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Gateway on the Gulf: Galveston and American Immigration, 1845-1915
Galveston, Texas has occupied a central place in U.S. immigration history since the final decades of the nineteenth century, when the city became known as the “Ellis Island of the West.” Between 1845 and 1900, more than 100,000 immigrants arrived at the Galveston port, some settling in the city, far more traveling into the state's and nation's interior. Even after the disastrous 1900 storm, the city remained a significant port of entry. As a result of the Galveston Movement (1907-1914), more than 10,000 East European Jews passed through the city, settling throughout Texas and in virtually every state in the West.
On June 15-18, 2005, Humanities Texas and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum (TSHM) held a four-day residential teacher institute in Galveston to examine this history and its contemporary relevance. Designed for teachers of Texas and U.S. history, grades 7-12, Gateway on the Gulf: Galveston and American Immigration, 1845-1915 considered the important place Galveston has occupied in U.S. immigration history and sought to improve participants' ability to use historic sites, museums, primary sources, and artifacts in teaching local, state, and national history.
Teachers selected for this institute received housing, materials, a travel allowance, a stipend, and continuing professional development credit.
Sponsors and Partners
Humanities Texas and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum sponsored Gateway on the Gulf with major funding from a “We the People” grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund provided support for institute faculty honoraria. Other partners in the endeavor included the National Archives and Records Administration, Galveston's Rosenberg Library, the Texas Seaport Museum, the Galveston Historical Foundation, The University of Texas Medical Branch and The University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio.