
Lance and Jayme Jones look up at the main stairwell in Bishop’s Palace in Galveston. Visitors can take
a self-guided audio tour through the Victorian-era mansion. Daily News file photo
We asked on Facebook: What, if anything, do you like most about the Victorian era?
The clothes are lovely, but I want no part of those corsets. The architecture is the best!
Tamara Gant
The manners, formality and hosiery.
Jerry Jones
Architecture, for sure. Large porches, floor-to-ceiling windows — all of it. It makes Galveston so interesting. Oh, and the hats were pretty awesome as well!
Catherine Spiller
Victorian architecture is amazing. It’s one of my favorite parts about Galveston!
Rachel Gresham Bean
My mother-in-law lived in England for a few years and she loved antiques. When she came back to the states, she bought a Victorian home in Groveton, Texas. She completely decorated it in true Victorian. It was beautiful. What I liked about people in the Victorian era is they had an object or tool for everything. Everything was beautiful. She taught me a lot about antiques.
Bonnie Lem
It’s not about the architecture, it’s about the commitment to the architecture. Our home on Sealy was about to be condemned when John and Carlotta Barker bought it and reclaimed its wonderful history. Fast forward to 2000, and my wife and I took over the ownership of history and after Hurricane Ike put our stamp of preservation on it. It is the commitment of people like the Barkers who continue the Victorian legacy of the East End Historical District.
Mike McAfee
The Victorian attitude, people dressed up to go out in public; they tried to conduct themselves in a proper manner and lived in beautiful surroundings. What they did after dark was their own business!
Jim Nonus
When you say Victorian, I immediately think Dickens on The Strand and how cool it is to see so many people dressed up in Victorian-period attire, me included. It’s my favorite Galveston event and so family friendly.
Bobby Martin
It’s difficult to choose, but one facet I love that often goes unnoticed is Victorian-era gravestones. The art and symbolism are often wonderful.
Kathleen Shanahan Maca
The fanciful architecture. Whimsy and delight were more important than mere utility. The development of “balloon” construction made all kinds of designs possible that were never possible before.
Stephen F. Duncan
Ladies were ladies and gentlemen were gentlemen. Love watching the historical period movies on PBS. Move me to Downton Abbey, oh I need a lady’s maid!
Leona Pleasant
Home furniture, especially Eastlake style.
Helen Gerding
Manners.
Linn Fallon
Architecture! Front porches, sidewalks, designs.
Wayne O’Quin
The theatrics of it all.
Deeva Brantley
I like the stories that came out of the Victorian age. Self-made businesses and more.
Helen Pausewang
The literature: George Eliot, Alfred Tennyson and, of course, Charles Dickens.
Karen Barbier
Loved the beautiful clothes and hats.
Patti Abschneider
The ladies look so pretty.
Paul Ray Heinrich
The Victorian elegance! The gorgeous Victorian homes, clothing styles!
Denise Sowell Shead
The family unit and community were very important, as much as the manufactured gadgets and furniture in their ornate Victorian homes. Love mine!
Ginger Grutzius
Architecture/history — It was the major reason why I moved to Galveston.
Gerald Vimont
It’s the architecture that gets me because it’s so much prettier than the boring construction of today. I didn’t like the clothing and couldn’t imagine having to wear that all the time, the morals were hypocritical and the society was corrupt.
Gregory Clipp
Like the stories that came out of the Victorian age. Self-made businesses and more.
Helen Pausewang
Victorian era art, design and literature — so many interesting lives and lines to follow!
Elizabeth Godbehere
The architecture, especially the contrast between the no holds barred, over the top rich folks’ houses and the practical carriage and shotgun houses.
Holly Thorson
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