Texas Seaport Museum and Elissa

The first time I visited Galveston I heard over and over again "before the hurricane...after the hurricane." While visiting the museum we saw an historical film detailing the island's history and the hurricane over 100 years ago. It set the stage for the rest of our trip and gave us a new appreciation for Galveston. It was fun, air-conditioned and very informative. We have been back several times and have taken our children.

This was possibly my favorite attraction in Galveston. The $8 fee allows you day-long access to the museum, the historical videos, the observation deck that overlooks the harbor, and, best of all, the Elissa. There are no guided tours, you simply wander around as you please. It's hard to do justice to the Elissa without pictures, which I took a number of. She is a real sailing ship, maintained by volunteers who keep her seaworthy. Fortunately, during my visit she was in the harbor and open to tourists. Discreet placards educate the visitor without distracting too much from the sense of history, and the little bunks, the wooden buckets, and the galley with it's old-fashioned stove gave me a real feeling of going back in time. Picture taking is permitted inside the museum as well, and I got some very good snapshots of old cannons, rum casks and so forth. I bought postcards in the gift shop, and wrote and addressed them while sitting on the deck looking out at the harbor, which for a landlocked Oklahoma lady like me was a treat in itself. Cruise ships, oil tankers, and fishing boats can all be seen going about their daily business. If you are at all interested in history, and you find yourself in Galveston, don't miss the Texas Seaport Museum.