BISHOP'S PALACE

Bishop's Palace is One of the Most Lavish Homes in U.S.

As we drove by this home, I was impressed by its beauty. The Bishop's Palace is so exquisite,it was definitely worth a look.

The Bishop's Palace, formerly the Gresham mansion, was built in 1892.  It was built for Walter Gresham, a Galveston lawyer and politician, his wife Josephine, and their nine children.  

Octagonal Mahogany Staircase with a Pulpit

It is an ornate Victorian-style house with 19,082 square feet. The raised basement once housed the kitchen and servant's quarters. There are three formal floors that include stained glass windows, rare woods, painted murals and ceilings, intricately carved ornaments, and exotic materials and furnishings. There are impressive fireplaces from around the world. One fireplace is lined with pure silver.

Fireplace with Silver and Onyx Mantle

Because the mansion was designed for strength and beauty, it survived the Great Storm of 1900 virtually unscathed. The Gresham family welcomed hundreds of survivors of the hurricane into their home.  

Post Card Box (Family Photo Album)

In 1921, Galvestonians raised money to purchase the house for the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese.  The Catholic diocese bought the home in 1923. While Bishop Christopher E. Byrne resided there one room was made into a chapel with stained glass windows. After the diocesan offices were moved to Houston, the Diocese the mansion was opened to the public in 1963.

The Galveston Historical foundation purchased the property in 2013. 

The home is estimated to have cost $250,000 at the time. Its value today is estimated at over $5.5 million. The building is listed by the U.S. Dept of Interior as a National Historic Landmark.