GALVESTON RAILROAD MUSEUM

If this museum that traces the history of the railroad is located in Galveston, it is because the city was a major import and export hub in the development of Texas. In fact, Galveston was considered one of the largest North American ports, later replaced by New Orleans. The museum exhibits thousands of objects related to the world of railroading, including some forty railroad cars and other train heads. It is housed in an Art Deco building that once served as a station. It is easy to recognize the waiting room, which dates from the early 1930s. Most of the station's space has been redistributed to local businesses and cultural centers. For example, the old warehouse where goods were stored for Santa Fe has been transformed into cinemas and theaters over time. There is also an exhibition dedicated to the Pullman Porters, specifically A. Phillip Randolph, an American unionist and civil rights activist who worked on the trains. It was the first African-American union to be chartered by the American Federation of Labor, making Randolph a prominent voice in the early civil rights and labor movements. A visit to this museum provides an understanding of the importance of railroading in the development of Texas. You can also enjoy a train ride on the Harborside Express!