Galveston

Port Galveston’s Got Legs

 in Snowbirding / Texas  tagged diving gear / Edda Accomodation / floating hotel / Galveston / jack-up platform / museum / Ocean Star Off-Shore Drilling Rig / pelicans / Port Galveston / travel by

As we headed across the bridge to visit Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum, Steve speculated about the structures across the bay.  I was too interested in the pelicans to make a good guess as to what they were, but Steve figured it out.  His guess was confirmed at the museum, the ideal place to learn all about those jack-up platforms.  The “towers” in the first picture above are actually legs that are lowered to the seafloor and secured, so the platform can be jacked up out of reach of the waves.  Lots more to see and learn on the Ocean Star, and probably your only chance to explore an off-shore rig inshore.

Galveston’s Rescued Tall Ship

 in Snowbirding / Texas  tagged Aberdeen / deck prism / Elissa / Galveston / Galveston Historical Foundation / Greece / Gulf of Mexico / masts / restoration / rigging / Scotland / tall ship / Texas / travel / volunteer crew by

Standing on deck, soaking in the masts, rigging, and other nautical necessities* was extra thrilling after seeing Elissa’s history video.  Built in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1877, she sailed the seas for 90 years and was bound for a scrap yard in Greece when the Galveston Historical Foundation bought her.  It took 4 years just to strengthen her enough to survive the tow ‘home.’  Had the Foundation known how many volunteers, historical craftsmen, and donations her makeover would take, she’d have probably stayed scrap.  Little wonder that Elissa is one of the world’s oldest sailing hulls still in operation. Galveston has to be proud of her as well as their fortitude in seeing the […]

Galveston, Port of Storms

 in Snowbirding / Texas  tagged Galveston / Galveston Hurricane of 1900 / high water marks / history / island / sculpted trees / sea wall / storms / survivors / travel by

Galveston history makes for a strong role model in challenging times.  The Galveston hurricane of 1900 is still counted the deadliest natural disaster ever to strike the United States.   After a night of battering wind and waves, survivors found much of their thriving city demolished if not washed away.  Islanders had no contact with the mainland, no water, lights, fuel, or water.  Many had no shelter.  Food and clothing were scarce.  The task of disposing of over 6,000 bodies was so gruesome that men had to be forced at gunpoint to take part, and whiskey was allotted to ease their anguish.  After dumping the bulk […]

Cement Sinker? 2

 in Texas  tagged cement ship / Galveston / shipwreck / SS Selma / Texas / travel by

Concrete seemed not to be the best choice for shipbuilding. Who would have thought? The U.S. government tried using it during World War I because steel was in short supply. One of those ships, the SS Selma wasn’t completed until the war was over, so she was used as an  oil tanker for 11 months.  It wasn’t her fault that a reckless steersman put a hole in her, or that no one knew how to fix it.  She’s still toughing it out in the shallows off Galveston almost 100 years after she was abandoned there. As a shipwreck she’s a grabber. I wish I […]