Description
Published during a period of significant growth and transformation, this map of Galveston shows the city in a time of considerable prosperity due to the thriving port and proximity to Houston, Texas. Galveston was called the "Queen of the Gulf" during the nineteenth century and was, at this time, Texas' largest city attracting residents and tourists from across the country. Tourism remained one of the leading economic drivers in the region and had grown considerably since the first European settlers established communities in the early portions of the nineteenth century. The city was devastated by a hurricane in 1900 that required significant rebuilding and transformed the development of the economy. In 1825 the Mexican Congress opened the Port of Galveston, and the city became the Capital of the Republic of Texas in 1836. By the 1840s, the city experienced a large influx of German immigrants who established neighborhoods and communities, many of which exist to this day. In the years following the conclusion of the American Civil War, Galveston was growing rapidly and was home to numerous 'firsts' in Texas. These included the first telephone and electric lights as well as the first opera house and orphanage. The unique aesthetic of county ownership maps illustrates the development and evolution of towns and cities and creates a link between the past and present. The natural harbor and its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico allowed the town to prosper during the nineteenth century, and the city developed a distinct culture and history. Overall Size: 24" H x 36" W
