On September 8, 1900, the deadliest natural disaster in America struck the city of Galveston. The unnamed and unexpected storm ripped through the emerging port city and destroyed the town. Although Galveston is now a popular tourist attraction, the city was not able to completely regain its popularity. The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 greatly impacted the city politically, economically, and socially.
The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 had a substantial political effect on the city of Galveston. After the storm, a commission form of government called the Galveston Plan was put into place. According to the article “Commission Form of City Government” in the Handbook of Texas Online by the Texas State Historical Association on June 12, 2010, 5 commissioners …show more content…
After the storm, Galvestonians built a seawall to prevent potential damage from a future storm. John H. Lienharad reported in “Raising Galveston” in American Heritage of Inventions and Technology in the winter of 1990 that the concrete wall would be 17 feet tall and 3 miles long. The US Army Corps of Engineers reported in Galveston’s Bulwark Against the Sea: History of the Galveston Sewall on October 1981 that the wall, which was completed in July 1904, cost about 1.5 million dollars. Not only did the wall itself cost the city a lot of money, it also made the beach look less appealing. This caused the influx of tourists to reduce which meant less money for the city. The political effects brought about by the storm can still be seen …show more content…
According to Michael A. Smith from the Daily News in “Post-storm Rebuilding Considered ‘Galveston’s Finest Hour’”, 3,600 homes were destroyed. The storm ripped through the city, and Galvestonians helplessly watched as everything they had fell to pieces. Ida Smith Austin said on November 9, 1900, “In an incredibly short time the water surged… Trees began to fall, shake shingles; planks and debris of every imaginable kind were being hurled through the air.” Because the storm was so destructive, rebuilding was troublesome. As a result, some people decided to move. The inevitable social impacts of the Galveston Hurricane were
The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 had a substantial political effect on the city of Galveston. After the storm, a commission form of government called the Galveston Plan was put into place. According to the article “Commission Form of City Government” in the Handbook of Texas Online by the Texas State Historical Association on June 12, 2010, 5 commissioners …show more content…
After the storm, Galvestonians built a seawall to prevent potential damage from a future storm. John H. Lienharad reported in “Raising Galveston” in American Heritage of Inventions and Technology in the winter of 1990 that the concrete wall would be 17 feet tall and 3 miles long. The US Army Corps of Engineers reported in Galveston’s Bulwark Against the Sea: History of the Galveston Sewall on October 1981 that the wall, which was completed in July 1904, cost about 1.5 million dollars. Not only did the wall itself cost the city a lot of money, it also made the beach look less appealing. This caused the influx of tourists to reduce which meant less money for the city. The political effects brought about by the storm can still be seen …show more content…
According to Michael A. Smith from the Daily News in “Post-storm Rebuilding Considered ‘Galveston’s Finest Hour’”, 3,600 homes were destroyed. The storm ripped through the city, and Galvestonians helplessly watched as everything they had fell to pieces. Ida Smith Austin said on November 9, 1900, “In an incredibly short time the water surged… Trees began to fall, shake shingles; planks and debris of every imaginable kind were being hurled through the air.” Because the storm was so destructive, rebuilding was troublesome. As a result, some people decided to move. The inevitable social impacts of the Galveston Hurricane were