Galveston Historical Foundation

Mission

The mission of the Galveston Historical Foundation encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences and their intersection with historic buildings and coastal life and conceives of history as an engaging story of individual lives and experiences on Galveston Island, Texas from the 19th century to the present day.

History

Since 1871, Galveston Historical Society and it legacy Galveston Historical Foundation has collected the life stories and told the history of thousands who have crossed the island. The stories come together to tell a larger narrative of entrepreneurship, experiences of first arrival and assimilation, slavery and freedom, disaster and tragedy, and resilience through adaptation to the coastal environment. No other community in Texas and few in the United States can tell these stories that are grounded in a quest for improving the quality of life of each new American developed through a unique vision and individual courage.

About the Foundation

Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) is today uniquely positioned to develop programs and sites that connect residents and visitors to the past. GHF is now a regional and statewide leader in heritage education and tourism managing some of the states most heavily visited heritage sites.

In addition, for more than sixty years, GHF has been a nationally recognized leader in preserving historic and maritime properties as well as providing innovative solutions in building preservation, museum interpretation, and maritime programming. GHF also is developing one of the largest programs using historic sites to address coastal resiliency in the nation. There is now a need to enhance and expand the properties and programs to meet the needs of a new era of visitor and resident as more than 60,000 visitors annually tour the foundation's recently purchased Bishop's Place.