Treasure Island Tour Train in Galveston, TX provides a ninety-minute, 17-mile narrated trip all around the Island City of Galveston. This tour goes through both New and Old Galveston and provides many good sightseeing opportunities. Some of the sites you will see are Seawall Boulevard, Rosenberg Library, the shrimp fleet, downtown business district, Moody Mansion, Ashton Villa, the Bishop's Palace, the Strand Historic District and many other interesting places.
For those that aren't familiar with some of these sites, you'll love all the history that goes into this tour. The Seawall Boulevard, which was built in 1902, is a seawall designed to protect buildings from damage such as they received in the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. The Seawall Boulevard, which is 17 feet high, 16 feet thick and runs 10 miles long, is registered in the National Register of Historic Places.
Ashton Villa, which was the first brick house built in Texas in 1858, was considered a Broadway palace. The Galveston Historical Foundation preserved this building through the years, where you can still take tours and view paintings of Miss Bettie Brown, the original mistress of the manor. Also on the grounds are an information center, gift shop, all part of the Heritage Visitors Center.
The Bishop's Palace has been named as one of the most important buildings in America and the grandest building in Galveston. While you're watching the shrimp fleet, you may be able to get some cheap shrimp as well!
The Treasure Island Tour Train has been around since 1962, making it the island's oldest still operating tour train. Tours are available almost year round, with different times available depending on the time of year. Rates are very affordable with a special children's rate. Make sure you bring cash with you, as this is the only form of money they will accept.
