The elegantly restored GRAND GALVEZ HOTEL GALVESTON TX has pleased guests worldwide for more than 100 years. This AAA 4-Diamond property is the only historic beachfront hotel on the Texas Gulf Coast and is renowned as one of the finest Galveston hotels on the beach.

Since 1911, the hotel has a long and storied history as a treasured vacation, wedding and event destination for visitors from Texas and the surrounding states.

HISTORY OF THE ELEGANTLY RESTORED GRAND GALVEZ HOTEL GALVESTON TX

Bernardo de Galvez surveyed the area in 1786, where the elegantly restored Grand Galvez Hotel stands. In 1900, a hurricane devastated the city, claiming 6,000 to 8,000 lives. Rebuilding the city of Galveston as a treasured vacation destination required the construction of a 17-foot seawall and a causeway to the mainland. In 1911 the Grand Galvez, Galveston, Texas, ” Queen of the Gulf” opened to help restore Galveston’s reputation as a tourist destination.

2011 $11 MILLION CENTENNIAL RENOVATIONS

1. Renewal of the original Peacock Alley, the grand walkway leading from the lobby to the spa and ballroom.
2. During the renovation, original moldings and ceilings were found in the hotel walls that were restored for the first time since 1962.

LOBBY MOSAIC IN THE ELEGANTLY RESTORED GRAND GALVEZ HOTEL GALVESTON TX

A new 43 ft x 7 ft Murano glass mosaic designed by Grand Galvez owner Mark Wyant and his interior designer wife, Lorenda Wyant, was produced by Dallas-based mosaicist Julie Richey. The mosaic was installed in May 2022 by Ms. Richey and Romeo de Candido of Miami.

URNS ON GRAND GALVEZ’S FOUR TOWERS

In May of 2022, twelve 4-foot-tall decorative white plaster urns were placed on the exterior corners of the four towers at the top of Grand Galvez in May 2022. The tower urns are exact recreations of those originally installed for the 1911 Hotel Galvez opening. The originals were last seen 90 years ago in 1932, possibly disappearing because of that year’s hurricane.

MODEL T SPEEDSTER DISPLAY

Mark Wyant, Grand Galvez owner, purchased and restored a 1915 Ford Model T Speedster, considered as one of the country’s first sport cars. Mr. Wyant modified the Speedster to go to 50 mph. Mr. Wyant drove the 14-foot-long vehicle from Dallas to Galveston and arrived on June 10, the 111th anniversary of the hotel’s opening. The vehicle has been positioned in the East Loggia, where it be permanently residing es as part of a historic display.

MARBLE FOUNTAIN ON FRONT LAWN OF THE ELEGANTLY RESTORED GRAND GALVEZ HOTEL GALVESTON TX

Emphasizing his goal of the grand renovations of the beautiful Grand Galvez Hotel, Mr. Wyant commissioned a landmark Italian marble fountain produced in Italy for the Center Lawn of the Grand Galvez. This magnificent fountain was carved from Calacetta marble and is 16-ft tall by 35 feet wide and features dolphins, griffins and peacocks around a 4-tiered fountain and water display.

10 Historical facts ABOUT THE ELEGANTLY RESTORED GRAND GALVEZ HOTEL GALVESTON TX

• Hotel built with $1 million following the devastating 1900 hurricane
• Hotel known as the “Queen of the Gulf”
• Hotel opened on June 10, 1911, 6 pm
• Hotel rooms were $2 per night in 1911
• Hotel was a temporary White House for Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Hotel served as a Coast Guard facility during WWII
• Former Hollywood celebrity guests included Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra
• Hotel once housed a tailor and a barbershop
• The Hotel spa at the Grand Galvez was built in 2008
• Hotel was Headquarters for “Pageants of Pulchritude,”, the predecessor to the Miss Universe Pageant

Learn more about Galveston’s rich history in Kathleen Maca’s book on A History of the Hotel Galvez – Galveston Historical Foundation (galvestonhistory.org).

Do Follow my weekly blogs on the charming City of Galveston. Last week’s blog was about the “Historic Galveston Railroad Museum”. Read about it at historic galveston Railroad museum (mygalvestonrealtor.com).

Here’s the link to “Active Listings For Sale in Galveston”, 6 active listings in galveston, texas usa (mygalvestonrealtor.com).