September 23, 2025
As the Port of Galveston celebrates its 200th anniversary, it’s experiencing something of a rebirth. We’re making record-breaking investments in cruise and cargo infrastructure to diversify our business, optimize our waterfront, and spur more regional jobs and revenue growth.
During our bicentennial, we’re celebrating where we’ve been but also where we’re going.
Investing in our cargo future
Galveston Island’s natural harbor attracted maritime activity in the early 1800s – before Galveston was a city and Texas was a state. The Mexican government designated it as a provisional port and custom entry point on Oct. 17, 1825.
Through the last two centuries, the port has been a global nexus for an ever-changing mix of cargos. In the 1800s, hundreds of ships moved through the port each year, carrying steamship passengers and cargos ranging from cotton and building materials to farm goods and cattle.
As maritime commerce and global economies evolved, the port’s cargos changed. Cotton, grain, fresh fruit, tea, sugar and sulfur are just some of the major cargos that have moved through our port.
Today, cargo is as important as ever. The port leases and maintains a range of cargo facilities on the deep-water Galveston Harbor, which is ranked among the top 40 busiest U.S. cargo waterways. Wind turbine pieces, new cars, agriculture and construction equipment, and dry and liquid bulk cargos move across our docks.
As part of its long-range Strategic Master Plan adopted in 2019, the port has invested $105 million in cargo-related improvements, either completed, in progress or planned for completion between 2024 and 2027.
We’re rebuilding the cargo infrastructure and expanding cargo-handling acreage to grow our cargo business. These investments are funded by port operating revenues, largely from our cruise growth, and by grants.
Cruise growth fuels cargo growth
In the 1980s, visionary port and community leaders seized the opportunity to diversify the port’s business by attracting cruise lines. The port transformed its 1927 steamship terminal and warehouse at Pier 25 into a cruise terminal to accommodate cruise operations.
After years of cruise lines offering limited seasonal sailings from Galveston, Carnival became the first cruise line to homeport year-round in 2000. Royal Caribbean began homeporting here one year later.
Today, we’re the only cruise port in Texas and fourth most popular in the U.S., hosting six major cruise lines – Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Princess, Norwegian and MSC. More than 3.4 million passengers embark and debark through three cruise terminals. In November, we celebrate the opening of our fourth cruise terminal and welcome the MSC Seascape.
Our cruise growth is setting new port records year over year, driven by passenger demand and Galveston’s popularity as a drive-to destination.
Visit our bicentennial website – www.PortofGalveston200.com – to learn more about the port’s history and upcoming events, all funded by sponsors. Net proceeds will fund maritime scholarships at Texas A&M University at Galveston. It’s only fitting that the port and its port partners are investing bicentennial funds in the next generation of mariners.
Rodger Rees is Galveston Wharves port director and CEO.
