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
150 episodes
Oysters and The Bay
We open with a groan-worthy oyster joke, then dive into how reefs shaped Galveston Bay’s ecology, history, and seafood economy. We trace the move from open harvest to science-based management and examine restoration, recycling, and aquaculture ...
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8:24
Concrete Ghosts Of Galveston Bay
Two concrete tankers, the SS Selma and SS Durham, turn a wartime shortcut into coastal legend. We trace how steel shortages sparked bold builds, why those ships failed at sea, and how their wrecks still shape fishing, folklore, and engineering ...
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10:42
From Galveston Heiress To Hands-On Philanthropist
A vivid portrait of Betty Brown emerges: a bold Galveston socialite who turned privilege into service, steered a women’s home with hands-on grit, and shaped civic life before and after the 1900 storm. We trace the woman behind the legend, separ...
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12:27
Two women from one island changed how America moved to rhythm and blues
Two Galveston originals reshaped American rhythm and blues: Camille Howard with boogie-woogie fire and Esther Phillips with a deep, briny voice that bent genres. We trace their arcs from island roots to national stages, through reinvention, wit...
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7:54
Charlotte, Under the Microscope
We trace Dr. Charlotte Schaefer’s path from standout UTMB student to Texas trailblazer in public health, teaching, and women-led enterprise. A hookworm breakthrough, a sister-run pharmacy, and a fierce respect for detail show how small choices ...
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7:42
From Marsh to Man-Made Maritime Hub: Pelican Island
A neglected marsh evolved into Galveston’s hidden engine, from a Civil War battery and a quarantine station for immigrants to a WWII shipyard hub and a maritime university that shapes ocean careers. We trace how silt, storms, and bold engineeri...
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6:58
Space Coast: NASA's Galveston Island Connection
The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, just 30 miles north of Galveston Island, has been at the heart of American space exploration for more than six decades. This connection has created a unique relationship between coastal living and cosmic disc...
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6:47
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