The East End Historic District of Galveston, Texas, covers 50 city blocks of beautiful historic properties. None, however, is more impressive than the Bishop’s Palace, or Gresham’s Castle as it’s also known.
This historic house has been called one of the hundred most important buildings in America by the American Institute of Architects.
Linda’s Favorite Part of the Castle
I love castles whether they’re centuries-old and in a state of disrepair, or a century old and ornate like Gresham’s Castle. And I find the insides even more fascinating.
So what’s my favorite part of this historic house? The mahogany stairwell, which is recognized as one of its notable architectural features. It’s one of the first things to see inside the main entrance’s octagonal rotunda.
The staircase rises forty feet from the floor to the domed ceiling and even has an octagonal skylight above it. So, playful shadows fell around my feet as I climbed the stairs. And of course, lights flickering in the stained glass windows also caught my eye.
As the stairway wound up to the second floor, I had to admire the carved banister and spindles. And while I know skin oils can cause build-up on the wood, I was sure tempted to hold the handrail!
Fast Fact: A baluster— also called spindle or stair stick—is the moulded shaft that's square or lathe-turned. The handrail is the bar used by people to hang onto, while the spindles are the posts between the top and bottom rails.
I couldn’t help but admire the rare woods used in the construction of the castle. They included rosewood, satinwood, white mahogany, American oak, and maple.
And while the wood is beautiful, it was the carvings that really made the staircase stand out for me.
What’s at the Bishop’s Palace?
The Bishop’s Palace is a 19,082 square feet Victorian-style home. It took from 1897 to 1892 to build it for Walter Gresham. Who was he? A Texas lawyer and politician who spent around $250,000 on this home for his wife, Josephine, and nine children.
A three-story Victorian era home, the palace was designed by prominent Galveston architect, Nicholas Clayton.
Its exterior features such things as a steep roof and long sculptural chimneys. From its irregular shaped rocks to the Tudor arches with animal carvings, it’s truly an architectural gem.
Fast Fact: Gresham's Castle survived the 1900 Galveston Hurricane due to its robust stone structure. Between 8,000 and 12,000 people died in the hurricane. The Greshams welcomed hundreds of survivors into their home in its aftermath.
While the exterior impressed citizens of the time, visitors to the house would have found the interior just as amazing. The two main floors feature various types of wood, lots of ornate designs, and tons of stained glass.
Today, the furnishings are a mix of original from the Greshams and additions from later owners.
Original house owner, Josephine Gresham, added her own touches.
An accomplished artist, she painted several murals. The dining room ceiling mural depicted her nine children as angels.
Why is Gresham’s Castle known as the Bishop’s Palace?
Walter Gresham’s family lived in the house until 1923, three years after his death. Then, the house was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston. It became the home of Bishop Christopher Byrne.
The key change made by the Bishop was to convert a second-floor bedroom into a chapel. He added an altar along with six prie-dieu (kneelers). Above, a ceiling mural depicted the four Evangelists—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The room was completed by a gold-lacquered brass and onyx crucifix.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston owned the Bishop’s Palace for 90 years, from 1923 until 2013. After serving as a residence, it housed diocesan offices.
Then, in 1963, the diocese opened the mansion to the public for tours. Tour proceeds supported the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Newman Center, which operated in the basement.
In 2013, the Galveston Historical Foundation acquired the property. They continue to maintain it and offer public tours.
This historic house museum was declared a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1967. In 1970 it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Linda’s Road Trip Tips
Galveston is a great destination! We stayed at the Moody Gardens Resort where we were attending a conference.
However, you don’t have to stay to enjoy the three pyramids, their attractions, or the five-story ropes course and 500 ft (150 m) zipline. While we were there, we saw a steady stream of school buses dropping kids off for the day.
We found Galveston easy to drive in, and visited a number of attractions.
Here’s a list!
- Texas Seaport Museum with the Ship to Shore Exhibit, 1877 tall ship Elissa, and harbor tour on the Seagull II
- Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum
- Galveston Naval Museum (it was unfortunately closed while we visited) – USS Cavalla submarine and USS Stewart destroyer escort
- The Bryan Museum
- Galveston Railroad Museum
- Galveston’s Juneteenth Exhibit: And Still We Rise
Who Should Visit the Bishop’s Palace Historic House Museum?
Anyone interested in Victorian era architecture will be able to spend hours in the Bishop’s Palace! Likewise, if you just love to explore the historic homes of the rich and famous.
While the house is packed with irreplaceable artifacts, you can walk through without a guide. This gives you lots of time to spend taking photos or just soaking up the atmosphere.
Families with small children won’t likely find it a great destination, as kids will have to be watched closely. The stairs, while beautiful, are steep and have lots of steps. In order to keep the historic authenticity of the house there isn’t an elevator.
Those with mobility issues (or baby strollers) will have difficulty entering the building as there aren’t any ramps. However, the exterior beauty of the building is readily enjoyed on a driving tour of the East End Historic District.
We spent about an hour and a half in the historic house.
How Do You Visit the Bishop’s Palace?
The East End Historic District was Galveston’s first residential area. In addition to the Bishop’s Palace, there are numerous historic homes still standing to see on a driving tour. Many of them also withstood the 1900 Galveston Hurricane.
Parking: Free street parking is available at the historic house.
Street address: 1402 Broadway, Galveston, Texas
The historic house is open year-round, but check days and hours on the Galveston History website.
Get the latest on the Bishop’s Palace Facebook page.
Take a YouTube tour with the Texas Bucket List video.
Plan your visit now with Google maps.
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