06/10/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bo8wHZLpT/
This church wasn't being demolished.
It was being lifted. St. Patrick’s Church, displacing 3,000 tons, was the largest structure raised. It was elevated 5 feet through the employment of 700 jacks. (Image shown higher for effect and other building were elevated higher).
After the Great Hurricane of 1900, Galveston launched one of the most ambitious engineering projects in American history.
Churches, schools, homes, and businesses were elevated while workers pumped millions of cubic yards of sand beneath the city.
Many residents watched in amazement as entire buildings seemed to float above the streets.
Galveston chose not to abandon the island.
It chose to rebuild higher.
