The Queen City of the Gulf. It is also known as The Ellis Island of the South 1900s, and during the 1920s prohibition era, it was called The Free State of Galveston. Our little island is indeed extraordinary and unique. We know this island has attracted people who have wanted to escape over the centuries. There is a Galvatraz spirit engrained into the island's history! Either way, once you visit this little island, you will see it has something special about it, and you won't want to leave! Maybe it will even become your final destination!
