Dash
Beardsley's Ghost Tours of Galveston
Top Ten Most Haunted Spots In Galveston, Texas
1. Bishop's
Palace
Formerly known as the The
Gresham House it was built from 1887-1892 and
designed by N.J. Clayton and Company as a residential
home for Walter Gresham at a cost of US$125,000.00.
This is Galveston’s
grandest and best-known Paranormal and photographed
building, the Bishop’s Palace is located
at 1402 Broadway. It is an ornate building of
colored stone, intricately carved ornaments,
rare woods, stained-glass windows, bronze dragons
and many other sculptures, luxury materials
and furnishings, and impressive fireplaces from
around the world fill the interior.
This very haunted Texas Building
is said to be the most haunted and often the
first stop for any Ghost Hunter searching the
paranormal trappings in Galveston, Texas.
Walter Gresham, a politician-turned-lobbiest
during the mansion-building boom of the late-1800's.
Gresham's ghost has been seen and reported by
some, often inspecting the exterior of the building
when a deadly hurricanes closes in on the tiny
island.
This very real haunted Texas
building is made of limestone accented with
gray granite, pink granite, and red sandstone.
During the Great Storm of 1900 when so many
thousands of other buildings were swept into
the Gulf of Mexico this building was left still
standing.
In 1923 it was purchased
by the Catholic Diocese of Galveston to become
the official residence of the bishop. But only
one ever lived there. Reverend Christopher Byrne
stayed there until his death in 1950. And they
say he is one of the many ghosts that protects
and haunts the building.
In 1963, the Catholic Church
opened it to the public, making it the first
of the Galveston mansions to be turned into
a museum.
2. Ashton
Villa
Built in 1859 it is now a
Texas Haunted Museum originally a residential
home it is located at 2328 Broadway. Originally
constructed for J.M. Brown hardware wholesaler,
banking and railroad tycoon, this beautiful
Italianate home was one of a series of mansions
built along Broadway during the height of Galveston's
social and economic prominence.
The Ashton Villa doesn't
have a particularly sad or tragic background
but it is one of the houses that survived the
hurricane of 1900. Reports of apparitions, male
and female dressed in old style clothes. Feelings,
of not being alone, and strange noises of movement
when no one else is around.
It is constructed of brick
and cast iron, which helped make it one of the
very few homes besides Bishop's Palace to survive
the Great Storm of 1900. What the storm didn't
destroy time and neglect almost did. After the
Browns moved on, it was home to the El Mina
Shrine Temple. By the 1970's, the Shriners had
moved out and the house was in line for demolition.
Fortunately, a group of preservationists convinced
the city of Galveston to spare the wrecking
ball and instead buy the property from the federal
government for use as a museum.
Since 1974 it has been one
of Galveston Island's treasures and is open
to the public. Ashton Villa is often called
the pinnacle of "The most haunted building
in Texas only falling second to the Bishop's
House.
Some tell of the ghost of
Bettie Brown often seen standing or walking
briskly through the great Gold Room. Some say
they hear music others experience the exotic
smell of jasmine and roses reportedly her favorite
perfume combination permeating the air. A often
told tale tells of a chest of drawers purchased
in the Middle East that stands in Bettie Brown's
dayroom. It reportedly locks and unlocks itself
even though the key has been missing for years.
Tour guides often demonstrate the occurrence
on the tour. Also Brown's bed refuses to stay
made. No matter how many times a day the sheets
are straightened, they end up rumpled or pulled
off the bed entirely.
3. Galvez
Hotel
Victorian elegance rising
from the sand and surf, the Hotel Galvez - A
Wyndham Historic Hotel in Galveston, Texas,
was known as the "Queen of the Gulf"
on the day she opened in 1911. For nearly a
century, this charming Galveston hotel has been
the choice of guests as demanding and diverse
as Teddy Roosevelt, Howard Hughes and Frank
Sinatra. A $9-million renovation has restored
the Hotel Galvez to its rightful place as a
timeless showplace on the Gulf of Mexico. often
hotel workers have seen figures of the lady
and hear her whimpers as she walks down the
back stairs.
The Galvez is also home to
a very haunted painting. The
haunted real portrait of Bernardo de Galvez
hangs at the very end of the long hall at the
Hotel Galvez. Many who see it get a chill for
they say they can feel his eyes following them
as they walk past. Report to several in the
paranormal community that much like Robert the
Haunted Doll in Key West, Florida this ghost
does not like having his portraits picture taken
unless you ask his permission first.
Located on Seawall Blvd and
is the oldest hotel on the island. One room,
room 505, is supposed to be haunted and most
people who stay in that room, do not stay overnight.
Most just feel incredibly uncomfortable there.
You can also smell Gardenias in and around the
room at times.
Many people have had similar experiences and
it's to be expected in an old real l haunted
hotel. Unless you are seeking an experience
beyond our world, at least stay away from the
fifth floor if your afraid of ghosts!
4. Stewart
Mansion
On the Heritage at Risk List
for 2007 Stewart Mansion, on the list since
2004, was built in 1926 as a West End retreat
for George Sealy, Jr. and his family. Eventually
owned by the Stewart family, this Spanish Colonial
Revival style house overlooks Lake Como. The
mansion has been once enlarged and suffers now
from deterioration, but many original features
such as the tiled courtyard are still intact.
The current owners have plans for restoration
but at this time it remains vacant.
Laffite's Cove was named after
its predecessor, the pirate Jean Laffite, who
ousted Galveston's original residents, the friendly
Karankawa Indians, in a famous battle on the
ridge overlooking Oak Bayou (the Stewart Mansion
property). It is believed by treasure hunters
that Jean Laffite buried his vast treasure on
grounds west of the Mansion, although no treasure
has ever been found.
His larger than life mural
can be seen along with two other pirates, on
the wall of the living room in the Stewart Mansion.
It has been said that at night these murals
often change places on the walls.
5. Flagship
Hotel
The Flagship Hotel offers
a one of a kind view. The Flagship Hotel on
Seawall Boulevard in Galveston is the only hotel
in North America built entirely over the water,
as it is located on the historic Pleasure Pier
actually 1000 feet off Galveston Island over
the Gulf of Mexico.
It is often well known for
it has an inexplicable apparition that is said
to haunt the 7th floor. One visitor said, "I
have never experienced a "ghost" before
this, have never wanted to, and never wish to
again!" The Ghosts seems like a very real
person until he walks into a wall and disappears!
Ghost hunters have investigated this ghost many
times and the same results are the same high
EMF readings and serious cold spots.
More ghosts and encounters
seem to be present through out the Hotel, but
the Entire 7th floor is the haunted Hot Spot
to investigate.
The U.S.S. Flagship offers
an even stronger commitment to making your stay
in Galveston a memorable one. So come on aboard.
She's all decked out and waiting for you. And
some say very Haunted too!
6. Tremont
Hotel
Formerly this was the Leon
& H. Blum Building it was first built in
1879 and then expanded 1882 then again restored
and expanded 1985 originally designed by Eugene
T. Heiner.
This building's location is
an indication of just how vibrant and important
the city of Galveston was before the Great Storm.
The third and fourth floors are reported to
be more then very haunted by a survivor of the
Great Storm. Some say they hear moaning still
others report loud banging noises and cold chills.
One guest says they could hear someone crying
for help and tapping on their rooms window on
the 3rd floor.
The Tremont House today is
an impressive 4 star hotel in The Strand district.
The hotel is done in Victorian style with glass
elevators and a four-story atrium. At the time
it was originally completed, it was the longest
mercantile building in Galveston.
The Blum brothers operated
their business from here. For the building's
first 100 years, it was only three stories tall.
It was designed to be four, but the top floor
was not originally built. In 1985 when the new
owners built the mansard-roofed attic they had
to get permission from the National Park Service
to alter this historic property.
Though some locals and historians
have often claimed that Buffalo Bill, Sam Houston,
Ulysses S. Grant, and other well known historic
figures have slept at the Tremont House though
this may not be entirely accurate. They may
have stayed at the original Tremont House which
was located in another part of The Strand. That
building burned down in 1865. This building
was a dry goods store at the time, and wasn't
converted into a hotel until the 1980's.
Some guests and ghost hunters
say on many EVP's they can hear hurricane wind
noises, The screams and cries of lost souls
drowning in the deep water as if they are re-
living the Great Storm of 1900.
7. Ewing Hall
(The Face)
This is the infamous "Face"
that has stubbornly appeared on the University
of Texas Medical Building Ewing Hall (UTMB)
in Galveston, Texas. Legend has it that the
gentleman's image that you will see embedded
in the wall is none other than the original
owner of the land that this building sits on.
This Haunted building is
off limits to the public, but the face is clearly
visible from the harbor.
The ghost story goes that
the original owner supposedly told his family
not to sell the land after he died and to keep
it in the family. Upon his death, his family
quickly sold the land that UTMB now sits on.
He is said to now haunt the building and campus.
According to legend, the face first appeared
on the top panel of the building. The top panel
of the building was then sand blasted and painted
over. The face then appeared on the panel directly
beneath it. This panel was subsequently sand
blasted causing the face to move to the panel
that it resides on today. UTMB eventually gave
up trying to remove the face and it has become
a permanent edition to Ewing Hall.
Before the 1920's, that "land" was
in the water - the face has nothing to do with
the Storm. It was filled- in in the late 20's.
The building always belonged to the State of
Texas (through UTMB), and as such, it should
never have had an advertisement on it - that
would be highly questionable at best. People
have died trying to see this - it's not worth
your life - don't risk it! It is State property
and access is restricted - you can be arrested.
8. Galveston
Railroad Museum
Located near The Strand at
25th Street and Santa Fe Place on Galveston
Island, Texas. The Museum is closed Thanksgiving
Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year's
Day, and during the local Mardi Gras weekend.
The Railroad Museum is easy to find. Its white
Art Deco 10 story office tower is visible throughout
the Island, near the Port of Galveston in the
Strand Historical District. There is free parking
for all Museum visitors.
Ghost Photos happen here all
the time. Saved from demolition by the Moody
Foundation, this impressive Art Deco building
was once the Union Passenger Depot. Now the
waiting room is filled with life-size plaster
models of “ghosts of travelers past”
telling tales of their Victorian rail adventure
when Galveston and its railroads were at the
heart of Texas commerce.
As you walk in the front door
from the Strand, to your left you will observe
what was the Harvey House restaurant, to your
right was the ticket booth, and straight ahead
was the news stand and the doors to the concourses.
The waiting room is now called the People's
Gallery and is populated by Ghosts of Travelers
Past. The full-sized figures in the gallery
were made with plaster molds of real persons,
and depict individuals who might have passed
through the waiting room in 1932. The figures
were created in 1981 by Elliot and Ivan Schwarz.
Some say they see them . others report several
other ghostly figures moving amongst them.
9. Gingerbread
House
The newly restored 1891 Van
Alstyne House now housing The Gingerbread House
Antiques and Gifts; located at 2901 Broadway.
This beautiful old Victorian home has withstood
many storms, the worst being of course recorded
as the 1900 storm.
Its present owner, Murriah
McMaster, has restored this show place to feature
the finest antiques and gift items. You'll find
its more than 14 rooms, decorated with color
and flair, are reminiscent of both past and
present. Ghostly encounters are not uncommon
here but not inside the building but on the
grounds. Many EVP's and actual Ghost Video is
often captured outside the building more then
often.
10. Train
Station Market Building
The home of Bistro LeCroy
2021 Strand. located in The Strand Historic
District, is a Louisiana style seafood grill
serving lunch and dinner classics. And many
who visit there have witnessed paranormal encounters
that keep them coming back for more.
Here and quite often in photos
what appears to be several a bodies is sometimes
seen apparently floating in thin air near the
rafters -- a remnant, no doubt, of the floods
of the Great Storm of 1900 when it washed in
and they were caught against the ceiling rafters.
Reports are even made of phantoms standing pout
side the building on the long balcony and gazing
down on visitors perhaps awaiting the next killer
storm?
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Galveston,
Oh Galveston!
Galveston was the first Texas city to have electric
lights, electric street cars, a post office,
naval base, a newspaper, public library and
hospital and many other products of civilization.
Galveston is rich in history and was the area
known as the "Strand" encompasses
many of the most historic buildings in the old
city including the 1894 Grand Opera House, many
museums, shops and eateries.
The Galveston Strand was once
called "The Wall Street of the Southwest"
because it's location and climate attracted
so many of the formidable "old money"
families of the Northeast. This barrier island
also boasts one of the country's largest bird
migratory flyways, beautiful beaches and amazing,
rich salt marshes.
In the early 1800's the island was used as a
headquarters by the famous buccaneer pirate
Jean Lafitte who used the remote and tractless
surroundings to hide his treasure and further
his clandestine trade with outlying territories.
Legends abound of the buried treasure left behind
by Lafitte and his men and treasure hunters
still seek the lost booty to this day. In 1821,
Lafitte was ordered to leave by the American
forces aboard the warship "Enterprise."
Lafitte sailed out of Galveston aboard his frigate
"Barataria Bay" was never seen in
Galveston again - at least not by any living
eye.
During the years of the Texas revolution, the
island was used as the naval headquarters for
the rebelling fleet. Santa Ana was held prisoner
on the island following his defeat in the battle
of San Jacinto, and this was just the beginning
of its tenure as a prisoner's hold.
During the Civil War many buildings on the islands
were used to hold prisoners -- the island changed
hands twice and so both Union and Confederate
soldiers were at one time held prisoner here.
Many of the island buildings were also used
to hospitalize wounded from both sides of the
War of the Rebellion. Some of these buildings
still stand to this day and there are reports
of sightings of both Union and Confederate soldiers
who still linger where their souls passed on.
The Reconstruction of the Union was barely underway
when, in 1867, Galveston was struck with the
worst Yellow Fever epidemic in its history.
The same epidemic had struck nearby Houston
and the graves of the small island cemeteries
filled to capacity so quickly that many of the
deceased had to be transported to Houston and
outlying towns for burial. Islanders are still
known for their loyalty and pluck; perhaps these
distant burials didn't please them and caused
them to return to haunt their old "digs?"
During the height of the 1867 epidemic the city
was eventually quarantined and the small cemeteries
became an overcrowded morass of decaying corpses
and exposed, rotting coffins. The Jefferson
Davis Hospital was ultimately built over the
remains of the worst of these city cemeteries.
There are claims that many of the restless dead
from cemeteries and hospital alike still haunt
the location.
No discussion of the history of Haunted Galveston
would be complete without mention of the most
traumatic event in the city's history -- the
Great Storm of 1900. This storm, now known to
have been a category 5 hurricane, is still recorded
as the worst natural disaster in US history.
The death toll of the 1900 Storm was estimated
to be between 6,000 - 8,000 with 4,000 homes
and other buildings leveled by the onslaught
of torrential rains, wind and storm surge. Barometer
readings recorded during the storm set a record
low for any area of the United States up to
that point and sustained winds were estimated
at speeds of in excess of 100 mph.
When the storm was approaching authorities attempted
to calm the island residents with assurances
that the low tidal level of the Gulf of Mexico
would keep the destructive force of sea and
waves to a minimum. On the morning of September
8, 1900, there was an almost carnival atmosphere
as Galveston residents assembled along the beaches
to greet the oncoming storm. Before long, however,
they were fleeing in terror as the realization
of the full impact of what was approaching came
over them.
With full might the category 5 hurricane pounded
into the Galveston coastline. Winds whipped
down trees and cable car lines, fence posts
and shop signs took flight over the heads of
the now-hysterical residents who were literally
running for their lives. Torrents of rains blinded
them as the dispersed throughout the streets
and lanes of Galveston, many climbing over those
who fell in their path. Trains en route to the
island were called back too late and were washed
away with their trestles; entire houses collapsed
in the onslaught of the winds.
With the howling of the winds came the rising
flood waters and panicked crowds took refuge
where they could in the face of the oncoming
deluge. Hundreds jammed into the Tremont Hotel
in downtown Galveston (now the Tremont House
Hotel) where their ultimate refuge was the roof
of the building, exposed to the wind and rain.
As the storm surge pummeled ashore entire buildings
were washed away or overturned like teacups
into the murky tide. People clustered on roof
tops watched in horror as friends and neighbors
were swept past them to their deaths. People
grabbed onto anything that would float, including
coffins washed out of their resting place in
the local cemeteries.
Galveston reeled in the wake of the horrible
storm. The clean up began as the waters receded
and winds and rain died down. Bodies seemed
to be everywhere. Those collected immediately
after the storm were hauled out to sea on barges
and dumped for burial at sea. But nature had
a last cruel trick to play and as the tide turned,
bodies began to wash up on the beaches by the
thousands. Temporary morgues were set up in
the mercantile district, now called the Strand,
and ultimately were set on huge pyres for burning.
In some cases, sympathetic citizens would bury
as many of the dead as possible in their courtyards
and back lots. To this day it is not unusual
for renovators in the older areas of the city
to unearth bones presumed to be those of flood
victims from plastered walls or from shallow
back yard graves.
After the storm Galveston
engineers began the construction of the 17 foot
bulkhead that still stands on the Gulf side
of the islands, and in an amazing feat of engineering
the entire city was raised to a level that could
withstand a similar storm, and has been tested
many times over since the Great Storm of 1900.
Do the ghosts of the lost
dead still haunt the old streets and historic
buildings of Haunted Galveston?
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