Strand Historic District

The Strand Historic District in Galveston — also known simply as the Strand — is a National Historic Landmark District consisting mainly of Victorian-era buildings, many of which survived the Great Storm of 1900. Now housing numerous restaurants, cafés, galleries, and antique stores, it’s a pleasant place for a little sightseeing, shopping, and dining. The district stretches all the way down to the busy wharf area, with its old restored warehouses, and is home to many of Galveston’s most important tourist attractions. Also in this area, you’ll find Pier 19, with the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum, the nearby Texas Seaport Museum, and places to eat overlooking the water. Be sure to stop in at the Pier 21 Theater to watch The Great Storm, a film on the 1900 Hurricane that hit Galveston and changed it forever. The Strand is also home to an eclectic mix of retail and dining, from old-fashioned candy stores, like LA King’s Confectionery, where you can watch taffy-making demonstrations, to more upscale restaurants, like the long-running Rudy and Paco, next door to The Grand 1894 Opera House, or the more modern Vargas Cut and Catch across the street.