Galveston Island has created its own unique surf culture, embracing the Gulf's inconsistent waves and even finding creative alternatives like tanker surfing. What started with lifeguards using rescue boards has evolved into a thriving community that values connection, rhythm, and the joy of riding waves on their own terms.

• Over 30 miles of beaches have attracted visitors to Galveston for more than a century
• Legendary lifeguard Leroy Colombo, deaf since childhood, saved over 900 lives and became an early Gulf Coast waterman
• Galveston's rock groins (jetties) create reliable surf breaks when conditions align
• Unique "tanker surfing" phenomenon allows rides up to five miles long on waves created by ships
• Local surf culture includes clubs, camps, and programs that pass knowledge to new generations
• The Texas Surf Museum preserves the history and stories of Gulf Coast surfing

Visit the Texas Surf Museum on Galveston Island to experience the evolution of board riding from ancient Hawaiian boards to Texas-built models and learn about local surf legends.

Galveston Unscripted

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

Galveston Island's rich musical heritage produced three extraordinary African-American musicians who carried their island-inspired sounds to the world stage. Frederick Tillis, Louis "Blues Boy" Jones, and Richard "Notes" Williams all grew up in 1930s and 40s Galveston, where music spilled from dance halls, churches, and pavilions, shaping their musical identities before they ventured beyond the Gulf Coast.

• Frederick "Baby" Tillis (1930-2020) began performing at age 12, earned a PhD in music composition, and bridged jazz with classical music
• Tillis composed over 125 musical works, published 15 books of poetry, and devoted his life to mentoring young musicians
• Louis "Blues Boy" Jones (1931-1984) learned singing in church choirs before working at pioneering Black-owned Peacock Records
• Jones performed alongside Otis Redding and gained international recognition, though his legacy was nearly forgotten until his recordings resurfaced decades later
• Richard "Notes" Williams (1931-1985) mastered the trumpet and performed with jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus
• All three musicians served in the military during the Korean War period, with both Tillis and Williams directing military bands
• Their stories reveal how Galveston wasn't just a backdrop for music but a launchpad for extraordinary musical careers
• Galveston continues its musical tradition today through venues like Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe and the Grand 1894 Opera House

Galveston Unscripted

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

2025 marks the 160th year of Juneteenth, a powerful reminder of the day in 1865 when freedom finally reached the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth began on June 19, 1865, when Union forces arrived in Galveston, Texas, delivering General Order No. 3 which freed approximately 250,000 enslaved people. This historic moment occurred two and a half years after Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and over two months after the Civil War officially ended, making Texas the last Confederate state to receive news of emancipation.

Galveston Unscripted

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!