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Galveston Island in Texas is the home of a short-lived pirate colony in what is today Texas. Galveston Island is a barrier island only around 50 miles southeast of Houston. The island is full of intriguing pirate history and is also deeply important to the early years of the fledgling country of Texas and then the state of Texas.
Galveston Island is today within Texas' Galveston County in the Gulf of Mexico. It is around 27 miles long and no more than 3 miles wide at its widest point. It is connected to the mainland by the Interstate Highway 45 Causeway and is an easy day trip from Houston. Considered adding Galveston Island to one's essential itinerary for Houston.
The Pirating Life Of Jean Lafitte
Louisiana's Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve is named after a pirate and smuggler named Jean Lafitte. He was an early French colonist in the then French colony of Louisiana. He was born in the early 1780s either in France or the French colony of St. Domingue (what is today Haiti).
- Profession: Pirate, Smuggler, Privateer
- Born: France or St. Domingue
Due to the American embargo on trade with Great Britain and France in 1807, Lafitte worked a smuggling racket. Importing slaves also became illegal and according to the NPS, Lafitte smuggled slaves into south Louisiana.
Lafitte considered himself to be a privateer and not a pirate (after all he was mostly more land-based than sea-based). As a privateer, he had permission from governments at war to capture enemy ships (to those on the receiving end, he was a pirate).
He had permission from a government that America did not recognize to capture Spanish ships. As the Americans didn't recognize the government, they saw him as a pirate.
- War Of 1815: Assisted The Americans In Defeating The British
- Post War: Returned To Smuggling On Galveston Island
At one point, Lafitte may have had as many as 1,000 people working for him (called Baratarians). During the War of 1812, Lafitte assisted the Americans in defeating the British - in return, he received a full pardon. But after the war, Lafitte soon returned to smuggling - this time at Galveston Island in Spanish Texas. He was eventually forced out by the American Navy in 1820.
Galveston Island's Pirate History And Importance To Texas
The first settlement by Europeans on Galveston happened in 1816, a few years later Jean Lafitte brought his men from Louisiana (that was now part of America) to Galveston (that was Spanish Texas). He called the settlement Campeche after an older settlement on the Yucatan Peninsula.
- 1816: First European Settlement
- 1820: Jean Lafitte Driven off The Island
- 1821: Mexican Independence
- 1836: Texan Revolution
- 1845: Texan Annexation To The USA
For a few years, Galveston Island was the base of Jean Lafitte's very profitable piracy and smuggling. He continued to smuggle slaves into the United States after the country had banned the practice of the international slave trade in 1808.
But after attacking an American ship, he was forced off the island by the US Navy.
Right after that, there was the Mexican independence in 1821 and Galveston became part of Mexico until the Texan revolution of 1836. After independence, the island became the main port and destination for immigration to Texas. For a time, its population even surpassed that of San Antonio. In the Civil War, it even became the largest cotton shipping port in the world.
It is not just its history, Galveston is also famous for its fantastic beaches to enjoy.
Visiting Galveston Island's Pirate Heritage Today
Jean Lafitte Historical Marker
One attraction is a historical marker at the former house Maison Rouge of Jean Lafitte. The marker was erected in 1965 by the Texas Historical Commission.
- See: Historical Markers of Jean Lafitte
- Address: 1417 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX
The inscription on the marker reads:
“Notorious pirate. Settled here in 1817 with his buccaneers and ships; under the Mexican flag, continued his forays against Spanish shipping in the Gulf.”
“On this site, he built his home, Maison Rouge (Red House), which was part of his fort; and the upper story was pierced for cannon. It was luxuriously furnished with booty from captured ships.”
It then goes on to say that he burned his home, fort, and village after the United States Navy forced him out. It then goes on to say that the old structure one sees today was built on the foundations of Lafitte's Maison Rouge.
Galveston Pirate Museum
Another attraction to learn about Jean Lafitte on the island is the Galveston Pirate Museum - it is a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy together.
- Admission: $15.00 Per Person Plus Sales Tax
- Address: 2313 Harborside Drive, Galveston
Opening Hours:
- Sunday thru Thursdays: 10.00 am to 10.00 pm
- Fridays and Saturdays: 10.00 am to 11.00 pm
Besides these attractions, there isn't much to see of Jean Lafitte's short-lived pirate colony on Galveston.