1892 Bishop's Palace
1892 Bishop's Palace
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Bishop's Palace (a.k.a. Gresham House) is a contributing building in the East End Historic District, a National Historic Landmark. The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places at the national level of significance in the area of architecture. Architectural historians list the Bishop's Palace (Gresham House) as one of the most significant of Victorian residences in the country. It is owned and operated by Galveston Historical Foundation.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience 1892 Bishop's Palace and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
219 within 3 miles
Attractions
94 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Matison B1 contributionBeautiful old homeTruly amazing home, lovely self guided tour, cute little gift shop! We had a great afternoon exploring this old place. If you’re a fan of architecture or history it’s worth the visitVisited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 21, 2024
- Kendot52Denton, Texas453 contributionsThe Bishop’s Palace in Galveston, TexasThis incredible building was created as the family home for a wealthy family. Construction went from 1886 to 1893. Later it was sold to the Catholic diocese and it became the Bishop’s Palace. The intricate woodwork, stonework, and Italian marble accents are incredible. The price of admission includes an audio device that is synced to the various rooms and gives insight to the history of each location. This is really worth the time and price of admission.Visited July 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 3, 2024
- BaydeNoc197 contributionsVery Impressive BuildingAfter reading reviews, and a recommendation from the Visitors' Bureau, we stopped at Bishops Palace. It is a beautifully restored mansion with extreme detail in the interior design. The audio tour that is included is very well done. The building is in the Historic District, which we thoroughly enjoyed on bikes we had rented.Visited January 2025Traveled as a coupleWritten February 2, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,371 reviews
Excellent
867
Very good
394
Average
81
Poor
20
Terrible
9
Dawn B
Columbus, OH5 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
We took the “Basement to Attic” tour on October 21, 2023. The house is amazing and our guide was knowledgeable and interesting. The special tour we took isn’t offered every day, and it was worth the $35 ticket price as we were able to explore every room on every level of the house, not just the few rooms on the standard, self-guided tour. Don’t try this tour if you have mobility issues because there are many steep stairs with few handrails and there is no elevator. The basement gift shop is worth a stop all by itself. If you are in Galveston, the Bishop’s Palace is a great place to spend a couple of hours.
Written October 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brisvegas_Travellers
Brisbane, Australia105 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
I would give this 5 out of 5 but I found it was very expensive. Saying that the up keep on this house would be very expensive so I get it. We were encouraged to all take an audio tour device which we did even the kids. This was a great idea as they were a bit hard to hear. My daughter enjoyed this as it gave her the freedom to explore herself and therefore she got more out of it. Parking out front was free which seems to be rare in Galveston.
Written December 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingforFunTexas
Texas449 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
We took the 1.5 hr Sat morn Basement to Attic Tour and loved it! Our docent shared alot of great info & history while escorting us through. Having access to the top floor & attic was a treat. It’s a beautiful place inside & out, and amazingly a 1900 Storm survivor. Even our young teens enjoyed it. There was a steady flow of visitors, but never too many that you couldn’t walk through easily.
The Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) owns the Bishop’s Palace, and has truly done a great job with it ever since they took ownership. We were never pushed for $$, but saw for ourselves: they need donations. The roof is in need of replacement - leaks are causing damage. Preserving history requires expensive specialty materials & workmanship. Don’t feel bad paying any amount for touring or donating!
The Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) owns the Bishop’s Palace, and has truly done a great job with it ever since they took ownership. We were never pushed for $$, but saw for ourselves: they need donations. The roof is in need of replacement - leaks are causing damage. Preserving history requires expensive specialty materials & workmanship. Don’t feel bad paying any amount for touring or donating!
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brittany S
1 contribution
May 2023
Very disappointing experience! My husband and I took our mothers for an early Mother’s Day outing. In a group of four we were given one tour guide device that presents through a speaker. We literally had to huddle together and faces touching the other to be able to hear the guide. This device is made for one individual to place up to their ear! We were so frustrated trying to hear! We ended up taking turns listening in each stage. Spoke to front desk and they were not allowed to give out additional devices. They said it is a common complaint yet orders are from management. Hardly anyone touring and we saw plenty of devices. $15 dollars per person yet cannot enjoy history of the house. Not a good experience at all. Management please do different!!! If you go tour pay separately so you can request your own device….
Written May 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teresa M
150 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We went to this lovely mansion day 2 of our trip to Galveston, Texas. You enter the basement and see how high the water flooded during Hurricane Ike and the gift shop. Lots of cute choices to consider. Then you get an audio hand held device which is easy to use by tapping on buttons for each room’s narration. You have to climb stairs from the basement to enter the first floor. I believe though there was a ramp to enter at the ground floor but not sure if one could go up to the second floor without stairs. We were able to tour the basement , the 1st and 2nd floor. The third floor was closed off. There were ax units in the window and fans all around to keep the air moving around. The grand staircase which connects the first and second floor is lovely . There is a chapel upstairs with some beautiful stained glass . Worth visiting and touring.
Written July 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TnTDean
Oak Grove, MO135 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
We visited Bishops Palace in the East End Historic District. The day that we went it was slow which was good for us I do not think it would be very enjoyable if it was crowded you are given a device for an audio guide to her and for me I actually did not care to stand and listen to the 3 to4 minute explanation about what the room was used for or maybe something that was in the room. For some that might make it very enjoyable for me it would’ve just made it a very long two or I’ll only needed about less than an hour it is enjoyable but you really must be a museum type person to get the “full fun factor” . I wasn’t very thrilled with the $14 admission fee I thought it was a bit pricey.
No signs for parking , so we had to park on a side street .
The house was absolutely beautiful and very ornate and amazing to think that it was built so long ago and withstood natural disasters.
I think this would be a place for 40 or older, history lovers, home builders. I would not suggest children or teens.
No signs for parking , so we had to park on a side street .
The house was absolutely beautiful and very ornate and amazing to think that it was built so long ago and withstood natural disasters.
I think this would be a place for 40 or older, history lovers, home builders. I would not suggest children or teens.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A2coolcity
Fishers, IN1,736 contributions
Mar 2022
This is a MUST SEE experience while visiting Galveston. All of the major guided tours will take this stop. Why pay extra when you can see it yourself? We loved the impeccable detail that was placed into every aspect of this craftsman's paradise. There is so much great history of the building and it's various occupants and how it survived the 1900 Hurricane that killed over 6,000 individuals to be one of the worst natural disasters in our nation's history.
The staff and exhibits of this historic home are top notch - professional and polished.
You'll be glad if you take sometime to step back into history and enjoy this remarkable work of architecture and construction.
The staff and exhibits of this historic home are top notch - professional and polished.
You'll be glad if you take sometime to step back into history and enjoy this remarkable work of architecture and construction.
Written April 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi183765
Saint Charles, MO83 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Positives: Beautiful, old home everyone visiting the area should see. The windows, woodwork and designs are breathtaking. The tour is a self-paced audio tour so you can visit at your own pace (or to fit your time schedule).
Could Improves: The home was once truly opulent but now needs a bit of TLC (visitors can leave donations, so that helps!). There was the strong sent of sewage wafting through the entire home during our tour, strong enough it made it hard to concentrate. The docents were not overly friendly or helpful. The audio tour was on a building provided device that wasn’t overly clean.
Could Improves: The home was once truly opulent but now needs a bit of TLC (visitors can leave donations, so that helps!). There was the strong sent of sewage wafting through the entire home during our tour, strong enough it made it hard to concentrate. The docents were not overly friendly or helpful. The audio tour was on a building provided device that wasn’t overly clean.
Written October 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paula P
Green Bay, WI109 contributions
Apr 2022
We needed an indoor activity on a rainy day during our stay and was glad we decided to do this. $15 was a little steep for admission I thought; especially since you're only there about an hour. The tour is self guided and they give you a mini-iPad that you can go at your own pace and listen to historical facts that correlate to different numbered stops in the house - that was a very nice benefit.
Written April 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CJTravelerTexas
Texas9,286 contributions
May 2022
The Bishop's Palace, also known as the Gresham Castle, is a beautiful and well-maintained Victorian mansion. We purchased a ticket that included both this residence and the Moody Mansion and saved a few dollars. Persons interested in architecture, Texas history and culture, and religion would enjoy visiting the Bishop's Palace. There is sufficient parking on the street. To avoid crowds, an early arrival is suggested.
Written May 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the Palace air conditioned? We are traveling with a few older friends from a cooler place and it is so hot right now.
Written June 27, 2023
Storyteller252904
Austin, Texas
I visited the Bishops Palace several years ago, and I was treated to wassail and cookies... I was given the recipe, but I lost it in Hurricane Katrina... Is there any way you can share the recipe with me again>
Written December 3, 2020
I do not work there, you would need to contact the Bishop’s Palace directly. Good luck.
Written December 4, 2020
Jonathan J
Dayton, Texas
My wife and daughter are going to take the late tour and I was wondering if they can take my ir camera on the tour
Written October 7, 2018
yes absolutely...I took tons pictures there :)
Written October 11, 2018
Do you get to visit all the floors in the home?
Written March 8, 2018
First and second floor with a small gift shop.
Written May 1, 2018
Will be visiting Galverston in the summer with my granddauter who uses a wheelchair for distance, but who can walk and manage stairs slowly. One of the reviews said no strollers. Would their be somewhere to park the chair while we walked round?
Written January 28, 2017
You can contact Historic Galveston that operates the house to check specifically, but they indicate that they are specifically not handicapped accessible. From my experience, there are a lot of stairs. The entrance is in the basement, so you have to go down and you then have to get up stairs to the first second and third floors. Also, these are very grand houses, so the staircases are huge. I think it would be very difficult to navigate. I would recommend contacting the Moody Mansion which is down the street. The entry and bathrooms are in a grade level building off the parking lot. It's then one level of stairs to the first floor and one to the second. I think this house would be more manageable as at most, you'd need one set of stairs up.
Written January 29, 2017
Showing results 1-10 of 17
Related Stories
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing