George Sealy Mansion, Galveston

The George Sealy Mansion, also known as "Open Gates," is one of Galveston鈥檚 most iconic residences, blending architectural grandeur with rich local history. Completed in 1891, the neo-Renaissance mansion was commissioned by Magnolia Willis and George Sealy, a prominent businessman who played a pivotal role in the sale of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway.

Remarkably, it is believed to be the only building in the South designed by the famed architect Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White. Magnolia, deeply involved in the design, helped shape a home that was both elegant and restrained鈥攕etting it apart from the more flamboyant Victorian houses in Galveston at the time.

Constructed with Roman brick, tawny limestone, red terra-cotta roof tiles, and delicate cream terra-cotta ornamentation, the mansion blends seamlessly into its lush, semitropical setting. Its gardens, carefully curated by an English horticulturist, create a striking contrast with the warm tones of the house. The estate also includes a grand brick and stone carriage house, designed in 1892 by Galveston's own Nicholas Clayton. Family lore even attributes the home's inception to Magnolia鈥檚 playful bargain with George: she promised him a second son in exchange for building the finest home in Galveston.

In 1979, the Sealy family gifted the mansion and its original furnishings to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). While UTMB later adapted the house into a modern conference and teleconference center鈥攁dding new staircases and altering some interiors鈥攎uch of its original character remains intact.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: George Sealy Mansion
Sight Location: Galveston, USA (See walking tours in Galveston)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Historic Houses Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Galveston, Texas

Create Your Own Walk in Galveston

Creating your own self-guided walk in Galveston is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Galveston Introduction Walking Tour

Galveston, perched on a barrier island along the Gulf Coast, holds a unique place in Texas history. Its modern chapter began in the early 1800s, when the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte set up a short-lived base here鈥攄riven out by the U.S. Navy in 1821. The city itself was officially founded in 1836, soon after Texas won independence from Mexico, and was named in honor of Spanish colonial governor... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles

Historic Houses Walking Tour

Galveston鈥檚 Broadway Avenue is a living corridor of architectural ambition, lined with grand homes that speak to the city鈥檚 Gilded Age past. Most of these stately mansions were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, during a period when Galveston thrived as a key Gulf Coast port. Wealthy merchants, civic leaders, and industrialists commissioned elaborate residences here, hoping to place the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

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