Bishop’s Palace is a Victorian Châteauesque mansion at 1402 Broadway, Galveston, Texas. Built between 1887-1892 for attorney Walter Gresham and designed by architect Nicholas J. Clayton, it is now operated as a National Historic Landmark house museum. This 2026 tourist guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, parking, accessibility and practical tips for visiting one of America’s most significant Victorian residences.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Open daily 10:00-17:00 (last tickets 16:00). Closed 25-26 January, 5-8 December, 24-25 December. |
| Ticket prices | Adult $15, Youth (6-18) $12, Children 5 and under free. Broadway Beauties combination ticket available. |
| Address | 1402 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, TX 77550 |
| Getting there | East End Historic District on Broadway between 14th and 15th Streets. Free street parking available. |
| Time needed | 1 to 1.5 hours for self-guided audio tour. Basement to Attic tours 1.5 hours. |
Bishop’s Palace opening hours
Bishop’s Palace is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 year-round. The last tickets are sold at 16:00, one hour before closing. Visitors should arrive by 16:00 to allow sufficient time to complete the self-guided tour before closing.
2026 closures:
- 25-26 January: Closed
- 5-8 December: Closed
- 24-25 December: Closed (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
Basement to Attic tours operate on select Saturdays at 11:00 and 12:30. These special tours provide access to normally restricted areas including Mrs. Gresham’s studio and third-floor views. Advance booking is required. Opening hours and admission information were checked and updated January 2026.
Bishop’s Palace ticket prices
Admission prices (checked and updated January 2026):
- Adult: $15.00
- Youth (ages 6-18): $12.00
- Children 5 and under: Free
Basement to Attic tours cost $30.00 per person and operate on select Saturdays at 11:00 and 12:30. These guided tours last approximately 1.5 hours and provide access to areas not included in standard admission.
Broadway Beauties combination ticket: Purchase a combined ticket to tour both Bishop’s Palace and the 1895 Moody Mansion (900 metres away) at a discounted rate. The combination package is available at checkout when booking online or at either property’s admission desk.
A self-guided audio tour is included in the admission price. Audio guides are available at the gift shop entrance.
Tickets can be purchased online through the Galveston Historical Foundation website or at the gift shop entrance on arrival.
How to get to Bishop’s Palace
Bishop’s Palace is located at 1402 Broadway in Galveston’s East End Historic District, at the corner of Broadway and 14th Street. The mansion sits on Broadway between 14th Street and 15th Street, approximately 2 kilometres from the Strand Historic District.
By car from Houston, take Interstate 45 South for approximately 50 miles to Galveston Island. Exit onto Broadway Avenue (Exit 1C). Continue east on Broadway for approximately 2.5 kilometres. The mansion is on the right (south) side of Broadway between 14th and 15th Streets. The journey takes 50-70 minutes depending on traffic.
From the Galveston cruise terminal or Strand Historic District, drive or walk east along Broadway for approximately 2 kilometres. The mansion’s three-storey stone structure with steep rooflines and ornate chimneys is visible from Broadway.
Public transport in Galveston is limited. The free Galveston Island Trolley operates along the Strand but does not directly serve Broadway. Taxis and ride-sharing services are available from downtown Galveston to the mansion.
Parking at Bishop’s Palace
Free street parking is available on Broadway in front of the mansion and on adjacent side streets (14th Street and 15th Street). There is no dedicated car park. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The mansion entrance is accessed through a front gate with two Lion of St. Mark statues. Enter through the red door on the left side of the building, around from the main front stairs, to access the gift shop and ticket desk.
Street parking spaces can be limited during weekends and special events. Arriving during weekday mornings typically ensures easier parking availability.
How long to spend at Bishop’s Palace
Most visitors spend 1 to 1.5 hours touring Bishop’s Palace. The self-guided audio tour covers three floors plus the basement gift shop area. Visitors explore at their own pace using audio guides that provide detailed information about each room, architectural features and the Gresham family history.
The tour begins in the basement gift shop where tickets are purchased and audio guides obtained. The tour proceeds through the first floor public rooms, up the mahogany stairwell to second-floor bedrooms and the chapel, and to the third floor with additional rooms and views.
Basement to Attic special tours last approximately 1.5 hours and include access to normally off-limits areas such as Mrs. Gresham’s studio and panoramic third-floor Gulf views.
Accessibility at Bishop’s Palace
Bishop’s Palace has very limited accessibility for visitors with mobility impairments. The historic Victorian mansion does not have ramps for wheelchairs or walkers and is not fully accessible to those with physical disabilities.
The Galveston Historical Foundation can provide an audio tour with photographs and written transcript for visitors unable to access upper floors. Contact the foundation at 409-762-2475 or 409-765-3410 in advance to arrange alternative tour options.
The gift shop in the basement is accessible with assistance. The three floors of the main house require climbing multiple flights of stairs, including the mahogany stairwell which is a central feature of the tour.
Service animals are permitted. Contact the foundation before visiting to discuss specific accessibility requirements and alternative tour arrangements.
What to see at Bishop’s Palace
Bishop’s Palace (also known as Gresham House) is a 19,082-square-foot Victorian mansion built between 1887 and 1892 for attorney, entrepreneur and Texas legislator Colonel Walter Gresham and his wife Josephine. The construction cost approximately $250,000, an enormous sum for the period. The home housed the Gresham family and their nine children until 1923.
Designed by Nicholas J. Clayton, one of Galveston’s most prominent architects, the mansion exemplifies Châteauesque style (French Revival) adapted for Texas. The exterior features varicoloured stone, cast iron galleries, steep rooflines, sculptural chimneys and fantastical carvings of animals, people and mythical creatures.
The mansion survived the 1900 Galveston Hurricane without major damage due to its robust stone construction. The Gresham family sheltered hundreds of hurricane survivors in the home following the storm that killed 8,000-12,000 people.
The interior features 14-foot ceilings, stained glass windows, an octagonal mahogany stairwell rising 40 feet to a skylight, elaborate fireplaces (including one with silver detailing), intricate plasterwork, sienna marble columns and rich mahogany woodwork throughout.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the mansion in 1923 for $40,500 to serve as the residence of Bishop Christopher Byrne (hence the name “Bishop’s Palace”). The bishop converted a second-floor bedroom into a chapel with an altar, six kneelers, ceiling mural depicting the four Evangelists, and gold-lacquered brass and onyx crucifix. The diocese owned the property until 2013 and opened it for public tours in 1963.
The American Institute of Architects lists Bishop’s Palace as one of the 100 most significant buildings in America. The property is a National Historic Landmark and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places at the national level of significance.
Practical tips for visiting Bishop’s Palace
| Tip |
|---|
| Enter through the red door on the left side of the building (not the grand front stairs) to access the gift shop and start your tour. |
| Use the self-guided audio tour included with admission for detailed information about each room’s history and architectural features. |
| Allow sufficient time to climb the mahogany stairwell slowly and appreciate the architectural details and view upward to the skylight. |
| The mansion can be warm in summer; dress in layers as period construction limits modern climate control. |
| Photography for personal use is permitted throughout the mansion. The stairwell and fireplaces are particularly photogenic. |
| Purchase the Broadway Beauties combination ticket to visit both Bishop’s Palace and Moody Mansion at a discounted rate. |
| Book Basement to Attic tours in advance as these special Saturday tours fill quickly and provide access to areas not seen on standard tours. |
Facilities at Bishop’s Palace
The gift shop is located in the basement rooms at the entrance. The shop sells books about Galveston history, Victorian architecture, the Gresham family, postcards, souvenirs and Bishop’s Palace branded items. The gift shop areas showcase period architectural details including vaulted ceilings.
Toilets are available in the basement area. No café or food service is available at the mansion. Water is available. Numerous restaurants and cafés are located on Broadway and in the Strand Historic District within walking distance.
The mansion does not have bag storage or cloaking facilities. Visitors should avoid bringing large luggage or backpacks.
Frequently asked questions about Bishop’s Palace
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Bishop’s Palace suitable for children? | The mansion can interest older children (10+) interested in history or architecture. Younger children may find the tour long and may not fully appreciate the Victorian details. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Bishop’s Palace? | Advance booking is not required for standard admission but recommended during busy periods. Basement to Attic tours must be booked in advance. |
| Is Bishop’s Palace open on Sundays? | Yes. The mansion is open daily including Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00, except during specific closures in January and December. |
| Is Bishop’s Palace wheelchair accessible? | No. The mansion does not have wheelchair ramps or elevators. Alternative audio tours with photos and transcripts are available for those unable to access upper floors. |
| Why is it called Bishop’s Palace? | The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the mansion in 1923 for Bishop Christopher Byrne’s residence. The building served as the bishop’s home until 1963. |
| Can you rent Bishop’s Palace for weddings or events? | The mansion is not available for wedding ceremonies or private event rentals. Wedding photography can be arranged by contacting the Galveston Historical Foundation. |
The Gresham family and mansion history
Walter Gresham (1841-1920) was a Confederate Army veteran, attorney, entrepreneur and Texas state legislator. He made his fortune through various business ventures and commissioned Nicholas Clayton to design a showplace mansion for his family.
The Gresham family lived in the mansion from 1892 to 1923. The home employed three full-time servants (a coachman/groundskeeper and two housekeepers who handled cleaning and cooking). Additional part-time staff were hired for large events.
Original features include call bells throughout the house to summon servants, a back hall for children and servants to avoid being seen by guests, and a dumbwaiter to deliver food from the basement kitchen (later converted to an elevator).
Things to do near Bishop’s Palace
Moody Mansion (900 metres) is a 28,000-square-foot Victorian mansion completed in 1895 and home to the Moody family until 1986. The mansion features 20 furnished period rooms and the Galveston Children’s Museum. Admission charged; Broadway Beauties combination ticket available.
1859 Ashton Villa (1.5 kilometres) was Galveston’s first Broadway mansion and one of the first brick residences in Texas. The Victorian Italianate mansion features ornamental ironwork. Currently available for events; exterior and grounds viewable.
East End Historic District (surrounding area) comprises 50 city blocks of Victorian, Greek Revival and Queen Anne architecture. The National Historic Landmark district includes numerous homes that survived the 1900 Hurricane.
Galveston Historic Seaport and 1877 Tall Ship Elissa (2.5 kilometres) features a restored 1877 Scottish barque, one of only three vessels of her kind still sailing. The Texas Seaport Museum explores immigration and maritime history.
The Strand Historic District (2 kilometres) features Victorian-era buildings housing galleries, antique shops, restaurants and the Galveston Railroad Museum. Weekend markets and walking tours available.
Other Galveston attractions include the Ocean Star Museum.
