The Gresham mansion was made all of stone, and was sturdy enough to withstand the great hurricane of 1900. The Greshams welcomed hundreds of survivors of the hurricane into their home. The house was built between 1887 and 1893 by Galveston architect Nicholas J. Clayton for lawyer and politician Walter Gresham, his wife Josephine, and their nine children. In 1923 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the house, and, situated across the street from the Sacred Heart Church, it served as the residence for Bishop Christopher E. Byrne. After the diocesan offices were moved to Houston, the diocese opened the mansion to the public in 1963, with proceeds from tours being used to help fund the Newman Center, operating in the basement, serving Catholic students at the nearby University of Texas Medical Branch. The home is estimated to have cost $250,000 at the time ; today its value is estimated at over $5.5 million. The house is owned by the Galveston Historical Foundation and self-guided tours are available daily. A portion of each admission supports the preservation and restoration of the property.
Layout
Bishop's Palace has four floors. The raised basement which once housed the kitchen and servant's areas now contains the store. This basement is followed by three formal floors.
First floor
Entryway
Parlor
Music Room
Rotunda Staircase
Library/Office
Dining Room - Mrs. Gresham painted the fresco of cherubs on the ceiling.
Conservatory
Pantry
Kitchen - This room was originally just a warming kitchen, but Bishop Byrne expanded the room.
Servant's Vestibule - Contains the dumbwaiter and the servant's staircase.
Coat Closet - The coat closet is tucked around the back side of the rotunda staircase and contains a Pullman sink from the famed Pullman railcars.
Second floor
Living Room - The Gresham family often listened to music here during the hot summer months.
Bishop's Bedroom - This was originally a bedroom of one of the Gresham daughters, but Bishop Byrne chose it for his own with its private balcony and lighting. He converted the closet into a bathroom.
Chapel - This was also previously one of the Gresham daughter's bedrooms. When the Diocese moved in, the windows were replaced with stained-glass, and a fresco depicting the four gospel writers was painted on the ceiling. The room was also outfitted with an altar and six prayer kneelers.
Mr. Gresham's Room
Mrs. Gresham's Room
Bathroom - The tub in this bathroom is of note for its three spigots: one for hot, one cold, and one for rainwater.
