Touring Galveston’s Bishop’s Palace

Last week I wrote about our holiday in fabulous Galveston island, Texas.

Since we were biking all over the island, we were passing thense impressive turn of the century show homes each day.

The Bishop’s Palace had the most convenient opening hours, without need for an appointment, so this worked well for our schedule.

Lawyer Colonel Walter Greshambuilt this home 1886-1892, designed by Galveston’s most famous architect at the time, Nicholas Clayton.

This Victorian mansion was built in an eclectic style, with colored stone (Texas granite, red sandstone and white limestone) , stained-glass windows, bronze dragons and breezy verandas. The interior was largely decorated in wood, and includes an elegant, curved staircase.

There was also a small exhibition about the devastating 1900 Hurricane. Miraculously. the Bishop’s Palace was untouched by that storm.

The name The Bishop’s House comes from a later resident, Reverend Christopher Byrne who lived here when the Catholic dioces purchased this property in 1923 for $40,500.

Reverend Byrne lived in this home from 1923 until his death in 1950. The Reverend also converted one of the bedrooms to a chapel, and you can visit this today.

This is well worth a visit when you’re next in Galveston.

This eclectic Victorian mansion gives you a great idea of the elegance of Galveston at the turn of the last century.

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