One of the oldest cities in the Texas, Galveston has become a big tourist attraction for the state. About an hour south of Houston, Galveston, also known as Galveston Island, is a 27-mile city on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico known for its pretty views, history and entertainment.

Galveston is a city full of history. There are mansions from the 19th century, old slave houses and Civil War remnants. Galveston is also a city full of stormy histories. In 1900, Galveston was hit with a major hurricane with the highest wind speeds of 143 mph. It was later classified as a Category 4 Hurricane and killed up to 8,000 civilians. The 1900 storm is still considered to be the deadliest storm in United States history. Because the storm was so unexpected, nobody was quite prepared for the 15.7 feet waves which caused the 8,000 deaths.

What’s unusual about the storm of 1900 is that thousands of bodies did not receive a proper burial or were never identified. Instead of properly burying the unidentified bodies, they were buried directly where they were found. Locals say because of these improper burials, their spirits still remain in the form of ghosts.

Galveston is now considered one of the most haunted cities in the United States. There have been reports of ghosts, both positive and negative spirited ghosts, by many shop owners, hotel owners and civilians. In downtown Galveston, a ghost tour is offered to anyone interested in visiting someone from the past. If you wish to learn more about the ghosts of Galveston, read “Ghosts of Galveston” by Kathleen Shanahan Maca.

Whether you are looking for good thrill or simply wish to sightsee, Galveston has a much to offer tourists and is definitely worth a visit.