Forgotten Gateway Covers History of Galveston as a Trans Oceanic Port of Immigration and the Socioeconomic Impact of Immigrants on Texas
Galveston, Texas – Moody Gardens recently announced the opening of Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America through Galveston Island scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21. The exhibit chronicles the Port of Galveston’s largely forgotten history as a major gateway to American immigration from 1845 to 1924. Forgotten Gateway builds on a growing scholarly and public interest in the history of migration patterns to America and Galveston’s place as one of the nation’s top immigrant ports in that history.
“This exhibit is the first of its kind to explore Galveston’s legacy as a port of entry on a national scale,” said John Zendt, Moody Gardens general manager. “We are very excited to have it here on the island and bring to light the little-known yet rich era of Galveston’s history and just how important it was to the growth of Texas and the American Midwest.”
Long before Ellis Island processed its first immigrant, Galveston was a port of entry for hundreds of thousands of immigrants. While the New York counterpart made it a natural port for Europeans, Galveston attracted a diverse group of people from Europe, Mexico, South and Central America and even Asia. In addition, before the Civil War, it was a major port for forced migration – the sale and transport of slaves from Africa and other points in the United States to Texas.
The exhibit highlights enduring humanities themes in the history of immigration including: the dangers of the journey; making a life in a new land; navigating bureaucracy; confronting discrimination; and becoming “American.” These trials and tribulations are illuminated through personal stories, dynamic visitor interactive kiosks, engaging media pieces, and more than 200 original artifacts and documents. The exhibit originated from a comment a 10th-grader made on a heritage trip to Ellis Island. “Why do we need to go to New York,” asked the student. “My grandparents came through Galveston.”
Forgotten Gateway will be on exhibit through September 11, 2010. Admission will be $8.95. In addition, on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 3 p.m., Moody Gardens and the Houston Civic Symphony will present a special concert of three classic European works, Smetana’s Moldau from "Ma Vlast," Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 by Brahms with the violin soloist Aija Izaks and Ravel arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Admission to this special event is $15.95 and includes tickets to Forgotten Gateway and the symphony concert. For more information, please visit moodygardens.org or call 800-582-4673.
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