Start your new year off with a glimpse into the Island’s storied past during this annual event held in January. Many visitors to Galveston are familiar with the island’s 32 miles of Gulf Coast beaches. Some may not be familiar with the wide variety of museums and attractions in this historic beach town. During Galveston Museum Day, visitors can explore many Galveston museums at special rates.
Galveston Museum Day: Jan 28-29, 2023
Insider Tip: Make a weekend of it and enjoy the Annual Galveston Restaurant Week! Check out one of the several special menus from participating locations at GalvestonRestaurantWeek.com.
Resiliency and a heart for preservation have helped make Galveston one of the most well-known historic towns on the Gulf Coast. The strength, ingenuity and progress of Galvestonians in the aftermath of the 1900 Storm are captured within the walls of numerous museums on the Island. On Jan. 28 – 29, 2023, these museums will offer incentives for history buffs to take a glimpse into the island’s storied past.
During Museum Day, visitors can learn about Galveston’s place as one of the wealthiest cities in the United States during the late 1800s, the powerful families who helped build the city, Galveston’s significance to immigration in the region, and the importance of the industries that keep Galveston a thriving coastal city and tourism destination today.
Museum Day brings together several local museums for two days of free and discounted admission.
1892 Bishop’s Palace
Free admission SATURDAY ONLY
Tour one of the island’s most popular mansions built of stone and steel, designed by Nicholas Clayton, Galveston’s premier Victorian-era architect.
Galveston Arts Center
Free admission
Explore the Galveston Arts Center – an independent nonprofit organization and art museum that presents pacesetting contemporary art in a historic building on Galveston’s Strand.
Galveston Naval Museum
Free admission
Experience a WWII submarine, the USS Cavalla, and the WWII destroyer escort, the USS Stewart – one of only two escorts remaining in the United States.
Galveston Railroad Museum
Buy one, get one free admission
Explore locomotive history with one of the largest restored railroad collections in the United States.
1895 Moody Mansion
Buy one, get one free admission
View opulent furnishings and heirlooms from one of Texas’ most powerful families.
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum
Buy one, get one free admission
Take a leisurely, self-guided tour through the retired Ocean Star jack-up rig which now serves as a museum and educational facility. From geological exploration to drilling, to oil and gas production, you will see offshore drilling equipment, exhibits and videos on three levels of this refurbished offshore drilling rig.
Rosenberg Library
Free admission (CLOSED SUNDAYS)
Come and explore the oldest public library in Texas in continuous operation. Sneak peek the restoration work in the historic fourth-floor gallery space. Color your favorite library scene at giant coloring page stations. Place yourself in historic Galveston images featuring bathing beauties, the 1900 Storm, and more.
The Bryan Museum
Buy one, get one free admission
Visit one of the world’s largest collections of historical artifacts, documents and artwork relating to Texas and the American West.
The Grand 1894 Opera House
Free tours Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm & Sunday, Noon – 5 pm
Tour the official opera house of Texas, which is one of the few remaining theatres of its era and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Galveston Children’s Museum
Buy one, get one free admission
Explore the Galveston Children’s Museum – a unique, hands-on environment where children explore, investigate, create, and discover.
Texas City Museum
$2 off admission up to four people
Discover this regional history museum featuring artifacts from the USS Westfield (including a real Civil War cannon), exhibits on the founding of Texas City and the 1947 Disaster, Children’s Discovery Room and model train layouts.
Homeschool Curriculum
Galveston is a rich environment to teach homeschool kids about Texas history firsthand. If you’d like to explore our homeschooling curriculum, which includes several of the Galveston Museum Day historical locations, visit www.galveston.com/homeschool/
