Long before housing The Bryan Museum, our historic building at 1315 21st Street in Galveston served as a refuge to children in need. For almost a century, The Galveston Orphans’ Home served our island community and provided care for orphaned children, as well as those whose parents were not able to support them. In honor of the 6500 young lives who passed through the Home, as well as the people, organizations, and local businesses that helped to keep it operating, The Bryan Museum is proud to announce our upcoming exhibit spotlighting their stories.

The exhibit will include information taken directly from newspapers, personal accounts of former residents and workers, and detailed records from the former orphanage. These will be presented in an engaging timeline of the Home spanning from its founding in 1878, to its reconstruction after the 1900 storm, and through its closure in 1984.

Featuring the Museum’s most interactive displays ever curated and video interviews from former orphan residents, this exhibit will transcend the cataloged history of the building by sharing personal stories of some of the individuals who experienced it firsthand. Please join us in an immersive retelling of this important part of Galveston’s history. The exhibit will run from July 29th until February 18th, 2024.

Special Tours

First and Third Saturday of each month
Starting Saturday, July 29th at 2:00 pm
Tour Pricing (Includes regular Museum admission):
Adults – $25
18 & Under – $15
Museum Members – $10

Explore The Bryan Museum like never before! This special guided tour takes you on a journey through time to show you the building as it once was, when it served as the Galveston Orphan’s Home. Learn about architectural features, uncover the history of the building, and hear stories from orphans who lived here, plus so much more.

This 90-minute tour starts on the Museum grounds and covers the exterior and interior, before leading you to the Galveston Orphans’ Home Special Exhibit.

Each tour is limited to 20 people. Subject to availability.

Book Your Tour