Bolivar Ferry

in
Bolivar Ferry.jpg

Taking a ride on the Bolivar Ferry is a great idea any time of the year!

I’ve taken the trip on SH 87 from Galveston to Bolivar Peninsula (and back) more times than I can count but, always, the excursions have been memorable and fun.

(Another time I might record trips taken when on a date, as a wife and mother or with my girlfriends! But, for now, I just want to encourage visitors to the island to put this activity at the top of their vacation must-do lists.)

f161183ddcdae18f1de0dfd7a809a7b9_400x400.jpeg

Important to note: The ferry is free! It provides a great opportunity to get out in the fresh air, view giant tankers and barges as they travel to and from the port. You can also watch for shrimp boats and look for dozens of dolphins as they follow the shrimp boats looking for a free dinner.

Onboard, there is an open-air upper observation area. Inside, there is an air-conditioned sitting area surrounded by windows, Needless to say, the view is amazing both inside and outside.

From Bolivar, the path gives you a great view of Fort Travis and the Bolivar Lighthouse, ships anchored or traveling into port or out to sea. Coming into the Galveston Landing, you’ll pass Seawolf Park on one side and the U.S. Coast Guard Station on the other. As the ferry turns into the Galveston dock in the distance, you’ll also see the Galveston Yacht Basin.

Bring a camera or your iPhone to take lots of selfies!

The ferry has been operated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) since 1934. Each trip covers about 2.7 miles and takes about 18 minutes. Each ferry can carry approximately 70 vehicles, 500 passengers and six crew members. You can drive your vehicle-on or walk-on depending on your plans.

One vessel is in operation 24 hours per day. A second vessel is placed in service at 6:30 a.m. After this departure, the two vessels operate based on traffic volume and space themselves to carry traffic as efficiently and safely as possible. A third vessel is placed in service during the afternoon period if necessary. Up to five vessels may be operated for summer and holiday traffic.

For additional information, you should call 409-795-2230.

Saengerfest Park

in
Unknown.jpg

Saengerfest Park might be the most visited park in Galveston; it’s located on the corner of 23rd Street and Strand in Galveston’s Historic Strand District. Literally, thousands of tourists to the island walk by while shopping or gather here when attending one of the city’s many festivals.

Unknown-1.jpeg
Unknown-2.jpeg
Saengerfest-Park-Historical-Marker-960.jpg

Saengerfest Park is a charming spot, smack-dab in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the district. It features a large, playable chess set, a large compass which can be used as seating, wooden benches, an old-fashioned London-style phone booth and a stage used for movie and music nights throughout the year.

It also features a large “Greetings from Galveston” mural, perfect for standing in front of and posing for selfies or group photos.

The small square park was created in 1994 by George and Cynthia Mitchell. It takes its name from Saengerfest, a biennial singing contest sponsored by German immigrant choral societies around the State of Texas in the 19th century. The word, “Saengerfest,” literally means “singer festival” in German.

A choral group from Galveston, “The Salamanders,” took top honors in the 1879 competition in New Braunfels, Texas, thereby receiving the honor of hosting the next Saengerfest in April 1881. That year, a torch-lit parade was held to welcome 400 singers to Galveston and the competition.

Moody Mansion

in
Exterior.jpg

Moody Mansion, built in 1895 and located at 2618 Broadway Boulevard, is a 31-room Romanesque jewel. The home is named for William Lewis Moody, Jr., an American financier and entrepreneur in the cotton business who bought the home from Galveston socialite Narcissa Willis.

The architect for the home was William H. Tyndall, an Englishman, He used elements from different cultures and periods, leading to an eclectic appearance. The interiors were designed by Potter & Stymus, a famous New York firm of the time that also worked for such clients as Thomas Edison, William Rockefeller and President Ulysses S. Grant.

After the death of Willis in 1899, the house was offered for sale. But, after Great Storm of 1900 in September, few bidders stepped forward. However, shortly after the storm, the home was sold to William Lewis Moody, Jr. for the sum of $20,000 (vs. its $100,000 value). And, Moody and his family were all moved in time to celebrate Christmas the same year.

Many technological advances of the period iare present in the four-story mansion, including a one-passenger elevator, a dumbwaiter, speaking tubes in the pantry for communicating with the kitchen staff in the basement, heated drying racks in the laundry room, and lighting fixtures using both gas and electricity. The house also has its own rainwater cistern.

Members of the Moody family resided in the home until 1986. Since then, it was been turned into a historic museum commemorating the Moody family. And, on Many 13, 1994, Moody Mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places

To find out about available tours, their dates and times, visit www.moodymansion.org/.