Inside Galveston’s Historic Homes: The Island is Full of Hidden Jewels — and This Tour Uncovers Them

Get ready to discover some homes away from home. The 44th Galveston Historic Homes Tour kicks off this weekend, showing off eight of the island’s most beautiful and compelling homes. Many of them are historic hidden gems.

The Galveston Historical Foundation puts on the tour for two weekends (May 5 and 6 and May 12 and 13) with hours from 10 am to 6 pm each day. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 starting on May 4.

Galveston Historical Foundation members are eligible for $25 tickets.

Tickets grant guests access to both weekends, and allow you to explore the historical homes in whichever order you choose. Each home can be viewed once per ticket.

The Historic Homes Tour boasts a series of special events, from a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the GH&H railroad depot to a special dinner from Saint Arnold’s executive chef at one of the highlighted homes. Special events details and schedules are available here.

Galveston’s signature Victorian stunners are just one piece of the elaborate mosaic of homes. Each selected home has its own unique place on the island.

On this tour, you get a peek into a broad array of private homes, featuring distinct architectural influences and layouts. The styles range from Italianate to Victorian, builders run from established architects to ambitious homeowners — and the houses date from as far back as 1874 to 1928.

“We have a significant amount of pre-1900 homes. You really don’t find concentrations of houses like we have in Galveston in many other places,” Will Wright of the Galveston Historical Foundation tells PaperCity.

A Home TV Star

The greatest draw this year may be the 1913 John and Artie Gilbert House at 3608 Avenue O. The Victorian beauty reveals the residential architecture evolution in Galveston as the island eased into the 20th century. The house’s rehabilitation was even featured on an episode of Home and Garden Television’s series, Saving Galveston.

As part of the tour, guests will learn about more than just the architecture and design.

“We not only show houses, but talk a little bit about the people that built and lived in the houses. We want to give people a connection to it,” Wright says. “To see that it’s more than just a pretty house.

“We want people walking away knowing a little more about the people or characters.”

The Galveston Historical Foundation will also showcase one property as part of its Preservation in Progress project. Through the rehabilitation process, the foundation relocates the home and redesigns it with an eye toward preserving the island’s history and utilizing innovative green technologies.

One of the homes on tour this year, the 1874 Smith-Hartley House, was featured as part of the rehabilitation program in 2014.

Welcome home.