After the tours of the ships, we drove over to the Seawall to get on a duck bus/boat tour. I thought the kids would like it, but it was kinda long so they understandable didn't do well for the last 1/4 of it. They liked when it became a boat though!
I think after learning about all the ghosts in this place, and haunted mansions I would like to go back without the babies for more tours. On this 1940's pier there used to have carnival rides and attractions which was approved to be built by Roosevelt as it would improve military morale. It was one of the first hotels to be built on top of a pier. The hotel did well but was damaged repeatedly by storms and hurricanes, and finally with Ike in 2008, it was damaged beyond repair and torn down last year. They are building another carnival pier with rides and more to open next summer called "The Pleasure Pier".
This was the flagship hotel, which was one of the many reportedly haunted buildings of Galveston.
The monument for the 4 Texas battles for independence.
Ready for the hour long tour...
The pleasure pier under construction.
Some restaurants...Many of the buildings next to the 17 ft seawall, were housing for troops during WW2.
Beautiful San Luis Hotel.
I just thought this Rainforest Cafe was cute.
One of ten very old cemeteries of Galveston.
This is when the bus turned into a boat.
And here's what we got to see while on the water--pelicans diving for fish, while the free-loading seaguls sat on their heads to steal some dinner!
Back on land driving by two of the remaining cotton mill machines from the civil war era!
St. Patrick's church was damaged but ultimately survived the 1900 hurricane and was subsequently raised with the rest of the city 17 ft.
Forgot what this mansion was, but i's haunted (it resembles the disney ride huh?)
Can you tell by my face that we are ready to get off? It was almost done, but the babies were both fidgety and hungry.
After researching a little about the great hurricane of 1900, I found some pictures to tell the story. It killed between 8,000-12,000 people, and the stench of rotting bodies could be smelled for miles. Very sad.
They had to haul away bodies in carts for burials at sea:
The church, with the altar in tact after the Hurricane:
A man's body found in the wreckage...very sad because many people didn't die immediately and their screams could be heard under the wreckage but were not reached in time....
The seawall of 17 ft to protect from future storms:
Very interesting place to visit with so much history. We will be going back often.
2 comments:
wow, i'll have to show grampa. thanks!
yeah i know he'll be interested. when we were touring the ships john said this was "definitely something grandpa charles would like to do"---isn't it cute that he called him grandpa!?
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