Secret Galveston: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

For more than 150 years, Galveston has lured visitors with its Gulf waters, history, and festivals. Today, Galveston is a year-round destination with a quirky side. Locals are known for their fierce pride in being born on the island or being islanders by choice. As a follow-up to 100 Things to Do in Galveston, this book highlights the lesser-known facts and folklore of Galveston. While some items are part of popular sites on the island, many are off the beaten path. For example, did you know there is a store on The Strand that has antique glass eyes available for purchase? Or that the Miss Universe Pageant can trace its roots to the Pageant of Pulchritude in Galveston? How about taking a tour of the only US submarine to sink a Japanese ship involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor? Read about these and other fun pieces of Galveston's legends, lore, and history, then plan your own trip to Galveston to see what has attracted people to Galveston since the days of Jean Lafitte. This book shares another side to Galveston Island, Texas. Island-born resident Christine Ruiz Hopkins and island transplant Heidi Lutz give their expert picks for Secret Galveston: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure. Consider this a fun guide to getting the most from an island stay, packed with a side of history.