Galveston churches open for tours on Dec. 27

Herald file photoGALVESTON — Need post-Christmas Day plans? 

On Saturday, Dec. 27, five historic Galveston sites will open for guided tours from 9 a.m. to noon, including four churches that make up part of Holy Family Parish of Galveston and Bolivar, and the Ursuline Chapel. Thirty-minute tours will highlight the unique architecture, history and art at each location. 

Tours will be led at:

•  St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, the mother church of Texas and a Jubilee pilgrim site built in 1848; 
• Holy Rosary, which has served Galveston’s Black Catholic community since the late 1800s;
• St. Patrick, an 1877 Gothic-style church designed by Nicholas Clayton; 
• Sacred Heart, built in 1904 and known for its striking white exterior; 
• and the Ursuline Chapel, located at Holy Family Parish Life Center on 25th Street, featuring the original 1891 ornate chapel doors.

Visitors may start at any location. All sites are within a 3.7-mile radius and less than a five-minute drive apart. Tours are self-paced and self-driven. 

For addresses and details, visit www.holyfamilygb.com or call 409-762-9646. ​