GalvestonHistory.info

February 18th, 2006

The Seawall

Building the Galveston Seawall

The 1900 storm reduced much of the city to rubble, and resulted in the loss of many thousands of lives. In the months following the hurricane, city leaders began to seek a solution to the island’s natural vunerability. The city hired General H. M. Robert and two other engineers to devise some means of protecting the city from future storms. The engineers advised that a seawall, accompanied by raising the grade of the island, would provide the desired protection.

In 1902, the city of Galveston—with financing provided by the county—began construction of a seawall to protect the city from future devistation by flooding.

The county awarded the contract for construction of a seawall to the Denver firm of J. M. O’Rourke and Company. Construction began on October 27, 1902. A cornerstone was laid in February 1903. The seawall was built of sand, cement, and stone around a network of pilings and reinforcing bars. The original section was sixteen feet wide at the base, five feet wide at the top, and seventeen feet tall. Big blocks of granite were placed in front of the wall to break the force of the sea.

Construction of the seawall was completed on July 30, 1904.

An old postcard image of the Galveston Seawall on the east end.

Originally, the seawall curved along the east end of the island between 6th and 8th streets toward the south jetty. This area in the city has since been filled and is part of the street system.

A granite plaque commemorates completion of the seawall.

The contractors placed this granite marker on the seawall when they finished their work in 1904. It still stands at the seaward end of 23rd Street beside what is left of Murdoch’s Pier.

The granite plaque commemorating the completion of the seawall can be seen in this old photo of Murdoch's Pier.

The granite plaque is clearly visible in this old photograph of Seawall Boulevard activity.

February 18th, 2006

The Seawall

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