Bishop's Palace, Galveston
Encyclopedia
The Bishop's Palace, also known as Gresham's Castle, is an ornate Victorian house located on Broadway and 14th Street in the East End Historic District of Galveston, Texas
. The American Institute of Architects
has listed the home as one of the 100 most significant buildings in the United States, and the Library of Congress
has classified it as one of the fourteen most representative Victorian structures in the nation.
The house was built between 1887 and 1893 by Galveston architect Nicholas J. Clayton
for lawyer and politician Walter Gresham
. In 1923 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the house, and, situated across the street from the Sacred Heart Church, it served as a bishop's residence. After the diocesan offices were moved to Houston, the diocese opened the mansion to the public in 1963, with proceeds from tours being used to help fund the Newman Center, operating in the basement, serving Catholic students at the nearby University of Texas Medical Branch
.
The home is estimated to have cost $250,000 at the timehttp://www.texasoutside.com/galveston/bishopspalace.htm; today its value is estimated at over $5.5 million.
The Galveston Historical Foundation provides guided tours of the house on weekends.
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
. The American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
has listed the home as one of the 100 most significant buildings in the United States, and the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
has classified it as one of the fourteen most representative Victorian structures in the nation.
The house was built between 1887 and 1893 by Galveston architect Nicholas J. Clayton
Nicholas J. Clayton
Nicholas Joseph Clayton was a prominent Victorian architect in Galveston. Clayton constructed many early public buildings in the city including the First Presbyterian Church .-External links:...
for lawyer and politician Walter Gresham
Walter Gresham (Texas politician)
Walter Gresham was a U.S. Representative from Texas.-Biography:Born at "Woodlawn," near Newtown, King and Queen County, Virginia, Gresham attended Stevensville Academy and Edge Hill Academy, and was graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1863. He served as a private in...
. In 1923 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the house, and, situated across the street from the Sacred Heart Church, it served as a bishop's residence. After the diocesan offices were moved to Houston, the diocese opened the mansion to the public in 1963, with proceeds from tours being used to help fund the Newman Center, operating in the basement, serving Catholic students at the nearby University of Texas Medical Branch
University of Texas Medical Branch
The University of Texas Medical Branch is a component of the University of Texas System located in Galveston, Texas, United States, about 50 miles southeast of Downtown Houston...
.
The home is estimated to have cost $250,000 at the timehttp://www.texasoutside.com/galveston/bishopspalace.htm; today its value is estimated at over $5.5 million.
The Galveston Historical Foundation provides guided tours of the house on weekends.
External links
- Bishop's Palace - Galveston Historical Foundation
- Early 20th century photographic postcards of Texas buildings at the University of Houston Digital Library