You can’t miss it. It practically shouts out to you as you drive by. It’s a thing of beauty that can’t be ignored.
It is the Moody Mansion in Galveston, TX.
Moody is a name you will see all over Galveston. They have been a strong, influential family for over 150 years. Involved in banking, health care, education, and much more, the family continues to support their community today.
Their story began in 1866 when visionary William Lewis Moody, Sr. started a cotton business in Galveston. He was later appointed as the fiscal officer for the state of Texas.
Moody had a significant impact on the progress of Galveston and beyond. He was the founding director for the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad to bring products from all around Texas to the ports in Galveston.
He also helped obtain federal funds to deepen the ports to handle large cargo ships.
It is said that Moody was responsible for Galveston’s financial success, leading to it being called the Wall Street of the Southwest.
His son, William Lewis Moody, Jr. expanded the family and community interests even more to include insurance, banking, and hotels.
Jr’s daughter, Mary Moody Northern, took on philanthropic endeavors in addition to all the family interests. This included the restoration of several historic properties such as the Tall Ship Elissa, the 1894 Grand Opera House, and of course, the Moody Mansion.
At an astounding 28,000 square feet, the Moody Mansion represents the stature of the family. Built in 1895 it has four stories and 20 rooms. It became a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark in 1967 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
William Lewis Moody, Jr. bought the mansion soon after the September 1900 deadly hurricane. Moody family members lived in the house until another hurricane in 1983, when it suffered major damage. Mary Moody Northern orchestrated the reconstruction and restoration and the house opened as a museum in 1991.
The rooms are set up to show the lavish lifestyle and décor of the turn-of-the-century wealthy family. The craftsmanship is truly an incredible work of art. Each room holds obvious – as well as subtle – details.
Look up to see the stunning ceilings, ranging from light blue with cherubs to dark stately wood.
Look closely at the many fireplaces with their variety of colors and material, and inspect the doors and handles for little surprising nuggets of historic design.
A lot of thought, love, and respect went into restoring this stunning home, so make sure you put it high on your list of things to do when visiting Galveston.
Located at 2618 Broadway, Galveston Island, TX 77550
Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 10am-5pm, with the last tickets sold at 4pm.
Adults tickets are $15. It’s a self-guided tour, although All-Access Guided Tours are available on Fridays and Saturdays with reservations.
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