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End Of the Seawall,
1908, Galveston
Courtesy texasoldphoto.com |
The Seawall
Built in 1902 to
prevent the tidal surge of the 1900
disaster.
First section was 3.3 miles.
Galveston
1900 by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales")
The
Galveston Storm by Archie P. McDonald, PhD("All
Things Historical")
The hurricane that struck Galveston on September 8, 1900, still
reigns as the worst natural disaster in United States history because
an estimated 10,000 people lost their lives.
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Historical Marker
on 2100 block Seawall Blvd.:
The Original
Galveston Seawall
On Sept. 8, 1900
a devastating hurricane and tidal wave destroyed much of Galveston
and left 6000 persons dead. After the tragedy, the city appointed
a board of three engineers, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Henry M. Robert (1837-1923),
author of "Robert's Rules of Order," Alfred Noble, and H. C. Ripley,
to devise protection from future storms. Work on their proposal, to
be financed jointly by city, county, and state governments, was started
in 1902.
To prevent flood damage, buildings were jacked up and the surface
of the entire city upgraded, increasing the elevation to a maximum
of 12 feet above sea level. As a shield against high waves, a solid
concrete wall was built along the Gulf shore of the island. The original
section of the seawall, begun in Oct. 1902, stretched 3.3 miles. Founded
on wooden pilings, the 17-foot high barrier was backed by a sand embankment
and protected in front by stone riprap. The Gulf side of the wall
curved outward to prevent water from washing over the top. Finished
in July 1904, the seawall proved its value in 1915, when a hurricane
more severe than the storm 15 years earlier did far less damage. Since
then, the wall has been periodically lengthened. Freed from the threat
of further destruction, Galveston
has grown into a modern and prosperous city.
1975 |
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The Seawall (and
fish as big as cars.)
Photo courtesy of Lou
Ann Herda, 2002 |
Seawall and beach,
Galveston, 1920s
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
"Rough Sea
at Galveston" 1930s
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
"The great
seawall protecting Galveston, Texas"
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
"The great
seawall protecting Galveston, Texas"
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
"Moonlight
View of Beach Boulevard and Seawall from the Air.
Showing Hotel Galvez, Galveston, Texas
"
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
| Photo
courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
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