Galveston to enjoy its 200th anniversary next month

The Port of Galveston has announced holidays for its 200th anniversary that will include people events, the release of a story book, and more. In a press release, the harbor said that its &#8220, interesting story could fill a book with legends of pirates, marine wars, fortunes, and endurance. &#8221,

The interface is planning a full year of actions to promote its story, show the efforts of the harbor and its partners, and enjoy its past, present, and future. Events will include:

National Maritime Day on May 22, 2025
Party on the Pier public event on Oct. 17, 2025
Bicentennial gala on Oct. 18, 2025

A book on its history will also be published by the port in October 2025.

The oldest port west of New Orleans is the Port of Galveston. The land known as Texas still belonged to Mexico, but it was established by a proclamation issued by the Congress of Mexico on October 17, 1825.

In the Texas Republic’s struggle for independence from Mexico, the port played a significant commercial and military role. The Texas Navy, a squadron of four sailing ships, that facilitated Sam Houston’s victory over General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, was based in its harbor.

As the natural harbor grew in prominence, the city of Galveston, founded in 1839, grew around the port. By the 1870s, the Port of Galveston was a major U. S.commercial center with far-reaching maritime and rail connections. This fact helped Galveston become a deepwater port in 1890 by receiving$ 6.2 million in federal funding. By 1899, it was the world’s foremost cotton port.

The citizens of Galveston voted in 1940 to purchase the privately held port properties to create a self-sustaining city. This is still in place today.

Important milestones have occurred since then, including the first cruise ship to port in 2000, the first time the federal harbor has been deepened from 36 feet to 40 feet in 1976, and Wallenius Lines, a long-standing tenant, moving its cargo operations to the port.

Today, the 840-acre port is a thriving commercial center with infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo, and commercial businesses. It is the fourth most popular cruise homeport in the country, which has five major cruise lines and more than 1.5 million cruise passengers annually.

Visit the port&#8217, s bicentennial website at portofgalveston200.com.

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