Galveston Island has its share of noteworthy architecture—and all with a fascinating history. Among those that have played a significant role in the island’s development is the Hotel Galvez, the subject of a new book by author Kathleen Shanahan Maca, The History of the Hotel Galvez (The History Press).
“I’ve been lucky to be able to write about things that interest me, and the beautiful Hotel Galvez is certainly on that list,” says Maca, a Houston resident and author of Galveston's Broadway Cemeteries (Arcadia Publishing) and Ghosts of Galveston (The History Press).
“Besides being a wonderful piece of architecture, the Galvez’s history incorporates many of Galveston’s most important historical figures and has served as the setting for countless little known but fascinating stories.”
The history of the Hotel Galvez, located at 2024 Seawall Boulevard, begins in the mid-19th Century, when Polish-born Hershell "Harris" Kempner, the head of one of Galveston's founding families, planted the seeds from which Galveston's prosperity grew.
When he died in 1894, he was one of the largest cotton dealers in Texas and left an estate worth $1.25 million, which translates to nearly $38 million today. His widow, determined to maintain the family's ever-bourgeoning enterprise, turned to her oldest son, I.H. “Ike” Kempner.
In addition to overseeing and growing the family’s vast holdings, Ike Kempner was among the philanthropic residents who helped rebuild the island after the Great Storm of 1900 decimated the area. He served as finance minister for the Central Relief Committee, which was formed to manage recovery efforts, and he was instrumental in the construction of the 17-foot-high Seawall which serves as a coastal bulwark against future hurricanes.
In the aftermath of the storm, the eldest son founded new companies, diversifying into the banking and insurance fields, and he and his brother seized upon the idea to encourage tourism by constructing a luxury hotel directly across from the sandy beaches. Built at a cost of $1 million ($27.5 million today), the Hotel Galvez, dubbed “Queen of the Gulf,” opened June 10, 1911. This year marks its 110th anniversary.
“British-born Ernest John Russell of the St. Louis firm Mauran & Russell designed the Hotel Galvez. He also played a role in designing Houston’s Rice Hotel and Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio’s Gunter Hotel, and other prominent buildings across the country,” Maca says.
Bringing the 170-page book to readers has been a three-year labor of love. “I had no idea when I started the project that due to circumstances and certain research restrictions, the book would take three years to complete and publish,” says Kathleen.
“Though the Hotel Galvez is well-known, there are several chapters in its history that aren’t well documented, if at all. And because the hotel has changed hands so many times through its 110 years, many of its most priceless research artifacts have been lost along the way.”
“Besides countless newspapers, I also utilized personal interviews, magazine articles, hotel association records, archives at the Galveston Texas History Center, and other resources,” she continues.
“I also contacted presidential museums, the National Archives, the White House, and national Coast Guard offices. I even ended up doing quite a bit of genealogical work creating family trees and timelines to make sure that all of the facts line up correctly.”
Her research included an interview with Bobby Lee Hilton, who worked at the hotel during the “Free State of Galveston” era. Hilton often gave tours of the hotel and was considered not only a living repository of knowledge about the hotel and the island, but a beloved BOI (born on the island) treasure. Hilton died on October 7, 2019, at the age of 86.
“I’m so grateful that I was able to spend several hours recording interviews with the wonderful Mr. Bobby Hilton before his passing. He first worked for the hotel as a busboy in the 1930s and was best known in recent years as the honorary Galvez Ambassador,” she says.
“His love for and knowledge of the Hotel Galvez were legendary. I was happy to be able to dedicate an entire chapter to the stories this charming gentleman shared.”
The book contains more than 100 photos, covering the time periods from when it was merely a construction site to present day. “It would be difficult to choose a favorite, but I do love the photos taken for the grand opening brochure showing original amenities like the ice cream parlor and the wicker roller chairs,” Maca says.
Throughout its history, the Hotel Galvez has been a favorite of politicians and luminaries, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1937); Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1949); Vice President Richard Nixon (1955); and Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson (1959). The list of celebrated entertainers include Sammy Davis Jr., Jimmy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Jack Benny, Peggy Lee, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Jimmy Stewart.
“Because of its proximity with the infamous Balinese Room, it wasn’t unusual to encounter Hollywood celebrities and other famous figures back in the heydays of gambling and nightclubs on the Island. Bandleader/singer/actor Phil Harris and actress Alice Faye were even married in the Maceo Suite at the Galvez, and I was able to include photos of their wedding in the book.”
From 1942-1944, the hotel was used as the wartime headquarters for the U.S. Coast Guard. “I was fascinated with the period during World War II when the hotel was taken over by the Coast Guard for use as a barracks,” she says. “It spent two years ‘in service’ before reopening to the public.”
Like many grand places of yesteryear, the ravages of time threatened to take a toll on the hotel. But it was not to become a relic of the past, thanks to the efforts of Texas philanthropists/preservationists George Mitchell and Cynthia Woods Mitchell.
“It was Cynthia Mitchell who urged her husband George to purchase the hotel in 1993 and restore it to its former glory because of the special place it holds in Island history,” the author says.
She continues, “The Mitchells were leaders in the preservation and restoration of historic properties along the city’s Strand District and instrumental in creating the landmark district that we have today. At one time, they owned eighteen properties along the Strand and Pier 21, as well as the Hotel Galvez, the Tremont House, and the Harbor House Hotel and Marina. It’s thanks to their generosity that Galveston still has many of its finest historical properties.”
Maca says one need not have even visited Galveston to enjoy the book. Anyone who appreciates history, architecture, and preservation will enjoy the book, she says.
“Numerous people from around the country and world—or their parents or ancestors—have stayed at the hotel, and its history has touched that of the Coast Guard, Hollywood, and White House, as well.”
The History of the Hotel Galvez retails at $21.99 and is available at the Galveston Bookshop, Tina’s on the Strand, The Admiralty, other local shops, and on Amazon.com. An in-person book signing is scheduled at the Galveston Bookshop on Saturday, February 6 from 2-4 p.m.
Anyone who is not comfortable attending the event can preorder the book from the store, Maca will sign and personalize it for them, and it will be mailed to the customer by the store.
Updates about additional signings and virtual events can be found at KathleenMaca.com.