1892 BISHOP’S PALACE OFFERS FREE NEW YEAR’S DAY OPEN HOUSE

Galveston Island, Texas, December 21, 2019 – On January 1st GHF celebrates the New Year at Bishop’s Palace, 1402 Broadway, with free admission 1 pm-3 pm. Complimentary champagne will be served for attendees. The tradition of an open house at the property started in 1893. Every other year the Gresham family would welcome visitors for a New Year’s Day calling.

ABOUT THE 1892 BISHOP’S PALACE

Bishop’s Palace, also known as the Walter and Josephine Gresham House, is one of the island’s best known and most popular tourist attractions. Bishop’s Palace is recognized as one of the nation’s most important late 19th century Victorian residences. Nicholas Clayton, Texas’ most accomplished architect of the period, designed the house for the Gresham family. In 1921, Galvestonians raised money to buy the house for the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese to make it the home of Bishop Byrne. GHF purchased the property in 2013 from the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. The foundation is the third owner of the property and assumed management in 2007. It welcomes over 65,000 local, national and international visitors each year.

ABOUT GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) was formed as the Galveston Historical Society in 1871 and merged with a new organization formed in 1954 as a non-profit entity devoted to historic preservation and history in Galveston County. Over the last sixty years, GHF has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, coastal resiliency and stewardship of historic properties. GHF embraces a broader vision of history and architecture that encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences and their intersection with historic buildings and coastal life and conceives of history as an engaging story of individual lives and experiences on Galveston Island from the 19th century to the present day.

For more information please contact Will Wright, Chief Creative Officer at 409-765-3424 or will.wright@galvestonhistory.org.