The Port of Galveston has introduced festivities to have fun its two hundredth anniversary subsequent yr, which is able to embody public occasions, the publication of a historical past guide, and extra. In a press launch, the port stated that its “fascinating history could fill a book with tales of pirates, naval battles, riches, and resilience.”
The port is planning a full yr of actions to share its historical past, spotlight the contributions of the port and its companions, and have fun its previous, current, and future. Events will embody:
National Maritime Day on May 22, 2025
Party on the Pier public occasion on Oct. 17, 2025
Bicentennial gala on Oct. 18, 2025
The port may even be publishing a guide on its historical past, due out in October 2025.
The Port of Galveston is the oldest port west of New Orleans. It was established by a proclamation issued by the Congress of Mexico on October 17, 1825, whereas the land referred to as Texas nonetheless belonged to Mexico.
The port performed an important business and navy position within the Texas Republic’s battle for independence from Mexico. Its harbor was dwelling to the Texas Navy, a squadron of 4 crusing vessels, which contributed to Sam Houston’s success over General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana on the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836.
As the pure harbor grew in prominence, town of Galveston, based in 1839, grew across the port. By the 1870s, the Port of Galveston was a significant U.S. business heart with far-reaching maritime and rail connections. This reality helped Galveston win $6.2 million in federal funding in 1890 to turn out to be a deepwater port. By 1899, it was the world’s foremost cotton port.
In 1940, the residents of Galveston voted to purchase the privately held port properties to turn out to be a self-sustaining metropolis entity, which it stays as we speak.
Since then, key milestones have included the federal harbor deepening from 36 ft to 40 ft in 1976, longtime tenant Wallenius Lines shifting its cargo operations to the port in 1995, and the primary crusing of Carnival Celebration, the primary cruise ship to homeport there, in 2000.
Today, the 840-acre port is a thriving business heart with infrastructure and property to serve rising cruise, cargo, and business companies. It’s the fourth hottest cruise homeport within the United States, internet hosting 5 main cruise traces and over 1.5 million cruise passengers every year.
Visit the port’s bicentennial web site at portofgalveston200.com.
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