Talk:Galveston, Texas

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This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Galveston, Texas article.
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housing

I've heard that the island has the most Section 8 housing per capita in the nation. If I find a source I'll add it despite the fact that it's not really something to be proud of. --Laura Scudder | Talk 02:38, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)


Contents

[edit] Notable Galvestonians

I just happened across this page and noted something weird in this section: "Regina Thompson, 22 time World Karate Champion." I don't know enough about Galveston to know if there is some obscure reference here, but thought I'd bring it to ya'lls attention. The linked page is also a bit weird... Srmcmillan 22:18, 17 October 2007 (UTC)
A quick google search seems to verify that such a person exists. I'm not sure what the exact level of notability is to include on a list for the city, so I just changed the link to not point to the actress. Kuru talk 00:29, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Galv

I'll be spending a week on the beach in Galveston with my family starting on Saturday -- any requests for photographs while I'm there? · Katefan0(scribble) 11:06, July 26, 2005 (UTC)

The Galveston seawall, USS Stewart (DE-238) and USS Cavalla (SS-244) at Seawolf Park, Elissa (ship), and the Texas Heroes Monument are on my list. Other things to take pictures of include The Strand, all sorts of stuff at Moody Gardens, old aircraft at the Lone Star Flight Museum, and under no circumstances let the rail freaks find out, or you'll be spending the whole week at the railroad museum.
Just be sure that if you start taking mass photos of different things in one place, you write down what you've taken pictures of. -- Cyrius|✎ 20:18, 26 July 2005 (UTC)
<laugh> I probably won't be going anywhere near the railroad museum, so it's just as well. Plenty of time to shoot the Seawall, also the Strand. Not sure if I'll go to Moody Gardens or not, but if I do I'll shoot some stuff. Might stop by the Elissa and LSFM. The rest I'll have to play by ear. I'll probably take some photos of the Balinese Room also, maybe the old cemetery in the middle of the island and possibly some of the enormous bridge that connects the island to the mainland. Can't wait for the vacation, I love Galveston. · Katefan0(scribble) 20:53, July 26, 2005 (UTC)
While you're at the Elissa, which is fun to tour by the way, you should take a photo of the oil rig museum. Some sort of picture for UTMB would help that article out, too, but it is supposed to be a vacation. --Laura Scudder | Talk 07:38, 27 July 2005 (UTC)
I'd be sure to take shots of the beautiful restored old homes, and select one that would look good on the site. Really, the old homes are the true treasures of the Island. I'd see if a good shot of the ferry boat comes out too.Kyle Andrew Brown 05:59, 29 July 2005 (UTC)
That reminds me that the Bishop's Palace is pretty well known and looks really cool. --Laura Scudder | Talk 16:05, 29 July 2005 (UTC)
Bishop's Palace? What/where's that? Last summer we went to one of the mansions, can't remember which, too bad I wasn't into WP then. Not sure whether we'll swing by another one or not, but if we do I'll take some snaps. · Katefan0(scribble) 19:30, July 29, 2005 (UTC)
Oh, yeah it must sound kinda mysterious. It is at 1402 Broadway. Broadway is the main thorofare running down the length of the city from the entry on the west side of the side via the causeway from houston and extends to the west end at about 6th street.

1402 Broadway is at the intersection of 14th street and Broadway. Across the street is the church. The Bishop of Galveston used to reside in the "Bishop's Palace." Now you are ready to go on the Millionare Show with this essential knowledge of Galveston! To get to the ferry you go down Broadway to where it intersects the Seawall, head east a few blocks to the turn to the Ferry. That's the neighborhood I grew up in. There was a huge hotel/resort, the Jack Tarr at this intersection that survived Carla but was demolished in a later storm. Ok, I'll stop reminiscing here...Kyle Andrew Brown 20:43, 29 July 2005 (UTC)


We now have Bishop's Palace for all those interested. — Laura Scudder ☎ 08:53, 18 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Confederacy

I would suggest begining the history section with: Six flags have flown over Galveston, the flags of Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, United States and Confederate States of America. This is basic teaching in Galveston schools.

Also, a section on Galveston during the Confederacy is needed.

A couple good novels came out in the 1990's about Galveston that might be listed?

Agreed. A section is definitely needed. A major thing that was that Galveston was the largest city in Texas during the time of the war. This should be listed. --Stallions2010 22:15, 26 August 2006 (UTC)
I am not aware of France ever having claimed Galveston. They had claims in other parts of Texas. I'm willing to be proven wrong, of course. -- Cyrius|✎ 23:11, 9 August 2005 (UTC)
According to Galveston.com: In the late 1600's French explorer Robert Cavelier La Salle, although he did not reach Galveston Island, claimed this area for King Louis and named it St. Louis. Not the most definitive source, but good seeds for further research. · Katefan0(scribble) 23:16, August 9, 2005 (UTC)
Thanks for picking up on this fillout.Kyle Andrew Brown 00:04, 10 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Beaches

to state that the beaches are not beautiful flys in the face of countless awards and recognition of the beaches true recognition for beauty from many corporate and civic organizations.

They really aren't particularly beautiful. I kinda sniggered at that word in the article myself when I first read it. --Laura Scudder | Talk 05:07, 9 August 2005 (UTC)
I changed it to "abundant." I personally have no qualms with the beaches, but they aren't Caribbean-quality. What gets me steamed is all the tar sand lying around West Beach that I've seen for the past two years. Must've been a big spill. I took several shots of The Strand (see User:Katefan0/Photos, a couple of which I've incorporated in the main article, but that's about it. Once I got down to the beach I didn't much want to leave. I'll probably stick the ones I didn't use in the main article somewhere in the article on the Strand National Historic Landmark District. · Katefan0(scribble) 17:01, August 9, 2005 (UTC)
My dad tells me that the tar used to be a much bigger problem, even down on South Padre. --Laura Scudder | Talk 17:35, 9 August 2005 (UTC)
Yeah, you'd get random tar on your feet, but I've never seen it way down in the sand. I bury my little nephew in the sand on West Beach every year, and I'd never seen that kind of tar sand all over until two years ago. The past two years, just a few inches down and you hit nasty tar sand. All over the beach down in that strata. · Katefan0(scribble) 17:47, August 9, 2005 (UTC)
I'll agree the beach is always a problem, for me its always been the seaweed and the jelly fish and in the last decade of course the needle scares. I just think in an encyc article saying outright they are not beautiful is unnecessary. I enjoy the beach at night from the Seawall with the moon over the water, to me that is beautiful, and the sun rising over it. I'm NOT trying to be poetic here, tho, and I do like this sidebar - - it's a continuation of the Galveston News letters to the ed page...Kyle Andrew Brown 00:02, 10 August 2005 (UTC)
The tar bars actually occur naturally (as well as from spills, yes) but it has been documented that the Karankawas chewed on them - primitive gum. Railgun 19:38, 15 August 2005 (UTC)
Yecch! · Katefan0(scribble) 19:41, August 15, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Applause

Wow Kate that is a terrific photo from the air of the beach - - now can more of us say it is actually beautiful? I'd really like to build on the historic homes theme too.

Anyone know about Pam Heidt who has drawn beautiful images of Galveston homes and the Christmas series. Boy if she could give us one of her images here it would just be a big celebration.Kyle Andrew Brown 20:18, 12 August 2005 (UTC)

Actually I can't take credit for that one, I think that was added by User:UH Collegian, though I could be mistaken. It's a nice one though. I will say, when I was on the beach last week the water along West Beach and the Seawall were as blue/green as I've ever seen it. Very calm. (Unfortunately lots of bait fish too, which = sharks.) · Katefan0(scribble) 20:40, August 12, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Photos

Hey there GLVTX, thank you for adding those photos to the Galveston article! They make it look great. A couple minor things I wanted to let you know about. First, you sized the photos a bit too large -- they tend to crowd out the text in certain browsers so I scaled them down just a small bit. Also, I noticed that you removed the two Strand-related photos -- while I'm all for adding photographs to the article, I can't see any good reason for removing those two, so I've added them back in. Also, since the photo of the hurricane placard seems to better illustrate the section on the 1900 hurricane, I placed the placard photo back in that section and moved the City Park photo down to the "Galveston today" section. Happy editing! · Katefan0(scribble) 00:26, 28 October 2005 (UTC)

By the way, just got back from one of my last trips to Galveston in a while, and I finally managed to take some pictures this time. So if you're looking for more illustrations (including quite a few nice Victorians) check out commons:category:Galveston, Texas. There might be some more coming in a few weeks. — Laura Scudder ☎ 06:36, 18 March 2006 (UTC)

I was particularly entertained by Image:Glory to the defeated - dignified resignation.jpg. Apparently I'd never stopped to look at that statue before. — Laura Scudder ☎ 08:57, 18 March 2006 (UTC)

FYI - If anyone wants any of the Galveston photos in this site Virtual Tour of Galveston Island let me know - I own them all except the few captioned as MML or on the Blocker Collection page. I'll put them in Wiki Commons. And yes, I know the Hibiscous is incorrectly labelled as an Oleander. Railgun 17:11, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] French

I know some friends from the main land still in Galv. County with French names. Did any French besides pirated settle in the area? 65.16.183.162

[edit] Recent addition

Added a blurb about Galveston's susceptibility to hurricanes:

In 2007 The Associated Press compiled a list of the most vulnerable places to hurricanes in the U.S. and Galveston was one of five areas named. Among the reasons cited were low elevation and the single evacuation route off the island which is blocked by the nation's fourth largest city, Houston.[1]

However I am unsure if this should go in the Galveston today section or in the main section at the top. Currently it is in Galveston today section, but opinions are welcome over where it should go. I believe this is a noteworthy addition because it outlines potential problems which currently remain largely unaddressed.

[edit] Minor curiosity

I find it curious that the Spaniards (not even the Mexicans when they gained their independence but the actual Spaniards) named the island Galveztown (which morphed into Galveston). It seems probable that the name (i.e. that they chose an English-style name instead of a purely Spanish name) must have originated from anglophone settlers. But the impression I always get from history books is that the anglophones didn't really arrive until the 19th century, after this name was supposedly invented). There seems to be an interesting part of the early history here that is worth mentioning here. Does anybody have references for the details of this early history? Was the pirate enclave on the island an English-speaking community and, perhaps, was it seen by the Spanish as a legitimate business community (albeit probably a tiny one) which is why they would have legitimized this name? Seems a little strange that the enclave would be English speaking when the pirate captains vying for control were French and the neighboring regions were also French.

--Mcorazao (talk) 22:39, 14 February 2008 (UTC)