Galveston in the 1900s
•In the late 1800s, Galveston had grown to be the largest and mostmodern city in Texas. Named for the American Revolutionary Warhero Benardo de Galves.
• Galveston’s success was based on its location and geography. Locatedalong the Texas coast in the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston was the centerof Texas trade. The natural port at Galveston had developed into amajor exporter of cotton.
•By the 1890s the population of Galveston had grown to 37,000inhabitants. Galveston was the first Texas city with electric lights, andtelephone service.
Danger Ignored
•The same geography that made Galveston an economic success also felt itvulnerable to storms. Galveston laid only 8 feet above sea level, and lackedany natural or man made defense against strong storms coming from the Gulfof Mexico.
•In 1875, and again in 1886 the near by town of Indianola was severallydamaged by hurricanes. After the second storm the citizens abandoned thetown.
•Many residents of Galveston saw the destruction of Indianola as a warning forGalveston. They urged the city to construct a sea wall to protect the citiy.
•These pleas were ignored, and in fact the head of the Galveston WeatherBureau stated that a sea wall was unnecessary. He as stated that it wasimpossible for a storm grow strong enough to threaten Galveston.
•As a result no sea wall was built to protect Galveston.
Hurricane of 1900
•On September 8th, 1900, Galveston was hit by a Category 4 hurricane.
•Wind speeds were estimated to be between 100-120 mph.
•A storm surge of 15 feet washed over the entire island.
•Over 3,600 homes were destroyed, and 6,000 to 12,000 people werekilled. Most either drowned or were crushed by debris.
•The 1900 Galveston hurricane is the deadly hurricane in U.S. history,and the 2nd costliest after 2005 hurricane Katrina.
Aftermath
•As protection from future hurricanes Galveston constructed a sea wall3 miles long and 17 feet tall.
•The island of Galveston was also raised 17 feet by pumping sand fromthe ocean floor under buildings. 2,100 building were raised with thisprocess.
•Galveston were never recover from the hurricane of 1900.
•The discovery of oil in Beaumont just five months after the hurricaneand the opening of the Houston Ship Channel in 1914 endedGalveston’s hopes of recovering it’s position as the major commercialcenter of Texas.