The Victorian mansion that sheltered hundreds during the Great Hurricane of 1900

Built between 1887 and 1892, Bishop's Palace was designed by architect Nicholas J. Clayton for Walter Gresham and his family. Clayton incorporated medieval and Renaissance details into four towers, each rising four stories. He used several chimneys to create the illusion of a cluster of houses and constructed exterior features from various Texas stones, including granite and sandstone, all of which were custom-cut on site.

The all-stone mansion was sturdy enough to withstand the great hurricane of 1900. During the storm, the Gresham family welcomed hundreds of survivors into their home. In 1923, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the property, and it served as the residence for Bishop Christopher E. Byrne. It was later opened to the public in 1963 to help fund the UT medical school's Newman Center.

Today, the Galveston Historical Foundation maintains the property and continues to offer public tours. Recent restoration work included a multi-million dollar project beginning in 2020, which led to a 2025 phase where the building's failing 1920s tile roof was replaced by an exact replica manufactured by Ludowici. This restoration included new ornamental figurines to cap the rooftop, replacing originals lost since 1983.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons