Almost 15 years after a devastating hurricane wrecked Galveston, Tex. at the start of the 20th century, it almost happened all over again. On Aug. 17, 1915, another hurricane—believed to be more powerful than the one that destroyed the port city—made landfall.
This time, however, Galveston stood up to it. As recounted by Houston History magazine, the 1900 hurricane inspired Galveston’s leaders to build a seawall, which was completed in 1904 and expanded in the years that followed. It was put to the test in 1915–and passed. Though there was extensive damage, as these pictures show, the wreckage was nothing compared to the earlier storm.
These photographs, from the collection of the University of Houston, were taken by Rex Dunbar Frazier, a representative of an engineering firm that was working on repairs. Most of the pictures he took were made on Aug. 18, just one day after the storm made landfall.
Wreckage of causeway from north of arched bridge to mainland (close-up). Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesWreckage of Interurban tracks at Virginia Point. Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesWaves on the Galveston Seawall between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. before the hurricane. Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesWrecked houses on the east end of Galveston near Seawall Boulevard. Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesOcean going freight vessels that broke away from Pier 30 on night of storm. Stranded between Texas City and VA Point."Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesCauseway Inn wreckage on Sante Fe right of way at VA Point.Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesInterurban passenger cars that went down with the Causeway during the hurricane, after being righted and preparatory to lifting to the temporary trestle.Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesWrecked houses on the east end of Galveston near Seawall Boulevard.Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesColombo Cafe and Casino wreckage on Beach Boulevard after the hurricane.Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesWrecked semaphore bridge, pipe, poles. Car caught on Causeway during collapse (occupants made it to VA Pt. signal tower and survived).Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesOverturned Southern Pacific passenger station at Tx City Junction (drifted ~1200 ft.).Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesWrecked houses submerged in sand on the east end of Galveston on Seawall Boulevard. One house has been turned upside down by the hurricane.Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesView down Q Street.Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston LibrariesA man lies in a cot, surrounded by the debris from his former home.Rex Dunbar Frazier—Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries
