The Strand National Historic Landmark District was the heart of Galveston in the late 1800s and early 1900s when its star was bright and it was full of great promise, the "New York of Texas." Many buildings still remain that were built in that era, built with all the best talents and materials that the society of the time was capable of. Fine architects designed both the mansions along Broadway and the buildings in the Strand area in styles inspired by the golden ages of the Greeks or the Victorians. A surprising number escaped the devastation of the 1900 Storm, and still remain.

Other features that give the Strand its unique and romantic charm are the high curbs, the overhanging canopies that were meant to shade the streets, and the horse drawn carriages that pass slowly in the streets, at so much slower a pace than the automobiles of today. The Strand is also the center of Mardi Gras celebrations, Dickens on the Strand festivities, and - of course - antiques, shopping, and art galleries.

In fact, there are more than 100 shops, restaurants, and art galleries within the 26 square blocks of the district alone!

The Strand area is located on the opposite side of the island from the Gulf, and is steps away from a thriving commercial port, with ships delivering goods along the harbor and wharves, and where vacationers embark on tropical cruise getaways via Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, and Princess Cruise Lines.

Nestled within The Strand Historical Landmark District is the Postoffice Street Arts & Entertainment District. Once notorious for its bordellos, Postoffice Street was the bustling core of retail commerce in the Southwest's most important Cotton and Oil port. It survived the 1900 Storm and the depression of the 30s only to fall prey to the suburban shift of the 60s and the building of the Houston Ship Channel.

The Postoffice Street restoration of the 90s created a revitalized arts, entertainment, and residential district including more than 25 historic buildings, among them the Southwest's first totally dedicated Telephone Building (now restored with residential lofts), The Grand 1894 Opera House, featuring top current shows and entertainment, and the U.S. Customs House, now home of the Galveston Historical Foundation.

Besides the growing number of residential lofts, the area includes Gallery Row with over 20 galleries of sculpture, photography, and fine arts. The street is a must for shopping, unrivaled for the number and quality of antique and collectible Stores. Many boutiques and services complete the wide offerings available to you on Postoffice Street.

Postoffice Street boasts many unique restaurants and features delicious seafood, Greek and Latin American cuisine, and many casual pizza, burger, sandwich, or coffee shops from which to choose. The wide array of taverns include an authentic beer hall, an acoustic cafe, several pubs, a sports bar, a martini bar, and more. Several of these clubs feature live bands at night.

Postoffice Street is the center of many special events throughout the year, including ArtWalk (an evening of the Visual Arts with openings and receptions in area galleries and shops, held every 6 weeks), ARToberfest (a festival of fine arts every October), The Downtown Lofts Tour (showing many of our unique residential loft apartments), and in April the very special Grand Kids Festival, fun for children and parents alike!

Journey downtown to Postoffice Street during your stay in Galveston, and enjoy shopping and nightlife amidst the lively, restored charm of the Island's Arts and Entertainment District.