In this episode of Unboxing History, hosts Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright-Gidley share a rare fire bucket from the early 1900s held in the Galveston County Museum's collection. They are joined by James Anderson, author of 'Galveston Burning: A History of the Fire Department and Major Conflagrations,' to discuss significant fires that reshaped Galveston, including the devastating 1885 fire. Anderson provides fascinating insights into early firefighting techniques, fire station history, and the importance of fire maps from the Sanborn Fire Insurance Company. The discussion highlights historic buildings lost to fire and the evolution of fire safety measures. The episode concludes with information about the museum's resources for historical research and visiting details.

Theme Music: 🎼G COUNTY JAZZ, Shawn Schoellkopf ©️2024

Chapters and Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Unboxing History

00:28 This Month's Artifact: The Fire Bucket

02:06 Interview with James Anderson: Author of Galveston Burning

03:07 Firefighting Measures and Historical Fire Maps

07:52 Historic Fires and Their Impact on Galveston

13:57 Notable Buildings Lost to Fires

17:40 The Texas City Explosion of 1947

18:36 The Role and Decline of Fire Boats

19:32 Where to Find James Anderson's Book

21:50 Resources at the Galveston County Museum

23:14 Visiting the Galveston County Museum

23:58 Conclusion

Thank you for listening to Unboxing History, presented by the Galveston County Museum.
For more information, visit our website.

History of the Galveston County Museum
The Galveston County Museum was formed in 1976. It was located on Market Street for many years. After Hurricane Ike damaged the HVAC and electrical systems in 2008, the unharmed artifacts were moved. Now, the museum is located in the Galveston County courthouse building at 722 Moody/21st Street in Galveston.

​Galveston County Museum is a joint project of the Galveston County Commissioners Court and Galveston County History, Inc. The museum cares for a collection of 20,000 artifacts and archives. We also maintain the Historical Commission's library. If you are interested in research or donating an artifact related to Galveston County history, please call 409.766.2340.

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