Old City Cemetery
Old City Cemetery
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
82 reviews
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1234texas
Seabrook, TX5,282 contributions
Jun 2020
A cemetary is a great place to do a historic walk--you learn so much about the city and and the people/families that made it great. Galveston was at one time known as "The Wall Street of the South" for good reason--cotton, financial empires, and trade. It was a major port city until it was surpassed by Houston. During that time, the city grew and was very prosperous. The mansions in the city are a real testament as to the great wealth of many families--who are buried here.
As cemeteries go, this one is a good one; well maintained, attractive sculptures and buildings, and easy to navigate. The street noise from Broadway is the only distraction!
You will easily find this on the south side of the main street into the city. It is well worth a little time to admire it.
As cemeteries go, this one is a good one; well maintained, attractive sculptures and buildings, and easy to navigate. The street noise from Broadway is the only distraction!
You will easily find this on the south side of the main street into the city. It is well worth a little time to admire it.
Written June 16, 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.
TedHanley
Galveston, TX43 contributions
May 2017
City Cemetery was on the outskirts of town in the early part of the 1900's - today it is smack dab in the middle of everything and one passes it traveling East into town beginning at 43rd Street. It's well worth the time to stop and drive into the central corridor where one can park and stop to take pictures of some beautiful old, weathered headstones and mausoleums. In the month of May the cemetery is aglow with beautiful yellow, brown-eyed susans and amazingly picturesque. In fact many people come during this time to take family pictures - there is something hauntingly beautiful about a cemetery filled with flowers - life and death juxtaposed and dancing with the Gulf Breeze. As one learns more about the history of Galveston, they will recognize the names of families who left their marks on its development. As an example, the stately Trube Castle at the corner of 17th and Sealy was built by a Danish merchant, JC Trube whose castle was the dream home he envisioned when he achieved his American Dream and rose from rags to riches. The home is complete with a tower from which he could see his ships when the came into port. His stately mausoleum at the East End of the Cemetery is reminiscent of his stately home and displays his name, as does the steps to the home. City Cemetery speaks to a bygone era and those Islanders who lived, laughed and played in its sands; also enduring its tragedies and storms. The weathering effects of the salt air have transformed the marble headstones and statues into stoic reminders of the passing of time. Flowers or none - City Cemetery has a story to tell about Galveston Island and it's history. Well worth the stop.
Written December 6, 2017
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.
AllanJGJ
Wellington, New Zealand4,209 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
This must be a particularly intriguing site if you're a local with any interest in Galveston history, migration or genealogy. But even for an overseas tourist it makes for an engrossing stop. Having learned at the tiny migration museum on Pier 21 about the influx of Jewish and German migrants into Galveston pre WWI it didn't surprise us too much that the majority of the headstones appeared to be from these two groups. Still interesting to wander around and see the different names and the family groups, including a number of tombstones (or perhaps just memorial markers?) for people lost in the Great Storm of 1900. As always, we were moved by the Jewish custom of leaving stones on the top of gravestones; always seems such a telling sign of remembrance and continuity. And of course commemorating the interesting inhabitants of the cemetery was the amazing array of yellow flowers which coated the majority of the site. Not sure if it's a natural spread of wildflowers or they were planted and seeded, but certainly a lovely display of on-going growth and re-birth amongst the departed.You're inevitably going to drive by this site (it's on Broadway) if you're staying in Galveston so why not stop and pay your respects.
Written May 4, 2018
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.
abriddle4
Galveston Island, TX26 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
The old City reveals the past. I love strolling through an old cemetery. The grounds were covered with wild yellow flowers. It was beautiful.
Written May 17, 2017
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.
katherinegann
Dallas, TX27 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
very pretty cemetery a lot of important people from Galveston are buried and people from Texas histroy. Do not go at night saw roaches the size of the state of TX and they fly - just warning you
Written August 9, 2016
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.
Ruth S
Independence, WI111 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
We spent almost an hour here looking at the headstones and statues. It is right in the middle of everything and looked so interesting we had to stop.
Written February 11, 2018
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.
Nathaniel K
4 contributions
Oct 2017
Just Watching The Flowers In The Gravesite And Reading The Tombstone When I Have A Little Time To Browse By On My Good Days!
Written October 2, 2017
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.
Sunny B
Galveston, TX280 contributions
Jun 2017 • Friends
I took a budding photographer here for a photo shoot. It is an amazing experience but use caution and lock your car if you venture away from it. Some transient people use the driveway as a cut through and I saw them wiggling car doors.
Written September 13, 2017
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.
sally8363
Vidor, TX669 contributions
Jun 2016 • Business
If you are a cemetery stroller or a history buff, you really should check it out. You may not recognize any names, but there are neat headstones and lots of history here.
Written May 22, 2017
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.
Christinashawaii
Texas Gulf Coast, TX98 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
This is the cemetery my husband set up my surprise birthday ghost tour at. As I said in my review of Galveston ghost tours, this cemetery is not in the safest neighborhood so it's not a good idea to go wondering around. Just like any town, Galveston does not have streets lined with gold and friendly people everywhere. There are bad people in every town, contrary to what some tourists think. Keep your doors locked whenever possible, including while driving around, take my word for it. Anywho. The cemetery is pretty cool and dates back a few hundred years. During the day, it's fun to just walk around and look at the older headstones. There's a neat mausoleum by one of the gates that I like to peek in every time I go. They lock the gates at night, so if you were thinking about taking a night trip, you'll have to do it through a tour company. Have fun!
Written April 21, 2017
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.
Does anyone know the hours? Couldn't find them on the web. Thanks!
Written April 7, 2017
There are no hours. You can go anytime. It's on Broadway, I think between 42 & 40th streets.
Written April 8, 2017
No, there is not. Galveston welcomes visitors to check it out. They are very proud of their heritage. there is also another Civil War cemetery in League City (about 20 minutes North of Galveston). It is located by the Longhorn Butler Museum. It is definitely worth your time.
Written April 4, 2017
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