Galveston Unscripted | VisitGalveston.com
Galveston Unscripted is your podcast and audio tour for Galveston Island! Galveston Unscripted is transforming Galveston into the worlds largest free museum! Galveston, Texas is home some of Texas' most significant people, places, and historical events, and hundreds of Texas historical markers and locations!Join Galveston Unscripted and VisitGalveston.com in exploring Galveston Island's history and culture to discover what makes Galveston Island one of a kind!
Episodes
143 episodes
History Meets Hospitality
Galveston's historic hotels tell the story of an island that has weathered economic shifts, natural disasters, and cultural transformations over two centuries. The Tremont House and Hotel Galvez stand as living monuments to Galveston's resilien...
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13:31
Galveston's Hidden Labor Rebellion
Galveston's longshoremen, both Black and white, fought against exploitation and dangerous working conditions in one of America's most important port cities, culminating in violent strikes and an unprecedented five-month military occupation....
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16:14
From Frontier Brews to Ice-Cold Craft Beers
Galveston's beer history spans from homemade frontier brews to today's thriving craft scene. The island's unique position as Texas' busiest port shaped its drinking culture through imported tastes and traditions.• Early Americans brewed...
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11:40
Swimming Cattle: Galveston's Hidden Cowboy History
We explore the surprising maritime history of Texas cowboys who swam thousands of cattle across open saltwater to reach Galveston Island's rich grazing lands. This forgotten chapter reveals how the Texas Gulf Coast played a vital role in buildi...
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9:08
The Days After Freedom: Black Union Soldiers and Post-Juneteenth Galveston
Samuel Collins III shares the untold story of Juneteenth, revealing how United States Colored Troops played a crucial but largely erased role in bringing freedom to Texas. He challenges common misconceptions and illuminates how Galveston's Blac...
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23:03
Port of Perseverance: Galveston's 200-Year Maritime Legacy
The history of the Port of Galveston spans 200 years, from a sandbar with a safe natural harbor to becoming America's fourth busiest cruise port today, earning its place as Texas' oldest working port despite hurricanes, wars, and economic chall...
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14:51
The Free State of Galveston: While America fell into depression, Galveston poured another round.
Two Sicilian barbers built an empire of vice, transforming Galveston into the "Free State" where prohibition laws and moral restrictions held no power for decades.• Texas and national prohibition in the 1920s created a black market for ...
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13:27
Seaweed, Sunburns, and Safety: Hurricane Hal explains Galveston Beach
Dr. Hal Needham, known as Hurricane Hal, shares his expertise on coastal ecosystems, weather patterns, and beach safety for visitors to Galveston Island. From explaining the science behind changing water colors to offering practical safety advi...
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12:04
Diamond in the Rubble: Hunting for Storm Survivors
The diamond-shaped plaques scattered throughout Galveston Island mark buildings that survived the devastating 1900 hurricane, America's deadliest natural disaster with up to 12,000 lives lost. These small markers represent structures that withs...
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9:01
Small Waves, Big Community: The Resilient Soul of Galveston Surfing
Galveston Island has created its own unique surf culture, embracing the Gulf's inconsistent waves and even finding creative alternatives like tanker surfing. What started with lifeguards using rescue boards has evolved into a thriving community...
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8:05
Where Salt Air Meets Sweet Sound
Galveston Island's rich musical heritage produced three extraordinary African-American musicians who carried their island-inspired sounds to the world stage. Frederick Tillis, Louis "Blues Boy" Jones, and Richard "Notes" Williams all grew up in...
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8:03
160 Years of Juneteenth! The Journey of Juneteenth Begins in Galveston
2025 marks the 160th year of Juneteenth, a powerful reminder of the day in 1865 when freedom finally reached the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.Juneteenth began on June 19, 18...
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6:20
From Mercantile Roots to Cultural Cornerstone: The 150-Year Evolution of Rosenberg Library
Mike Miller, director of the Rosenberg Library, shares the fascinating 150-year evolution of one of Texas's oldest public libraries and how it became Galveston's premier historical research institution. The Rosenberg Library stands as a unique ...
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10:48
Lost Heroes Return
A World War II Marine from Galveston, First Lieutenant Justin G. Mills, was identified 77 years after his death in the Battle of Tarawa. His remains were recovered through collaborative efforts between the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and ...
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14:08
Presidents and Paranoia: Galveston's Role in the Texas Revolution
During the Texas Revolution, Galveston Island served as a vital stronghold, supply hub, and temporary capital for the fledgling Republic of Texas. Long before its incorporation as a city, this barrier island was a center of pirate diplomacy, mi...
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11:12
The Rolling History of Galveston's Iconic Trolley System
Hop on board for a ride through Galveston’s past! From mule-drawn streetcars to vintage trolleys still rolling today, discover how this island’s unique transit history helped shape its streets—and its story
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6:02
The Galveston Movement: A Gateway of Hope
In the early 1900s, over 10,000 Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution in Eastern Europe arrived in the U.S. through Galveston, Texas—not Ellis Island. This episode explores the remarkable Galveston Movement, the humanitarian vision behind it, a...
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6:50
Rebellion & Pirate Outpost: Why Galveston Was Settled in the First Place
Geography, opportunity, and conflict. From indigenous history to pirates and privateers, this episode explores the island’s earliest known stories.
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8:22
Historical Easter Eggs
Every spring, Galveston comes alive with Easter traditions set against the blooming backdrop of its iconic oleanders. In this episode, we explore the island’s earliest Easter celebrations through historic newspapers, uncovering stories of churc...
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8:31
Galveston was to be...
Galveston Island's remarkable journey from pirate haven to "Wall Street of the South" reveals a forgotten chapter of American history where this Texas coastal city nearly rivaled New York in economic importance. We explore how Galveston became ...
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11:12
Gateway Galveston
Galveston was once a major immigration gateway, welcoming tens of thousands seeking a new life in America. Galveston's historic port became a cultural crossroads of Texas and beyond.
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7:54
Betty Ballinger: Mother of the Daughters
From founding the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to her advocacy for women’s suffrage and community health, Betty Ballinger's contributions shaped both Galveston and the state of Texas.
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6:00
The Mother of Texas? Jane Long's Survival on Bolivar Peninsula
Jane Long’s journey to the Texas frontier is a testament to resilience and survival. In 1821, pregnant and alone at a remote fort on Bolivar Peninsula, she endured freezing conditions, hunted for food after childbirth, and even fired cannons to...
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8:28
Reviving the Mardi Gras Spirit | With Dancie Perugini Ware
Step into the colorful world of Galveston Mardi Gras, a festival that embodies the spirit of resilience and community. Discover how this historic tradition, which spiraled into dormancy during the mid-20th century, was revived and transformed i...
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15:24
Galveston's Pelicans: A Conservation Success Story
Pelicans are resilient symbols of Galveston's coastal ecosystem, illustrating the complexities of their survival and recovery. This episode explores their unique characteristics, and the significant conservation efforts that have allowed their ...
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6:44