Bishop’s Palace
Ashton Villa
Moody Mansion
The Grand 1894 Opera House
Colonel Paddlewheel Boat
Ocean Star
- Perhaps the grandest of the many grande dames in Galveston, this ornate Victorian-style castle has been cited as one of the 100 most-important buildings in the U.S. by the American Institute of Architects and boasts a fireplace lined with pure silver. www.galveston.com/bishopspalace
Ashton Villa
- Built in 1859, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued from the balcony of the Ashton Villa on June 19, 1865. This venue features furniture from its original occupants and a ballroom for events in the back of the property. www.galveston.com/ashtonvilla
Moody Mansion
- Bought by the Moody family shortly after The Great Storm, this 28,000-square-foot, four-story structure offers 20 rooms filled with the furniture and personal effects of the preeminent Galveston family, whose foundation developed Moody Gardens west of town. www.moodymansion.org
The Grand 1894 Opera House
- A survivor of both the 1900 and 1915 storms, The Grand offers superb acoustics and old-fashioned balcony-style seating for 1,000, with no one more than 70 feet from the stage. The venue opened its current season with Tony Bennett, and can be rented for private events such as formal dinners with live entertainment. www.thegrand.com
Colonel Paddlewheel Boat
- The Colonel offers a wide variety of menu options, and can also provide entertainment ranging from Dixieland jazz bands and banjoists to pianists and strolling violins. The climate-controlled cruiser also sports a 114-square-foot dance floor and two rooms for private parties. www.moodygardens.com
Ocean Star
- Groups can gather at a refurbished oil drilling rig—jacked up off of Galveston’s Pier 19—that’s available for meetings, luncheons, theme parties, and receptions of up to 500 people. Rental options include a conference room, theater, the third floor, or the entire rig. www.oceanstaroec.com