Spring is undoubtedly beach season, and there are few places where you can enjoy sun, sand and surfing better than in Galveston, Texas. But it is not only a spa town, but a town with more than 2,000 inhabitants and a population of about 1.5 million. It is the largest city in Texas and the second largest in the United States, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico, separated by Galveson Bay and West Bay. At its eastern end, where the city is located, Galvez Bay today maintains a natural harbor that has historically been a safe haven for ships, boats and other vessels in and out of the bay, as well as for fishing.

During the Texas Revolution, the port served as an operational base for the US Army and the Confederate Army of Texas. During the Civil War, Galveston was besieged as an important supply port for the Confederates and in October 1862 was captured by a Union fleet and recaptured by the Confederates a few months later.

The devastation caused by hurricanes in 1900 and 1915 changed the course of the city forever, but it has since regained its place. In 1900, a rampart was built along the outward-facing coast, but it could not prevent a storm surge of more than 3.5 metres. Subsequent hurricanes, including Ike in 2008, did slightly less damage because the storm surges generated by hurricanes were largely prevented from inundating the island in general. But when Hurricane Ike made landfall on September 13, 2008, it prevented the worst of the storm - the flood.

The Galveston hurricane of 1900 killed an estimated 6,000 people in the city, with wind gusts of up to 120 miles per hour, damaging homes and buildings and flooding them with floating debris. On 8 September 1900, more than 5000 people were killed and a large part of the city was destroyed. In September 1900, Galvest suffered a storm surge of 3.5 meters, enough to be the equivalent of a three meter sea level rise in one day. At a time when Houston, Beaumont, and Port Arthur were benefiting from the oil discoveries of the early twentieth century, two factors had displaced them from their leading commercial position: they had to put all their energy into developing oil and gas production and building new ports.

Yet Galveston soared, and by the end of the twentieth century, it was the largest Texas city, with a population of 1.5 million and a GDP of $2.3 billion. The city was the second largest city in the United States after New York City, only behind San Francisco.

The famous Rosenberg Library serves as archival material on the history of Galveston, Texas. The database contains Galventon newspapers from the early 1800s, covering the city and surrounding counties, as well as other parts of Texas and the United States.

Search for "Galveston, Texas" in the FamilySearch catalog of locations to search for, see Family Search page for instructions. The administrator of the estate keeps the files of the district public office and the district court of Galventon in the district court.

Galveston has even more sights to see from expert guides, including a tour of the birds and animals that call this part of Texas home. Come and see how the city's port and railway lines have helped make it what it is today.

Take the Galveston Ferry, which ferries vehicles and passengers from the Bolivar Peninsula to Galvin Island, and operates 24 hours a day. Visit Galvest on Island Historic Pleasure Pier on Seawall Boulevard, where roller coasters and midway games are offered. This is the restored Galventon Island Historical Pleasures Pier and is considered a hub for activities, including the annual Texas State Fair, the largest annual festival in Texas, and two festivals that call this place home: the Gulf Coast Music Festival and the Texas Carnival.

There are many unique things to do in Galveston, but there's a lot more going on in spring, so check in during the holiday season and book your next spring trip to Galventon Island. Winter Wonder Island will be open from April to June for the first time in more than a decade. Below are just a few things to do, and for more information and details, check out our guide to the best destinations in Texas, Texas and the Gulf Coast.

For more information, see the History Lesson of Civil Engineering Magazine or the Galveston County Historical Society website, where you can find information about the storm's weather.

This superhighway provided quick access to Texas City, Houston and other communities, and the island was connected to the mainland by a causeway.

If you want to plan your vacation for a special occasion, Galveston has all the restaurants and attractions you need to know about access to the beach. From exploring a World War II submarine to soaring over Galvin Bay by helicopter to visiting the historic city centre and its many attractions, this adventure will help you spice up your stay when you need a break from the beach. You won't want to miss this annual event, and it's one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state of Texas.