Five blocks of restored Victorian commercial architecture make up the Strand Historic District in downtown Galveston. These mainly Victorian‑era buildings now house restaurants, antique stores, and curio shops, and the area is a major tourist attraction for the island city. The Strand plays host to two very popular seasonal festivals and is widely considered the island’s shopping and entertainment center.
The district includes properties along the south side of Harborside Drive (Avenue A) and both sides of The Strand (Avenue B) and Mechanic Street (Avenue C) from 20th Street westward to 26th Street, though today the name “the Strand” is generally used for the five blocks between 20th and 25th streets, very close to the city’s wharf. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, the district was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its unparalleled collection of commercial Victorian architecture in Texas and for its role as the state’s major port in the 19th century. Walk forward among those restored facades, listen for festival sounds in season, and let your eye travel down Avenue B toward Galveston Bay.