Whether you travel through downtown or along the eastern part of the seawall, you’re likely rolling over some trolley tracks. For about 20 years, trolley cars ran their 6.8 mile-route through town.

This time of year, many Galvestonians become armchair meteorologists. We watch the weather and seek out sources of information when it comes to hurricanes and major storms that develop in the tropics and in the Gulf.

Did you know that, of the Port of Galveston’s total 840 acres, 357 acres are on Pelican Island? While the port’s Galveston Island acreage is almost fully developed, more than 300 acres with waterfront access are available for greenfield development on Pelican Island.

Triumphant. That’s the word that comes to my mind when I think about the Galveston Island Beach Patrol and how it has weathered both literal storms and the storm of a pandemic this year.

As the summer season winds down with a long weekend, residents and visitors to Galveston can set their sights on the upcoming slate of fun, fall festivals. The best weather of the year is on the horizon, and these outdoor festivals are making a return after a year’s hiatus.

On this Labor Day, let’s take a moment to recognize the thousands of men and women who work on the Galveston waterfront to keep our economy moving. We would not be the fourth most popular cruise port in North America or a major Texas cargo port without our dedicated maritime workforce.

While August and September signal the end of summer vacation for many, we here in Galveston become vigilant weather trackers. We know all too well that this is the time of year prone to storms that can make their way to the island.