1315 21st Street
Galveston, Texas 77550
info@thebryanmuseum.org
(409) 632-7685
501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Galveston Orphans Home Gallery
1878
Orphanage Opens
1984
Orphanage Closes
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 permanent exhibit spotlighting their stories.
The Great Storm of 1900
On the evening of September 8, 1900, a powerful hurricane swept into Galveston. It is documented as the worst natural disaster to ever take place in the United States in terms of destruction and loss of life. Though sources vary, it is believed that between 5,000 and 8,000 people perished.
Although the damage to the Galveston Orphans’ Home was severe, the 60 children and workers inside were unharmed. Other orphanages on the island were not so fortunate. At St. Mary’s Orphanage, an estimated 90 children and 10 nuns died in the storm, as well as another 47 from the other orphan homes throughout the city.
As soon as travel was possible, the children of the Galveston Orphans’ Home were relocated to the Buckner Home in Dallas while the damage to the building was assessed. The structure was deemed “salvageable,” and the debris was cleared to begin repairs. Because much of the furniture and supplies inside the orphanage were undamaged, they were donated to the Red Cross to help those who had lost everything.
Reconstruction
Immediately following the hurricane, newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst was determined to help the orphans of Galveston. Hearst enlisted the help of Sarah Pryor hoping to take advantage of her high-society contacts in New York. Pryor, a community activist, helped to seek out donations from some of New York’s most successful merchants. Furs, jewels, watches, and a new car went to auction at a three-day event at the Waldorf Astoria Ballroom and raised approximately $50,000.
On the recommendation of Texas Governor Joesph Sayers, the City Council of Galveston awarded the entire amount to the Galveston Orphans’ Home to rebuild and refurnish their building. An additional $10,000 was given to the Home through the joint efforts of the Central Relief Committee of Galveston and the Red Cross under Clara Barton.
Architect Alfred Muller had passed away in 1896, so George B. Stowe was contracted to redesign the structure. Observing what features of the original building had survived, Stowe replicated them throughout the rest of the building. He reinforced the walls to make sure that they would not come down again. The children returned from Dallas when the home reopened on March 27, 1902.