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