During the Gilded Age (1870–1900), Galveston became one of the most important and wealthiest cities in Texas. It was the largest city in the state and a busy port on the Gulf Coast. Ships from around the world came to Galveston to trade goods like cotton and other products. Because of this, the city became a major center for trade and helped the Texas economy grow quickly.
Why was Galveston an important city during the Gilded Age?
____________
Many investors and business leaders moved to Galveston to make money. Banks, businesses, and trade helped the city become very wealthy. As the city grew, leaders worked to improve it by building better streets and creating public services. These changes made life better for many people and helped Galveston continue to grow and succeed.
How did businesses and investors help Galveston grow?
____________
New technology played a big role in Galveston’s success. The city was one of the first in Texas to have electricity and telephones, which made communication easier. Railroads connected Galveston to other parts of Texas, such as San Antonio and Harrisburge and the United States, allowing goods and people to travel more quickly. During this time, many large homes and important buildings were built, showing how wealthy the city had
become.
____________
On the morning of September 8, 1900, people in Galveston read a short newspaper report about a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. The Weather Bureau had issued a storm warning, but there was very little information available because communication lines were down. Some reports mentioned damage in other states, but details were unclear. Locally, the weather didn’t seem as dangerous at the time, leading many to believe the storm might change direction or weaken before
How would predicting a hurricane be harder in the 1800s without modern technology?
____________
reaching Texas.
The hurricane was first spotted on August 30 near the Caribbean and slowly moved west, later passing over Cuba by September 4. People in Galveston knew about the storm, but information was limited because communication technology at the time was poor, especially from ships at sea.By the time the storm approached, most residents were not overly concerned. Aside from some rain and wind, the day seemed normal, and people continued their routines. Since Galveston was used to minor flooding, many believed this storm would be similar and took little action to prepare.
Why did so many people in Galveston wait too long to seek shelter during the hurricane?____________
As the storm worsened, rising tides and strong winds pushed farther into Galveston. Weather official Isaac M. Cline warned residents to evacuate, but many stayed until it was too late—especially after bridges to the mainland collapsed. Buildings near the beach were destroyed first, and debris smashed into other structures, eventually destroying about two-thirds of the city. Flying debris caused severe injuries and deaths. Winds reached over 100 mph, and a powerful storm surge flooded the entire city, with water rising up to 15 feet deep. The worst damage came from this surge before waters finally began to recede later that night.
By the morning of September 9, Galveston was devastated. An estimated 6,000–8,000 people in the city—and up to 12,000 across the island—had died, making it the deadliest natural disaster in North American history. Thousands of homes were destroyed, along with large portions of the shoreline and ships in the harbor. The storm caused massive destruction and millions of dollars in damage, leaving the city in ruins.
1.
2.
3.
Hurricane Ian (2022)
Florida $119.6–$123 billionPuerto Rico$115.2–$120 billionNew Jersey /New York$88.5 billion Galveston, Texas$1.25 billion
4.
Hurricane Maria (2017)
5.
Superstorm Sandy (2012)
Why is the 1900 Galveston hurricane considered the deadliest natural disaster in North American history?
Great Storm of 1900
____________
Top 5 Deadliest U.S. Hurricanes
1.Great Galveston Hurricane (1900) – 8,000 to 12,000 deaths 2.Lake Okeechobee Hurricane (1928) – 2,500 to 3,000+ deaths – FL3.Hurricane Katrina (2005) – 1,200 to 1,800+ deaths – LA / MS / FL4.Cheniere Caminada Hurricane (1893) – 1,100 to 2,000 deaths – LA5.Sea Islands Hurricane (1893) – 1,000 to 2,000 deaths – SC / GA
In the aftermath of the hurricane, Galveston took major steps to rebuild and protect itself from future disasters. First, city leaders created a commission form of government to decision-making. Second, they city began one of the most important improvements; the construction of a six-mile-long seawall standing about 17 feet high, designed to block storm surges. In addition, workers raised the elevation of the entire city by pumping in sand from the Gulf, in some places lifting the ground as much as 17 feet. required raising over buildings, along with streets, pipes, and infrastructure. Even structures, like a 3,000-ton church, were lifted while still in use.
____________
new and
better
manage
recovery
This other
2,000 large
Galveston Hurricane 1900: The Storm of the Century
In the following reading, find the words in bold and identify their Status. Underline them with draw feature using the following colors. Color code PEGS. Political=orange, Economic=green, Geography=blue, Purple =
Infrastructure and Social=yellow.
Click this pen to draw. Select the right color
Galveston in 1899 was the third richest city in the United States and emerged as a key deepwater port serving Texas and states west of the Mississippi River. All major railroads served Galveston. In 1899-1900, the city handled sixty-seven percent of the Texas cotton crop, valued at over seventy million dollars, and over fifteen million bushels of grain found their way to foreign ports through Galveston. The hurricane, however, would change everything.On the morning of 8 September 1900 Galveston was a growing and flourishing port city of 37,000. By the evening of 9 September nearly 3,600 homes were destroyed and an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 residents were dead. Even a century later the Galveston hurricane is regarded as the worst natural disaster ever to
strike the United States.
Tracking the 1900 hurricane began early as the Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C., sent out daily reports tracing the storm’s path. The city received warning messages from the Central Office in Washington on September 4 through 8. Isaac M. Cline, a local official for the Weather Bureau, took detailed meteorological readings. The barometer began to fall rapidly on the 8th and by 8:00 p.m. the wind speed reached 120mph. The rain gauge and thermometer were blown away around 9:00 p.m.It is unknown exactly how many people died on Galveston Island and the mainland. The estimate is between 10,000 to 12,000. Actual individual property losses and losses in public property, such as schools, hospitals, and churches, were estimated around $30 million. The majority of the homes were either a total loss or damaged.
One change resulting from the hurricane was a new form of city government created in 1901 called the Galveston Plan. It created the commission form of city government where voters elected a small governing commission between five and seven members. The city commissioners served as a legislative body responsible for taxation, ordinances, and other general city functions. Individually each commissioner is in charge of a specific aspect of municipal affairs, such as finance, public safety, or public works. The commission form of city government proved highly successful in rebuilding Galveston and became
a model for other cities.
The new commission form of government acted decisively to rebuild and ensure the city’s safety. For future protection the city constructed a seventeen-foot sea wall, raised the grade level of the city, and built an all weather bridge to the mainland. Today, enhanced warning systems and communication help provide advanced notice to direct people away from the storm. In some cases, local authorities will authorize contraflow. This allows vehicles to use lanes that are not normally used by traffic travelling in the opposite direction. This allows more
people to leave an area quickly.
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This page is password protected
Enter the password
On the following slide will be a website about the Galveston Storm on the right. The question will ask you to keep scrolling until you a particular slide which there will be a question about. Click the button at the end of this sentence to prove you have read this
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The Great Hurricane of 1900
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Transcript
During the Gilded Age (1870–1900), Galveston became one of the most important and wealthiest cities in Texas. It was the largest city in the state and a busy port on the Gulf Coast. Ships from around the world came to Galveston to trade goods like cotton and other products. Because of this, the city became a major center for trade and helped the Texas economy grow quickly.
Why was Galveston an important city during the Gilded Age?
____________
Many investors and business leaders moved to Galveston to make money. Banks, businesses, and trade helped the city become very wealthy. As the city grew, leaders worked to improve it by building better streets and creating public services. These changes made life better for many people and helped Galveston continue to grow and succeed.
How did businesses and investors help Galveston grow?
____________
New technology played a big role in Galveston’s success. The city was one of the first in Texas to have electricity and telephones, which made communication easier. Railroads connected Galveston to other parts of Texas, such as San Antonio and Harrisburge and the United States, allowing goods and people to travel more quickly. During this time, many large homes and important buildings were built, showing how wealthy the city had
become.
____________
On the morning of September 8, 1900, people in Galveston read a short newspaper report about a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. The Weather Bureau had issued a storm warning, but there was very little information available because communication lines were down. Some reports mentioned damage in other states, but details were unclear. Locally, the weather didn’t seem as dangerous at the time, leading many to believe the storm might change direction or weaken before
How would predicting a hurricane be harder in the 1800s without modern technology?
____________
reaching Texas.
The hurricane was first spotted on August 30 near the Caribbean and slowly moved west, later passing over Cuba by September 4. People in Galveston knew about the storm, but information was limited because communication technology at the time was poor, especially from ships at sea.By the time the storm approached, most residents were not overly concerned. Aside from some rain and wind, the day seemed normal, and people continued their routines. Since Galveston was used to minor flooding, many believed this storm would be similar and took little action to prepare.
Why did so many people in Galveston wait too long to seek shelter during the hurricane?____________
As the storm worsened, rising tides and strong winds pushed farther into Galveston. Weather official Isaac M. Cline warned residents to evacuate, but many stayed until it was too late—especially after bridges to the mainland collapsed. Buildings near the beach were destroyed first, and debris smashed into other structures, eventually destroying about two-thirds of the city. Flying debris caused severe injuries and deaths. Winds reached over 100 mph, and a powerful storm surge flooded the entire city, with water rising up to 15 feet deep. The worst damage came from this surge before waters finally began to recede later that night.
By the morning of September 9, Galveston was devastated. An estimated 6,000–8,000 people in the city—and up to 12,000 across the island—had died, making it the deadliest natural disaster in North American history. Thousands of homes were destroyed, along with large portions of the shoreline and ships in the harbor. The storm caused massive destruction and millions of dollars in damage, leaving the city in ruins.
1.
2.
3.
Hurricane Ian (2022)
Florida $119.6–$123 billionPuerto Rico$115.2–$120 billionNew Jersey /New York$88.5 billion Galveston, Texas$1.25 billion
4.
Hurricane Maria (2017)
5.
Superstorm Sandy (2012)
Why is the 1900 Galveston hurricane considered the deadliest natural disaster in North American history?
Great Storm of 1900
____________
Top 5 Deadliest U.S. Hurricanes
1.Great Galveston Hurricane (1900) – 8,000 to 12,000 deaths 2.Lake Okeechobee Hurricane (1928) – 2,500 to 3,000+ deaths – FL3.Hurricane Katrina (2005) – 1,200 to 1,800+ deaths – LA / MS / FL4.Cheniere Caminada Hurricane (1893) – 1,100 to 2,000 deaths – LA5.Sea Islands Hurricane (1893) – 1,000 to 2,000 deaths – SC / GA
In the aftermath of the hurricane, Galveston took major steps to rebuild and protect itself from future disasters. First, city leaders created a commission form of government to decision-making. Second, they city began one of the most important improvements; the construction of a six-mile-long seawall standing about 17 feet high, designed to block storm surges. In addition, workers raised the elevation of the entire city by pumping in sand from the Gulf, in some places lifting the ground as much as 17 feet. required raising over buildings, along with streets, pipes, and infrastructure. Even structures, like a 3,000-ton church, were lifted while still in use.
____________
new and
better
manage
recovery
This other
2,000 large
Galveston Hurricane 1900: The Storm of the Century
In the following reading, find the words in bold and identify their Status. Underline them with draw feature using the following colors. Color code PEGS. Political=orange, Economic=green, Geography=blue, Purple =
Infrastructure and Social=yellow.
Click this pen to draw. Select the right color
Galveston in 1899 was the third richest city in the United States and emerged as a key deepwater port serving Texas and states west of the Mississippi River. All major railroads served Galveston. In 1899-1900, the city handled sixty-seven percent of the Texas cotton crop, valued at over seventy million dollars, and over fifteen million bushels of grain found their way to foreign ports through Galveston. The hurricane, however, would change everything.On the morning of 8 September 1900 Galveston was a growing and flourishing port city of 37,000. By the evening of 9 September nearly 3,600 homes were destroyed and an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 residents were dead. Even a century later the Galveston hurricane is regarded as the worst natural disaster ever to
strike the United States.
Tracking the 1900 hurricane began early as the Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C., sent out daily reports tracing the storm’s path. The city received warning messages from the Central Office in Washington on September 4 through 8. Isaac M. Cline, a local official for the Weather Bureau, took detailed meteorological readings. The barometer began to fall rapidly on the 8th and by 8:00 p.m. the wind speed reached 120mph. The rain gauge and thermometer were blown away around 9:00 p.m.It is unknown exactly how many people died on Galveston Island and the mainland. The estimate is between 10,000 to 12,000. Actual individual property losses and losses in public property, such as schools, hospitals, and churches, were estimated around $30 million. The majority of the homes were either a total loss or damaged.
One change resulting from the hurricane was a new form of city government created in 1901 called the Galveston Plan. It created the commission form of city government where voters elected a small governing commission between five and seven members. The city commissioners served as a legislative body responsible for taxation, ordinances, and other general city functions. Individually each commissioner is in charge of a specific aspect of municipal affairs, such as finance, public safety, or public works. The commission form of city government proved highly successful in rebuilding Galveston and became
a model for other cities.
The new commission form of government acted decisively to rebuild and ensure the city’s safety. For future protection the city constructed a seventeen-foot sea wall, raised the grade level of the city, and built an all weather bridge to the mainland. Today, enhanced warning systems and communication help provide advanced notice to direct people away from the storm. In some cases, local authorities will authorize contraflow. This allows vehicles to use lanes that are not normally used by traffic travelling in the opposite direction. This allows more
people to leave an area quickly.
You must have all bold words underlined with correct colors. Raise your hand to get the password to continue
This page is password protected
Enter the password
On the following slide will be a website about the Galveston Storm on the right. The question will ask you to keep scrolling until you a particular slide which there will be a question about. Click the button at the end of this sentence to prove you have read this
Is Walmart Haunted?