Podcast: Landmark of Luxury and History in Galveston: The Tremont House Hotel

The Tremont Hotel

Tremont is a name that echoes throughout Galveston's history. Since 1839, three versions of the Tremont Hotel have stood as pillars of luxury on Galveston Island, each of the three reflecting the spirit of their era.

The Tremont House Hotels has a seriously long legacy in Galveston. It's attracted dignitaries and celebrities from around the world. Several presidents, Harry Houdini, the Marx Brothers, Buffalo Bill Cody, and his traveling Wild West performers have all been guests at the Tremont.

But in every form, the hotel has housed countless prominent visitors and provided a gathering space for community social events. It has also played an important role in many key moments in Galveston and Texas history. The Tremont's legacy is as old as the city of Galveston. The original Tremont House, a wooden two-story building, opened in 1839 at the corner of Post Office and 23rd Street.

Texas was a young, independent nation, and Galveston had just been formally incorporated the same year. Upon opening, the Tremont Hotel was by far the most popular establishment on 23rd Street. In a very short time, 23rd Street adopted a new name, Tremont Street. For several decades, the hotel was one of the finest in Galveston.

Although the hotel was only a two-story wooden building, it was by far the finest lodging and event space on the island. A relatively lavish place to lay your head after a long boat ride from New Orleans or New York.

In early 1861, one of Texas' founding fathers gave a momentous speech from the balcony of the Tremont. The United States stood on the precipice of the Civil War, and throughout Texas, there was some debate about whether or not to join the Confederacy. Former President of Texas, Sam Houston, had strong opinions about it. Houston adamantly opposed joining the Confederacy. He gave up the governor's seat, and after leaving the capital, he came to Galveston to escape the political fray. On April 19, 1861, Sam Houston gave a speech from the balcony of the Tremont House to a large crowd. It was dangerous business to speak against the Confederacy at this point, and some Galvestonians tried to talk Houston out of speaking at all.

Yet, he insisted on making his case against joining the Confederacy. A newspaper reported that some residents argued that Sam Houston was the father of Texas. And they "swore before God that he should have the privilege of saying whatever he pleased in Galveston." The newspaper continued to say. "his friends rallied around him, and he was permitted to go on." Houston used the Tremont balcony to both explain his position and ultimately resigned from politics.

Unfortunately, the original building burned down just a few years later, in 1865. Just after the Civil War, hungry Union soldiers built a cooking fire in their rooms. However, local businessmen were determined to rebuild the Tremont bigger and better. The second Tremont Hotel was at roughly the same location, fronting 23rd Street, but the hotel grounds took up a much larger space. The Tremont was reborn in 1872 when Galveston was one of the richest cities in Texas.

This new building was a gleaming white four-story building with a rather large lookout tower that provided some of the best views of the island. Designed by Galveston's premier architect, Nicholas Clayton, the new hotel featured the best accommodations and a steam-powered elevator for guests. Outside the hotel itself, there was a central courtyard and separate quarters for servants and employees. For many years, this second Tremont House was one of the finest hotels in the city. It was legendary for its luxurious accommodations.

In 1880, the hotel hosted former U. S. President Ulysses S. Grant with even more fanfare than Sam Houston. A huge reception was held at the Tremont House Ballroom, and the hotel's lobby was packed with people just waiting to shake General Grant's hand. 20 years later, in 1900, a massive hurricane hit Galveston and devastated the city. This rendition of the Tremont House survived the Great Storm and served as a shelter and gathering place for residents. But the island took a long time to recover from the damage. Galveston's economy struggled. This Tremont house saw fewer and fewer visitors. Eventually, the hotel closed, and the building was demolished in 1928. But the Tremont was destined to rise again.

By the late 1970s, Galvestonians were working hard to restore and revitalize the city's downtown area. Local philanthropists Cynthia and George Mitchell were determined to open the 3rd Tremont Hotel. In 1981, they began renovating the perfect space, the Leon and H. Blum building, located in the heart of Galveston's downtown district, on Mechanic Street, and of course, Tremont Street. The Leon and H. Blum building was constructed in 1879 and previously served as the island's leading dry goods dealer and importer.

The new home of the 3rd Tremont originally had three stories, but some additions and expansions have been made over the years, like the addition of the fourth floor.

In February of 1985, the third Tremont House opened amid the island's revitalized Mardi Gras celebrations. It was the first new hotel to open in Galveston in 60 years and was a big part of the effort to revitalize the downtown area.

The newest Tremont House Hotel captures the spirit and elegance of its predecessors, and of course, it still provides luxurious accommodations for those looking to experience the best of Galveston.