Bishop's Palace

One of Galveston's most photographed landmarks, this stunning Victorian mansion was built between 1887 and 1893 for lawyer and politician Walter Gresham. The ornate four-story stone structure, with its turrets and elaborate woodwork, was one of the few original buildings to survive the 1900 hurricane. The Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased it in 1923, and it served as the Bishop's residence until 1963.

Bishop's Palace, located at 1402 Broadway, is one of the most significant Victorian structures in the United States. The American Institute of Architects listed it among the 100 most important buildings in America. Built from 1887-1893 by renowned architect Nicholas J. Clayton for attorney and politician Colonel Walter Gresham and his wife Josephine, the ornate Châteauesque mansion cost an estimated $250,000—over $8 million in today's currency.

The three-story castle over a raised basement features carved limestone accented with red sandstone and granite, with a steel frame making the outer walls twenty-three inches thick. This formidable construction allowed it to survive the Great Storm of 1900 virtually unscathed while 6,000 Galvestonians perished around it.

In 1923, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston-Houston purchased the mansion for $40,500. It served as the residence of Bishop Christopher Edward Byrne and has been known as Bishop's Palace ever since. The Galveston Historical Foundation acquired the property in 2013.

Though no documented tragedies occurred inside, those sensitive to spirits say Bishop's Palace is saturated with paranormal energy.

Colonel Walter Gresham remains fiercely protective of his home. His ghost has been seen pacing around the exterior, checking that all is secure. During storms or hurricanes, he becomes more active—witnesses report an apparition pacing before the front door and around the curved porch before disappearing into the massive wooden doors. Some visitors have experienced inexplicable pushing, scratching, tripping, and even punching from unseen forces near the entrance.

Josephine Gresham's spirit manifests through a remarkable phenomenon: her card box, filled with postcards she mailed home from her extensive travels, moves from room to room on its own. Josephine loved to entertain and often shared her collection with guests—and apparently still does. Guests report seeing and hearing both Walter and Josephine pacing through the halls of their beloved castle.