Galveston Historical Foundation

06/01/2026

Vintage vibes, classic cars, and bathing beauties are just a few days away from their glamorous return to Galveston! Don't miss out on all the FREE Galveston Island R***e Weekend fun this Saturday from 5-9 at Saengerfest Park. The 18th annual event is Galveston Island's Official Kick-off to Summer and a sure-fire way to get in the summer spirit. Head to https://www.galvestonhistory.org/events/galveston-island-beach-revue for all the details and snag one of the last VIP passes!

05/29/2026

The Strand Summer Series returns this Saturday with a FREE performance by the incomparable Patrice Pike Band! The show kicks off at 7 pm. We also have a limited number of VIP options available. Head to https://www.galvestonhistory.org/events/strand-summer-series for the details, and we'll see you in historic downtown Galveston this weekend.

05/28/2026

R***e Weekend returns! Kick off a weekend of vintage fun next Friday, June 5th, with the infamous Queen City Cabaret. For one night only, the 1859 Ashton Villa welcomes you to a night of burlesque, music with Hunter Perrin and the Wildcards, drink, introduction of the 2026 bathing beauties, a gambling parlor, and so much more. This one sells out for a reason. Get your Friday night finery ready and head to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queen-city-cabaret-tickets-1983005902034?aff=oddtdtcreator for all the details.

Hosted by:
MissVhaven

Performances by:
Cirque La Vie
Abby Cadabra
ShelBelle ShamRock
Piper Daily

Muisc by:
Hunter Perrin and the Wildcards

Drinks by:
Eureka Heights Brew Co
CITADELLE GIN

05/27/2026

A follower is hoping our online historians can lend a virtual hand. This mystery woman is in a family collection, but they don't know who she is. It's their hope that the person can be identified and the photo returned to the family. Have any leads? Leave them in the comments!

05/24/2026

Whether you’re welcoming guests to the island or making memories with family and friends, Memorial Day is the perfect time to connect with Galveston’s stories and places that have stood the test of time. Our sites and exhibits are ready for you all weekend long!

⚓ Explore the decks of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA
⛵ Experience Galveston's Historic Harbor Tours aboard SEAGULL II
🏰 Tour the stunning Victorian masterpiece, the 1892 Bishop's Palace

Please note: The Galveston Historic Seaport : Home of the 1877 Tall Ship Elissa will be open for deck tours only on Memorial Day. Meet the crew and view firsthand all the preparations being finalized for our Galveston 250 voyage!

Plan your visit and celebrate the holiday with Galveston Historical Foundation. Details at galvestonhistory.org!

05/22/2026

The 1877 ELISSA’s much-anticipated departure from the Galveston Historic Seaport has shifted to June 10. This additional time is needed to ensure equipment and crew are prepared for a safe journey with the almost 150-year-old National Historic Landmark. We remain excited for this voyage and look forward to sailing to New York for the America 250 celebration, along with planned stops in Boston, Savannah, and Pensacola on her return. Due to the revised schedule, the previously planned stops in Yorktown and Portsmouth will no longer be included in the itinerary. Visit galveston250.com for the latest appearance dates, times, and events.

05/18/2026

Friday night was one for the history books as we kicked off our Galveston 250 voyage at the Galveston Historic Seaport. Cheers to everyone for selling out the night.

Thanks to Fisherman's Wharf for the food, Rambler / Saint Arnold Brewing Company / Come and Drink It Texas for the drinks, Kevin Anthony & G-Town for the music, and the crew, staff, sponsors, supporters, and friends for the support. There was a ship full of ELISSA pride on hand, and we're going to sail with that same spirit all summer long.

05/16/2026

05/16/2026

Another milestone reached towards our Galveston 250 voyage! Ryan Bradfield, Director of our Galveston Historic Seaport, proudly shows off ELISSA's Certificate of Inspection from the United States Coast Guard. The COI is a thorough and comprehensive vessel evaluation conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard. This is a critical step towards our upcoming voyage.

The next week has more work and final preparations to complete before our departure, tentatively moved to Memorial Day. We will provide more updates as we finalize the details. These last steps do require us to shift our first two port stops of Pensacola and Savannah, which will see us visit those locations in late July and early August.

For those looking for a sneak peek of the ship under sail, we'll be making a Seawall sail today with arrival near the Pleasure Pier around 1:30!

05/14/2026

It's not every day you see our SEAGULL II and 1877 ELISSA together! The Official Tall Ship of Texas will be sailing frequently over the upcoming days as we finalize US Coast Guard inspections and get our crew on board for sea trials in preparation for Galveston 250.

Want to get a sneak peek at the ship and all the hard work we've been putting in? Stop by the Seaport tonight at 6 for our monthly Smarty Pints Trivia Night! Gates open at 6, trivia at 6:30 at the Galveston Historic Seaport : Home of the 1877 Tall Ship Elissa.