St. Mary's Cathedral
2011 Church Ave., Galveston, TXSt. Mary's Cathedral is the oldest religious structure in Galveston and is one of the earliest buildings still standing in the city. The church is significant both for its architectural value and as a historic document of the evolution of the Catholic church in Texas. In addition, the cathedral has played a part in Galveston's heritage.
In 1838 Reverend John Timon, C. M. was sent to investigate the condition of the Catholic faith in Texas. He and twelve of his brother Vincentians revived the Catholic religion in Texas, culminating in the foundation of the Diocese of Galveston in 1847. Together with his vice-prefect, Reverend John Mary Odin, C. M., Timon managed to procure enough money in 1841 to build a wooden-framed church. However, a storm blew down the small church the next year. This tragedy convinced the priests that they needed a more durable structure. In 1844 during a yellow fever epidemic, a visiting priest, attending to the sick and dying, fell victim to the disease and died within a few days. The following year the relatives of this priest sent 500,000 bricks from Antwerp, Belgium, to Father Odin as a memorial to be used in the construction of a larger, permanent church.
On May 4, 1847, Pope Pius IX created the Diocese of Galveston covering all of Texas and appointed Father Odin as the first Bishop of Galveston. In March of that year Bishop Odin lay the cornerstone for St. Mary's Cathedral and on November 26, 1848, dedicated the completed church.
The priests and the Cathedral served a central role in the village of Galveston throughout the following years. During the yellow fever epidemic of 1853 and later in the Battle of Galveston during the Civil War, the priests ministered to the sick and dying. After a disastrous flood in 1875, a tower, topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary, was erected and has served as a symbol of protection against storms of the sea. During all of Galveston's hurricanes, and particularly during the great storm of 1900, many Galvestonians received consolation and strength from this figure of Mary.
The Cathedral remains the official church of the Diocese of Galveston.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.