Moody Mansion and Galveston's Historic Broadway Homes

At a glance

• Where: Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, TX — mansions sit between 14th and 27th Streets
• Hours: Moody Mansion and Bishop's Palace both typically open daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (last ticket 4 p.m.); check official sites before you go
• Cost: Moody Mansion self-guided audio tour $15 adults, $7 ages 6–17; Bishop's Palace $15 adults, $12 ages 6–18; Rosenberg Library 1900 Storm exhibit free; Grand 1894 Opera House self-guided $5
• Parking: Free street parking along Broadway and side streets; paid lots near the Strand, about a 10-minute walk
• Time needed: Half day for the two main mansions plus the 1900 Storm exhibit; full day if you add the Opera House and an evening ghost tour

Galveston's Broadway Avenue is lined with Victorian-era mansions that survived the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history and the decades that followed. Moody Mansion and Bishop's Palace are open daily for self-guided tours; a few blocks away, the Rosenberg Library offers a free exhibit on the 1900 Storm that put everything you're seeing into context. You can see all of it in one afternoon, with an optional ghost tour at dusk.

This guide covers every Broadway home currently open to visitors, what to spend on each, the insider stories that make the trip worth taking, and a logical walking order so you're not backtracking.

The quick list

• For the grandest interior: Moody Mansion, 2618 Broadway, self-guided audio tour, no reservation needed.
• For the most dramatic architecture: Bishop's Palace at 1402 Broadway, four medieval towers, AIA top-100 building.
• For a free 1900 Storm deep dive: Rosenberg Library Museum, 2310 Sealy Ave, free, open through Saturday.
• For the Juneteenth monument and antebellum exterior: Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway, best as a walk-by; interior only by advance-booked event tour.
• For a backstage look at a working historic theater: Grand 1894 Opera House, $5 self-guided, three blocks north of Broadway.
• For the ghost stories after dark: Historic Galveston Ghost Tours, 24th and Sealy, $30 adults, nightly at 6 and 8 p.m.

How we chose

We included only properties whose official websites show current visiting hours as of October 2026. We left out the 1839 Samuel May Williams Home (sold as a private residence around 2007, no longer open for tours) and the interior of Ashton Villa (event rentals only; the 10th Step guided interior tour is available but must be booked separately through the Galveston Historical Foundation's event calendar). The exterior of Ashton Villa and its garden are free and worth the stop.

Moody Mansion — where to start

2618 Broadway Ave J · $15 adults, $7 ages 6–17 · open daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Moody Mansion is the place most visitors picture when they think of a Galveston historic home tour. The four-story, 28,000-square-foot Richardsonian Romanesque house was completed in 1895 for socialite Narcissa Willis — and then purchased just days after the catastrophic 1900 Storm by W.L. Moody Jr., one of the wealthiest Americans of his era. His family lived here until 1986.

The "I didn't know that" moment: W.L. Moody Jr.'s empire at the time of his 1954 death spanned insurance, banking, cotton, ranching, hotels, railroads and publishing — yet the family kept using this house as a primary residence for almost a century after buying it from the ruins of the worst storm in American history.

The interiors were designed by Pottier and Stymus, the New York firm also responsible for the Vanderbilt mansion. You'll see original furnishings across 31 rooms on the self-guided audio tour. No reservation needed; buy tickets at the door. The Premium All-Access guided tour ($40/person, limited to 10, reservation required) reaches rooms not on the standard route.

The ground floor also houses the Galveston Children's Museum, separately ticketed (approximately $6), useful if you have younger kids who need a break from Victorian parlors.

Best for: first-time visitors, families, anyone interested in Gilded Age interiors.

Bishop's Palace — the architectural centerpiece

1402 Broadway Ave J · $15 adults, $12 ages 6–18 · open daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Bishop's Palace (officially Gresham's Castle) is the reason architects make the trip to Galveston. Built between 1887 and 1892 by architect Nicholas J. Clayton for attorney Walter Gresham, it cost roughly $250,000 in 1892 dollars — and it shows. Four towers alternate medieval and Renaissance details, the exterior is custom-cut granite, limestone, and sandstone, and the interior woodwork is intricately carved throughout its 19,082 square feet.

The American Institute of Architects listed it as one of the 100 most important buildings in the United States. The Archdiocese of Galveston purchased it in 1923; the Galveston Historical Foundation acquired it in 2013 and runs public tours today.

The story inside the story: Bishop's Palace survived the 1900 Storm essentially intact. In the days after the storm, neighborhood families sheltered in its ground floor while the waters receded. A building that survived while thousands of others were erased makes every carved banister feel different.

The "Basement to Attic" premium guided tour ($40/person, up to 20 guests, reservation required) includes Mrs. Gresham's private studio and third-floor Gulf views not on the standard route. The conservatory was restored in 2020 using a Texas Historical Commission grant, with the copper roof rebuilt to the 1894 original design.

Accessibility note: There is no wheelchair ramp at Bishop's Palace. Audio tours with photographs are available by advance request.

Best for: architecture lovers, history buffs, anyone doing the premium tour.

Ashton Villa — the antebellum exterior and the Juneteenth monument

2328 Broadway Ave J · exterior free, 24 hours · interior by advance-booked tour only

Built in 1859 by businessman James Moreau Brown, Ashton Villa was Galveston's first large-scale brick building. The three-story Italianate facade and surrounding garden are free to visit any time.

Two things are worth stopping for even without an interior tour. The Harris Garden contains a monument marking Galveston as the site where Juneteenth was proclaimed on June 19, 1865 — the announcement of emancipation that came two and a half years after Lincoln's Proclamation. And Bettie Brown, Brown's unmarried daughter who ran the household and curated its art for decades, is the subject of Galveston ghost lore so persistent that the Galveston Historical Foundation offers a dedicated ghost tour of the Villa (see below).

Interior access: GHF schedules "10th Step Tours" — advance-purchase guided tours that include second-floor access and 1900 Storm history. Book through the GHF event calendar at galvestonhistory.org. The Villa operates primarily as a private event venue, so walk-in interior access is not available.

The 1900 Storm exhibit — free, at Rosenberg Library

2310 Sealy Ave · free · Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

The Rosenberg Library Museum's 1900 Storm exhibit is the best single piece of context you can get before or after walking Broadway. It opened in September 2025 for the 125th anniversary of the storm, with 32 archival photographs, a 28-minute documentary, an interactive touchscreen with a survivor's handwritten account, and a memorial wall listing more than 2,000 victims' names.

The storm killed an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 people — the deadliest natural disaster in United States history — and reshaped Galveston permanently. Seeing the photographs of Broadway before and after makes every standing mansion feel like evidence.

The exhibit is four blocks from Bishop's Palace, a logical first or last stop.

The Grand 1894 Opera House — $5, three blocks off Broadway

2020 Postoffice St · $5 self-guided, $8 guided · Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat noon–4 p.m.

The Grand is not a residence, but it opened in 1894, survived the 1900 Storm, and has been in continuous operation for more than 130 years — making it one of the oldest functioning performance venues in Texas. The self-guided tour is $5 with no reservation; the guided tour is $8 and requires a 10-person minimum. Confirm before you go that it's not a show day (the building closes to tours for performances).

The Galveston Symphony Orchestra performs here, and touring shows run through the year.

Evening ghost tours on Broadway

24th and Sealy Ave · $30 adults, $22 children · daily at 6, 8 and 10 p.m.

Historic Galveston Ghost Tours runs 90-minute walking tours that cover Ashton Villa (billed as "purportedly the most haunted house in Texas"), the Normandy Inn, and other Broadway-adjacent landmarks. Meet at the corner of 24th Street and Sealy Avenue; free parking nearby. Tours run in all weather. The 6 or 8 p.m. departure works well after a day of mansion tours.

The Galveston Historical Foundation also offers dedicated ghost-story tours of Ashton Villa at $45/person, ticketed through the GHF events calendar.

Best for: couples, anyone who wants a narrative to tie the day together.

Is there a combo ticket?

No standing daily combo ticket bundles Moody Mansion and Bishop's Palace. The closest option is the Galveston Historical Foundation Annual Historic Homes Tour, held each May: a single ticket ($45 advance, $50 at the door) covers access to a rotating selection of historic homes over two weekends. Dates for 2026 were May 2–3 and May 9–10; check galvestonhistory.org for 2027 dates.

For a regular-day visit, the practical bundle is: Bishop's Palace ($15) + Moody Mansion ($15) + Rosenberg Library free exhibit + Grand 1894 Opera House self-guided ($5) = $35 total for most of the Broadway experience.

See it in one afternoon: a walking order

Allow 4–5 hours for the full route; 2.5–3 hours for just the two main mansions.

1. Rosenberg Library Museum (2310 Sealy Ave, free) — The 1900 Storm exhibit first: 30–45 minutes of photographs, documentary footage and survivor accounts. It sets up everything you're about to see.
2. Bishop's Palace (1402 Broadway, $15) — Walk four blocks south and east. Arrive early; the premium guided tour (book ahead) departs in the morning.
3. Ashton Villa exterior (2328 Broadway, free) — Walk three blocks east. See the facade, the Harris Garden and the Juneteenth monument. Five to ten minutes.
4. Moody Mansion (2618 Broadway, $15) — Walk three more blocks east. The audio tour typically takes 45–60 minutes; the all-access premium tour runs two hours.
5. The Grand 1894 Opera House (2020 Postoffice St, $5) — Walk north three blocks. Confirm it's not a performance day before heading over.
6. Historic Galveston Ghost Tours (24th and Sealy, $30) — 6 or 8 p.m. departure; the tour loops back past Ashton Villa and covers everything you've seen in a different light.

Driving note: The mansions are within easy walking distance of each other. Parking is free on most side streets off Broadway. If you're driving between downtown Galveston and the far end of the Broadway Historic District, allow 10 minutes.

Getting to Galveston from Houston

Galveston is roughly 50 miles southeast of downtown Houston on I-45 South. The drive typically takes 50 minutes to 90 minutes depending on traffic; leave Houston before 9 a.m. on a weekend to avoid the bay bridge backup. Our Galveston day trip guide covers the full drive, parking and what else to do while you're on the island.

If you're making a weekend of it, Moody Gardens and Galveston Island State Park are both close. See our beaches near Houston guide for more Gulf options.

Save this: Broadway mansion checklist

• Book the Moody Mansion Premium All-Access tour ($40) in advance if you want access to the upper floors and restricted rooms.
• Book the Bishop's Palace "Basement to Attic" tour ($40) in advance; it's limited to 20 people and sells out on weekends.
• Confirm the Grand 1894 Opera House isn't hosting a show on the day you go (check thegrand.com).
• Pack water and comfortable shoes — Broadway is walkable but the pavement is uneven in spots.
• If going in May, check galvestonhistory.org for the Annual Historic Homes Tour dates: one ticket gets you inside homes not otherwise open to the public.
• Bishop's Palace has no wheelchair ramp; request the audio-with-photographs version in advance if needed.
• The Rosenberg Library's 1900 Storm exhibit is free and can be visited any weekday or Saturday.
• Plan the ghost tour as your last stop of the day — the 6 p.m. departure works well after a full day on Broadway.

More day trips from Houston

For more Gulf Coast options, see our day trips from Houston guide and the Schlitterbahn Galveston guide. For Houston history closer to home, the Battleship Texas guide covers another remarkable surviving piece of Texas heritage.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is Moody Mansion in Galveston?

Moody Mansion is a 28,000-square-foot, 31-room Richardsonian Romanesque house at 2618 Broadway Ave J in Galveston, TX. Completed in 1895 and purchased by industrialist W.L. Moody Jr. days after the 1900 Storm, it operated as the family's home until 1986 and is now open daily for self-guided audio tours ($15 adults, $7 ages 6–17).

How much does it cost to tour Moody Mansion?

The self-guided audio tour is $15 for adults and $7 for ages 6–17; children 5 and under are free. A premium all-access guided tour is $40 per person, limited to 10 guests, and requires a reservation. Check moodymansion.org for current pricing before you visit.

Is Bishop's Palace the same as Gresham's Castle?

Yes. The building at 1402 Broadway Ave J in Galveston was built for attorney Walter Gresham between 1887 and 1892 and is officially named Gresham's Castle. The Archdiocese of Galveston purchased it in 1923, which is where the name Bishop's Palace comes from. The Galveston Historical Foundation operates public tours today, daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m., $15 adults.

Did Moody Mansion and Bishop's Palace survive the 1900 Storm?

Both survived. Bishop's Palace came through the storm structurally intact and sheltered neighborhood families in its ground floor during the aftermath. The original owner of Moody Mansion did not survive, and W.L. Moody Jr. purchased the house from the estate just days after the storm, while much of the city around it was in ruins.

Is there a combo ticket for Galveston's historic mansions?

No standing daily combo ticket covers both Moody Mansion and Bishop's Palace. The closest option is the Galveston Historical Foundation's Annual Historic Homes Tour, held each May, where one ticket ($45–$50) provides access to a rotating group of historic homes over two weekends. Check galvestonhistory.org for dates.

Where can I learn about the 1900 Galveston Storm for free?

The Rosenberg Library Museum at 2310 Sealy Ave in Galveston has a free 1900 Storm exhibit, open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. It includes 32 archival photographs, a 28-minute documentary, interactive survivor accounts, and a memorial wall with more than 2,000 victims' names.