The Bishop's Palace, also known as Gresham's Castle, is an ornate 19,082 square feet (1,772.8 m2)[2]Victorian-style house, located on Broadway and 14th Street in the East End Historic District of Galveston, Texas.
Bishop's Residence Galveston TX, (postcard c. 1900)
The Gresham mansion was made all of stone, and was sturdy enough to withstand the great hurricane of 1900. The Greshams welcomed hundreds of survivors of the hurricane into their home.[3]
The house was built between 1887 and 1893 by Galveston architect Nicholas J. Clayton for lawyer and politician Walter Gresham, his wife Josephine, and their nine children. In 1923 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the house, and, situated across the street from the Sacred Heart Church, it served as the residence for Bishop Christopher E. Byrne.[4] After the diocesan offices were moved to Houston, the diocese opened the mansion to the public in 1963, with proceeds from tours being used to help fund the UT medical school's Newman Center, which operated in the basement.
The home is estimated to have cost $250,000 at the time;[5] today its value is estimated at over $5.5 million.
The house is now owned by the Galveston Historical Foundation and self-guided tours are available daily. A portion of each admission supports the preservation and restoration of the property.
Bishop's Palace has four floors. The raised basement which once housed the kitchen and servant's areas now contains the store. This basement is followed by three formal floors.
First floor
Entryway
Parlor
Music Room
Rotunda Staircase
Library/Office
Dining Room - Mrs. Gresham painted the fresco of cherubs on the ceiling.
Conservatory
Pantry
Kitchen - This room was originally just a warming kitchen, but Bishop Byrne expanded the room.
Servant's Vestibule - Contains the dumbwaiter and the servant's staircase.
Coat Closet - The coat closet is tucked around the back side of the rotunda staircase and contains a Pullman sink from the famed Pullman railcars.
Second floor
Living Room - The Gresham family often listened to music here during the hot summer months.
Bishop's Bedroom - This was originally a bedroom of one of the Gresham daughters, but Bishop Byrne chose it for his own with its private balcony and lighting. He converted the closet into a bathroom.
Chapel - This was also previously one of the Gresham daughter's bedrooms. When the Diocese moved in, the windows were replaced with stained-glass, and a fresco depicting the four gospel writers was painted on the ceiling. The room was also outfitted with an altar and six prayer kneelers.
Mr. Gresham's Room
Mrs. Gresham's Room
Bathroom - The tub in this bathroom is of note for its three spigots: one for hot, one cold, and one for rainwater.
Early 20th century photographic postcards of Texas buildings at the University of Houston Digital Library
Bishop's Palace Galveston's Grandest Home \\ I on Oklahoma Magazine
January 23, 2023
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The Bishop s Palace also known as Gresham s Castle is an ornate 19 082 square feet 1 772 8 m2 2 Victorian style house located on Broadway and 14th Street in the East End Historic District of Galveston Texas Bishop s PalaceU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic Landmark DistrictContributing PropertyU S Historic districtContributing propertyRecorded Texas Historic LandmarkBishop s Palace in 1967Bishop s PalaceShow map of TexasBishop s PalaceShow map of the United StatesLocation1402 Broadway Galveston TexasCoordinates29 18 17 N 94 46 55 W 29 30472 N 94 78194 W 29 30472 94 78194 Coordinates 29 18 17 N 94 46 55 W 29 30472 N 94 78194 W 29 30472 94 78194Area0 4 acres 0 16 ha Built1887 1887 1893 1893 ArchitectNicholas J ClaytonArchitectural styleLate Victorian EclecticWebsite1892 Bishop s PalacePart ofEast End Historic District ID75001979 1 NRHP reference No 70000746 1 RTHL No 139Significant datesAdded to NRHPAugust 25 1970Designated NHLDCPMay 11 1976Designated CPMay 30 1975Designated RTHL1967 Contents 1 History 2 Layout 2 1 First floor 2 2 Second floor 2 3 Third floor 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory Edit Bishop s Residence Galveston TX postcard c 1900 The Gresham mansion was made all of stone and was sturdy enough to withstand the great hurricane of 1900 The Greshams welcomed hundreds of survivors of the hurricane into their home 3 The house was built between 1887 and 1893 by Galveston architect Nicholas J Clayton for lawyer and politician Walter Gresham his wife Josephine and their nine children In 1923 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the house and situated across the street from the Sacred Heart Church it served as the residence for Bishop Christopher E Byrne 4 After the diocesan offices were moved to Houston the diocese opened the mansion to the public in 1963 with proceeds from tours being used to help fund the UT medical school s Newman Center which operated in the basement The home is estimated to have cost 250 000 at the time 5 today its value is estimated at over 5 5 million The house is now owned by the Galveston Historical Foundation and self guided tours are available daily A portion of each admission supports the preservation and restoration of the property Layout Edit Circa 1970 View from he West An atypical view Lion of St Mark outside Bishop s Palace Bishop s Palace has four floors The raised basement which once housed the kitchen and servant s areas now contains the store This basement is followed by three formal floors First floor Edit Entryway Parlor Music Room Rotunda Staircase Library Office Dining Room Mrs Gresham painted the fresco of cherubs on the ceiling Conservatory Pantry Kitchen This room was originally just a warming kitchen but Bishop Byrne expanded the room Servant s Vestibule Contains the dumbwaiter and the servant s staircase Coat Closet The coat closet is tucked around the back side of the rotunda staircase and contains a Pullman sink from the famed Pullman railcars Second floor Edit Living Room The Gresham family often listened to music here during the hot summer months Bishop s Bedroom This was originally a bedroom of one of the Gresham daughters but Bishop Byrne chose it for his own with its private balcony and lighting He converted the closet into a bathroom Chapel This was also previously one of the Gresham daughter s bedrooms When the Diocese moved in the windows were replaced with stained glass and a fresco depicting the four gospel writers was painted on the ceiling The room was also outfitted with an altar and six prayer kneelers Mr Gresham s Room Mrs Gresham s Room Bathroom The tub in this bathroom is of note for its three spigots one for hot one cold and one for rainwater Bedroom for guests or the children s governess Third floor Edit The boys rooms Mrs Gresham s art studio Additional storageSee also Edit National Register of Historic Places portal Catholicism portal Texas portalList of National Historic Landmarks in Texas National Register of Historic Places listings in Galveston County Texas Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Galveston CountyReferences Edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service November 2 2013 West Allyn June 11 2013 UNLOADING GALVESTON S BISHOP S PALACE Swamplot com Retrieved March 20 2015 Teague Wells 2000 Calling Texas Home A Lively Look at What It Means to Be a Texan p 96 Wildcat Canyon Press McComb David G 2002 Galveston A History p 65 University of Texas Press Fun Things to do in Texas External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bishop s Palace Long Christopher Bishop s Palace Handbook of Texas Online uploaded June 12 2010 Early 20th century photographic postcards of Texas buildings at the University of Houston Digital Library Bishop s Palace Galveston s Grandest Home I on Oklahoma Magazine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bishop 27s Palace Galveston amp oldid 1101170417, 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