The Strand - Galveston, TX - Historic district

The Strand is the historic district of Galveston, Texas. It's a street full of historic buildings, museums, galleries, shops and restaurants and has plenty to do to keep the whole family entertained.

This downtown area of Galveston is renowned for its great selection of historic buildings. It's the longest row of historic buildings in the whole of the United States, and considering it's only a few blocks long it's got something for everyone.

Many of the buildings of The Strand survived the great 1900 Storm, one of the worst storms in American history, and they stand as a monument to days gone by. Many of them have been kept in the same style in which they were built and many more have been renovated to recapture their former glory, but all of them are a sight to behold and will be a treat for both history and architecture fans, or indeed anyone who wants to experience some of the history of the area.

The Galveston Island Railroad Museum is just one of the various museums on offer. It's one of the country's most popular railroad museums and has plenty of exhibits and displays to give an insight into the history.

Then there's the Texas Seaport Museum where visitors can see if their ancestors are one of the 133,000 immigrants who came to the US through Galveston, and next door is the Tall Ship Elissa, one of America's treasures as voted for by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Or, head to Pier 19 to see the Ocean Star Offshore Energy Center and Museum, giving visitors the chance to learn how oil and gas are produced offshore through a variety of interactive models and displays.

For something a bit more cultural there's the Pier 21 Theater, which shows two films throughout the day. "The Great Storm'' gives a glimpse into the storm of 1900, and "The Pirate Island of Jean Lafitte'' is a short film showing the life and times of the notorious pirate who lived in Galveston.

There are also plenty of shops and restaurants throughout The Strand, with cuisines of all kinds including Mexican, Italian, ice cream parlors, cafes and of course plenty of examples of famous Gulf Coast seafood. The huge variety of shops offers something for everyone, and with all shops and restaurants set in beautiful buildings it's worth going if only to admire the beautifully restored architecture. There's everything from clothes stores to antiques shops, and all are extremely friendly and welcoming. Many stores are open until 6pm and restaurants often stay open much later, many even offering live music and entertainment for people to enjoy the evening in a great location.

The Strand district is a must-visit for anyone in the Galveston area. There's something for everyone whether they're looking for a bit of history, culture or even just to shop and get a bite to eat. With so many stunning buildings to admire it's worth the trip just to see how well they've been restored, and with so much to do it's great for the whole family.