It was an 8 mile, 23,553 step kind of day!

The Powell Arch at 24th and Mechanic is a colorful structure of mast, rigging, and pennants, suggestive of the sailing ships of Galveston during it's days as a major seaport.

We started the day with a 5+ mile walk on the beach.  It was a beautiful morning and we quickly realized we should have worn shorts.  

We have noticed that several buildings and houses by the dunes have basicly lost their dunes and are experiencing foundation erosion.

 

What us northerners call "snow fences" are being used in an effort to protect current dunes and rebuild others.

I love the colors of beach houses.

We had a quick lunch and headed into Galveston to learn about it's historical buildings via Let's Roam.  I love learning about the history and art of the towns we visit and have fun finding the next spot and answering the challenge questions.  

Pat, not so much.  He was tired from our beach walk and was not impressed that it started us off several blocks away from the starting point at the Powell Arch.  It was a little confused.  Then he didn't understand why with so many historical buildings close together it took us on a 2.1 mile walk, which of course was 3 miles since it started us in the wrong spot.  Along our route, as usual, we saw a lot of interesting things including some Mardis Gras decorations.

The Stone Trumpet was created by David Adickes for the 1984 Louisiana World's Fair Exposition in New Orleans. In 1986 it was moved to Galveston for the opening of  a jazz restaraunt.

Absolutely Equality was a powerful mural.  Pat and I often comment on nature and those darn trees that block our view, and in this case, your view. 😁

One of our stops, the Lyceum of Galveston,  was built in 1945 and is a wedding /reception venue.  Lyceum refers to ancient Greeks and gatherings.  The project was part of an education movement that built meeting halls in communities.  This building survived the great storm of 1900 and served as a shelter for the homeless.  Our challenge?  We didn't have to get married, but we had to take our picture in front of The wedding chapel.

Across from the library I was able to cross another turtle off of my list.  Guardian of the Galaxy, was created by Isabella Carlin Alvarado. 

Another stop was the Rosenberg Library, built in 1904.  We had to submit to Let's  Roam a picture of us with the statue of the library's patron, Henry Rosenberg.

Lots of Mardis Gras beads line the fence.  Fat Tuesday's evening parade is the last of the Mardis Gras season.

St. Joseph's Church was dedicated in 1860 and deconsecrated in 1968.  It was the first German Catholic Church in Texas and the oldest wooden church building in Galveston.  We had to  walk around the church and count how many of the old palm trees surrounded the building.

The 1882 Bishop's Palace is located in the East End Historical District.  The Victorian house was built between 1887-1893 and has 19,000+ square feet.  Originally the Greshsham Mansion (that was our challenge question), it was built in stone.  It survived the 1900 hurricane and housed hundreds of survivors.  It was bought by the Catholic Church in 1923 and was opened to the public in 1963.  A beautiful building, but I will agree with Pat, what a waste that the Catholic Church bought this extravagant building when the money could have helped so many. 

We didn't have to travel far for our next challenge.  Sacred Heart Church is across the street from the Bishop's Palace.

Darragh Park is a neighborhood park that offers a beautiful garden in the East End Historical District.

This turtle was created by Kathy VanDewalli.  It is located in the East End Historical District and wears the gate of Darragh Park.

Not part of our tour, but we walked past the old Greek Revival-style, Galveston Custom House that was built between 1858 and 1861.  A new custom house was built in 1891 and this was used for other purposes.

Where are the Piepers now?  Galveston,  TX

Who would put mayo ...

Boardwalk, a $150 million Super Yacht, owned by Galveston native Tilmon Fertitta.  More info further down.

 ...on a burger???  Is this a Texas thing?  I'm not a big fan of mayo but it has its place.  What would a BLT be without it?  It does not, however, belong on my hamburger!

On Monday we took the ferry over to Bolivar.  We checked out the RV Park where our old (not old I guess, former) neighbors, Craig and Glenn, are staying.  I'm so jealous, Craig still finds the biggest seashells!  We began the day by heading down towards piers 21 and 22.

One of nine of the original Rosenberg fountains that remain.  Henry was a business man and philanthropist.  Like this one, many have been moved from there original spots.

Pier 21 Statue

Fertitta's yacht appears to be pretty big compared to the Carnival Breeze cruise ship behind it.

Carnival Breeze

Enslaved Africans commemorative marker near Pier 22.

Galveston/Bolivar ferry

Taken from the ferry, the cruise ship shows it's size compared to the yacht.

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A view of the S.S. Selma that sank in 1922.

A food truck that is "Home of the BadAss Burger.  It was HUGE, but I didn't see that it came with mayo.  It had a little spice and came on a toasted sourdough bun.  More than I could eat.  It was good.  I ate around the bun to avoid the major mayo and gave the center to Pat.

We completed our trip to the peninsula by visiting FT. Travis Seashore Park.  In 1888 the U. S. began a major seacoast fortification project with three forts being built in the Galveston Bay.  Four batteries remain intact at Ft. Travis.  Ft. Travis was sold in 1949.

Historical Marker honoring Bolivar Point where a military camp was established as part of a plan to invade Spanish Texas.  There was also a memorial to Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long, who came here with her husband James Long while he fought in that battle.  In the midst of many difficulties she endured she has been called the "mother of Texas."

Battery Kimble

On either side of this bunker there was a canon mount.

Battery 236

Battery Davis

The second Lighthouse, no longer in use,  at this location.  

This slab was where the lavatory was.

Looking towards Galveston.

This was taken from the ferry and looked like a trash barge near Bolivar Pennisula.

Texas City

We found more turtles Thursday.

Cam, sponsored by Campeche Cove Animal and Bird Hospital, and created by Jane Young French.

Latte, sponsored by Sugar Bean Coffee and Cream, and created by Shawne Moore. 

This Muscovy Duck was hanging around the coffee house.

Toby, sponsored by Galveston 1SD Texas ACE  and created by Abril Celeste.

Sponsored by 2019-2020 Odyssey Academy Galveston PTO, and created by Gabriel.

Homer, sponsored by Better Parks for Galveston, and created by Shaifer Laine Coalen

Tourist Ted, sponsored by several businesses, and created by Mary Ruth Brown.

I have included a picture of Landry's below which is in front of The Raintree Forest where we found the turtle above, Tourist Ted.  

Landry's openned it's first restaurant in Katy, TX in 1980.  The founder, president, and CEO of Landry's Inc. is  Tilman Fertitta, age 53, from Galveston.  During the past 30 years the company has gone public and then the shares reaquired by Fertitta.  

Currently he is the owner of 600+ restaurants, hotels, casinos and entertainment destinations in 35 states and the District of Columbia.  The company also has many international locations.  It is the second largest seafood chain behind Red Lobster.  The headquarters of Landry's, Inc. are in Houston.  

Just in Galveston alone he owns too many restaurants to name (including Landry's and Rainforest Cafe), Pleasure Pier (amusement attraction with Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co.), hotels, resorts, the Houston Aquarium, the Houston Rockets, a yacht company and the list goes on and on.  Oh, and it just isn't one restaurant, he owns entire chains. He is worth a mere 5.8 billion.  I feel like such a slacker!

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His yacht has been parked near Pier 21 this week.  It looked huge compared to the massive cruise ship behind it.  If you check the picture up a few, it does pale in comparison to that big cruise ship.

Coral, designed by GABRIEL.

Queen of the Sea, sponsored by Moody Gardens, and created by Lenexa Juliet Frances Morais.

Indian Blanket, the only flowering plant I've seen here.

Where are the Piepers now?  Galveston, TX