#10 Postcard Trivia 1.16.18
In the late 1800's, the Port of Galveston was one of the busiest ports in the world, second only to New York. This postcard depicts the thriving international commerce with steamships ("steamers") from all over the world. From its establishment in 1825, the port served Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and Texas, USA. The port is located in a natural harbor and is the oldest port on the Gulf of Mexico west of New Orleans. The beginning of the 20th century brought a big change. Although Galveston was the most natural port, business shifted to Houston. The city of Houston encouraged development by building an inland port and dredging the waterway creating the ship channel. Woodrow Wilson officially opened the World Port of Houston in 1914. In addition to the development in Houston, there were other factors that contributed to the loss of Galveston's prominence as an international port. Other cities and ports were moving toward industrialization. Galveston remained focused on agricultural commerce due to difficulty in attracting companies to build factories on the island. And then there was the big event...
What disaster in 1900 had a devastating affect on the Port of Galveston and the City of Galveston?
A. a category 4 hurricane B. a severe drought C. enemy attack during wartime
Hover cursor over image or touch image to reveal answer.
Sources:
Official Port of Galveston website
The 1900 Storm, Galveston Island, Texas