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All 54 Galveston Attractions »

Bishop's Palace

1402 Broadway, Galveston, Galveston Island, TX 77550
409-762-2475
Ranked #10 of 41 attractions in Galveston
4.5 of 5 stars 55 Reviews
Type: Historic Sites
Fee: Yes
Owner description: Ranked among the top 100 homes in the U.S. for its architectural significance, this ornate 1893 building was the home to the family of Walter Gresham,...... more » Owner description: Ranked among the top 100 homes in the U.S. for its architectural significance, this ornate 1893 building was the home to the family of Walter Gresham, a former Confederate colonel and U.S. Congressman. « less
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55 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    28
    18
    6
    2
    1
Date Rating
Houston, Texas
Top Contributor
58 reviews 58 reviews
Reviews in 20 cities Reviews in 20 cities
41 helpful votes 41 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 8, 2012

I liked this tour but not quite as well as the Moody mansion tour, the history seemed less certian and more speculative. Unlike the Moody tour there were not nearly as many furnishings that were origional to the home but rather were refered to by the tour guide as "origional to the period" which was also a bit confusing as... More

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See 7 more reviews by outlaw1865 for Galveston
League City, TX
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 28, 2012

Beautiful, well-crafted old house that really looks like a castle. Children would probably find it boring, but my friends and I really enjoyed it. More

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Canyon Lake, Texas
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 27, 2012

One of the best preserved Victorian mansions in the US. Has been under constant care since it's construction. Knowledgeable tour guide. Sorry no photos allowed inside. Gift shop at end of tour. Reasonably priced. More

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See 6 more reviews by Tony B for Galveston
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 24, 2012

Last Thursday, April 19, was my first trip to Galveston and we did the tour at Bishop's Palace. It was very interesting. The tour guide was very good to listen to and I thought that she gave very good information on the families there, was open for questions and it seemed that she really enjoyed giving the tours. It was... More

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Houston, Texas
Top Contributor
74 reviews 74 reviews
Reviews in 27 cities Reviews in 27 cities
240 helpful votes 240 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 29, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

This estate is breath-taking and the tour lasted 50 minutes. The start times vary on the tours, so check on-line. We arrived, with just luck, just 15 minutes before a tour started and the following tour was three hours away due to a special event. The history of the home is fantastic, as is the architecture. More

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See 5 more reviews by MaltaBound for Galveston
Houston, Texas
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 27, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

This is worth your time if you love historical buildings and architecture. It was quite interesting. The handcarved woodwork in each room was absolutely beautiful....a lost art. Each room had a different type of wood. There were some original light fixtures, beds, bathtub, etc. Our tour guide was wonderful and entertaining. I would recommend this tour. This is a mansion... More

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League City, Texas
Top Contributor
51 reviews 51 reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
33 helpful votes 33 helpful votes
1 of 5 stars Reviewed March 20, 2012
2
people found this review helpful

I understand times are tough and the memory of hurricane Ike still fresh but really? The snarky young woman at the ticket desk said the Bishop's Palace had very little and very limited damage from the hurricane. So that just leaves serious neglect. If the BP is not still owned by the Galveston Archdiocese but by the Galveston Historical Society... More

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See 7 more reviews by Lovie2 for Galveston
Plano, Texas
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed March 19, 2012
2
people found this review helpful

Interesting but overall misleading. Opens at 11am but no tours until 12:30 which was quite inconvenient. Tour only includes the 1st and 2nd floors, but this is not made known to visitors when purchasing tickets. The reason according to the tour guide was due to fire marshall concerns about one exit (staircase) rather than two to the upper floors. However... More

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Houston, Texas
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
3 of 5 stars Reviewed March 18, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

I may seem like the Devil's advocate, but I was disappointed. I waited 3 months to see the "full tour" and was throughly disappointed. First of all I loved the Moody Mansion because if was "furnsihed", but more importanly with the original pieces. I have toured many homes and the house quite honestly is empty. If it did have furnishings,... More

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Houston, Texas
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
4 of 5 stars Reviewed March 17, 2012

While a bit expensive, the tour of the Bishop's Palace is thorough and interesting. The guide was very knowledgeable (if a bit bland), but the varied antique luxuries were impressive enough to keep us gawking until the end. More

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See 3 more reviews by MontroseMatt for Galveston

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