Mardi Gras in Galveston

Mardi Gras in Galveston (HM27JV)

Location: Galveston, TX 77550 Galveston County
Buy Texas State flags at Flagstore.com!
Country: United States of America
Buy United States of America flags at Flagstore.com!

N 29° 18.368', W 94° 47.696'

  • 0 likes
  • 0 check ins
  • 0 favorites
  • 281 views
Inscription
Mardi Gras was born out of a fifteenth-century European masquerade ball tradition, where guests would wear extravagant costumes and masks to conceal their identities.
The first Mardi Gras celebration in Galveston occurred in 1867 at Turner Hall, when a group called "The Jolly Young Bachelors" invited 100 guests for "Dramatic Entertainment and a Bal Masque."

The initial Mardi Gras celebration was deemed a success; however, the now annual event experienced periodic hiatuses throughout its history.
Private celebrations and impromptu parades helped fill in the gaps between publicly promoted and organized events.
Many traditions in the celebration have developed over the years, such as multiple parades and processions.
Several festive galas developed over time to include an elaborate "Treasure Ball" and a royal party featuring the crowning of that year's King Frivolous.

After a lengthy hiatus, in 1985 businessman and Galveston native George P. Mitchell and his wife, Cynthia Woods Mitchell, spearheaded efforts to revive Mardi Gras as a public event with local traditions.
Their efforts included the fantasy arches project, which featured eight decorative arches commemorating the re-establishment of Mardi Gras in Galveston as an annual event.

Today, Mardi Gras provides vital support for the local economy by attracting 300,000 visitors annually and sustaining downtown businesses.
Daytime events have been added to foster a more family-friendly environment.
The



event has now expanded to a city-wide celebration lasting over two weeks.
Spanning several generations, Mardi Gras in Galveston survived over 150 years of ever-changing culture and technology.
This historic event continues to celebrate the Bal Masque linking Galveston to continental European culture.



Marker is property of the State of Texas
Details
HM NumberHM27JV
Tags
Year Placed2017
Placed ByTexas Historical Commission
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Tuesday, May 15th, 2018 at 1:01pm PDT -07:00
Pictures
Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.
Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)15R E 325676 N 3243240
Decimal Degrees29.30613333, -94.79493333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 29° 18.368', W 94° 47.696'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds29° 18' 22.08" N, 94° 47' 41.76" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)409, 281
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling West
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 2300 Mechanic St, Galveston TX 77550, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.

Check Ins  check in   |    all

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.

Comments 0 comments

Maintenance Issues
  1. Is this marker part of a series?
  2. What historical period does the marker represent?
  3. What historical place does the marker represent?
  4. What type of marker is it?
  5. What class is the marker?
  6. What style is the marker?
  7. Does the marker have a number?
  8. This marker needs at least one picture.
  9. Can this marker be seen from the road?
  10. Is the marker in the median?