Galveston Monthly - Exploring Your Island Paradise

This Month

Dog Days Galveston Style

Technically a sausage, the hot dog is loosely defined as ground or minced meat mixed with spices, known for its smooth texture, typically stuffed into a casing and served on a bun. Call them what you will - frankfurters, wieners, red hots, or Coney Islands - these savory staples have captured America’s taste buds for generations. There’s just something irresistible about a well-dressed hot dog in all its juicy, flavorful glory.

Galveston Island Oasis

If you were among the many enchanted by the lush, hypnotic world of HBO’s The White Lotus - its tropical splendor, fragrant air, and slow-drifting sense of escape - you don’t need to fly to Maui to feel that magic. Tucked within the historic charm of Galveston’s Cedar Lawn neighborhood lies a backyard so rich with color, scent, and stillness, it feels like a scene from your own private episode. The backyard garden behind the gate ...

Guardians of the Sea

The city of Galveston boasts a unique naval legacy, having had not one, but two, United States Navy ships proudly bear its name. These two USS Galveston vessels served in distinct eras, establishing a connection between the city's name and American maritime history. Both ships had multiple identifying numbers linked to their names. When a naval vessel is reclassified or significantly modified to indicate a shift in its role or ...

Little Building, Big History

Nestled among the tall, ornamental historic structures on The Strand is a small, one-story building that’s easy to miss but has witnessed 150 years of Galveston history. One of the oldest buildings on The Strand, it was constructed in 1875 by Isidore LeClere (1815-1886), a brother-in-law of Michel Menard (1805-1856), one of the city's founders.

Gems of the Gulf

Sea glass is considered by many of us to be as precious as any natural gem and can sometimes seem harder to find. The difference is that sea glass is made by man and refined by nature, while diamonds and other gemstones are created by nature and refined by man. Galveston Island has a reputation among beachcombers for being an inadequate place to find sea glass. That is partly true.

Raised Bed Gardening

On Galveston Island, where the air carries a lazy whiff of salt and gulls narrate the sky like gossipy neighbors, summer gardening doesn’t mean hanging up your gloves - it means getting clever. And nothing says clever quite like a raised bed. There’s something delightfully mischievous about building a garden up instead of in, especially on a coastal barrier island where sand tries its best to masquerade as soil and the occasional...

Three New Businesses Open and Another Expands Its Line of Merchandise

Summer is in full swing, and Galveston’s business scene is growing as quickly as the seasonal crowds. New openings are popping up across the island - from east to west and everywhere in between.

As visitor numbers rise and the full-time population continues to grow on the island, so do the options for decorating, shopping, and dining out.

Each month, Galveston Monthly rounds up the latest additions to keep readers in the loop on what’s new and noteworthy. Here’s a look at the businesses that have recently opened their doors.

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A Look Back

From Coastal Defense to Coastal Destination

By John Hall

Placeholder image During World War I and II, Galveston played a vital role in the nation’s coastal defense and naval operations. At the heart of that effort was Fort Crockett, a military reservation established in the late 1890s and named in honor of Texas hero David Crockett.

Originally positioned along the Seawall between 45th and 49th Streets and later expanded to 57th Street, the fort was equipped with massive gun batteries, anti-aircraft guns, and searchlights.

During WWI, Fort Crockett served as an artillery training center, sending troops and equipment to the European front. In WWII, it was expanded and fortified to defend against German U-boats in the Gulf.

The fort also housed a prisoner-of-war camp located between 53rd and 57th Streets and served as a hub for coastal surveillance and military logistics. One of its most formidable installations was Battery Hoskins, a reinforced concrete casemate built to withstand naval bombardment.

After the war, the fort was decommissioned, and its massive bunkers sat dormant for decades - until Galveston native and visionary developer George Mitchell saw potential in the site. In the early 1980s, Mitchell purchased the land and transformed the former military stronghold into a luxury destination.

In 1984, The San Luis Resort opened atop the old Battery Hoskins, blending modern elegance with the enduring strength of its historic foundation. Today, the resort’s pool and wedding gazebo rest atop the very casemates that once guarded the Texas coast.

Home & Garden
Enjoy inspirational interiors, decorating and gardens from those that help shape Galveston Island style.

Food & Drink

Where to find lunch, brunch, dinner covering casual to fine dining. These places are not afraid to try new things. Hope you're hungry.

Arts & Culture

Beaches aren't all Galveston has to offer. Local theater productions, contemporary art exhibits and other family events that always inspires.