Bishop’s Palace

Bishop's Palace

Bishops Palace Night Credit Galveston Island CVB

Bishops Palace Night Credit Galveston Island CVB

Built in 1892, Bishop's Palace is one of the oldest and grandest historic homes in Galveston. A strikingly stunning construction done in the Victorian style, Bishop's Palace is as steeped in history as it is in beauty.

The mansion was once known widely as Gresham Castle, built for a local lawyer and politician Walter Gresham, his wife, and nine children. The building itself took roughly six years to complete, decorated with colored stone, stained-glass windows, ornate woodwork, bronze dragons, and many other details that made the manor home famous in the surrounding areas. After the Gresham family moved on, the building was purchased by the Catholic Diocese of Galveston and used as the bishop's home until the diocesan office was moved to Houston. It was then that the diocese decided to transform the beautiful mansion into a museum for the public. Now, however, the house is owned and operated by the Galveston Historical Foundation which offers self-guided daily tours and special programs year-round.

This beautiful mansion was once labeled as the 100 most important buildings in America for its architectural significance, designed by well-known architect Nicholas Clayton. Tours both guided and self-guided, private and public, are given seven days a week from 11 am to 6 pm. This is a highly recommended tour for any type of group vacation in Galveston, as it is one of the best-preserved pieces of Victorian history and a wonderful museum showcasing the opulence of the era's way of life for wealthy families.