Maritime Day Celebration Presented by Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Thursday, May 22

The Port of Galveston will kick off its 200th anniversary year of celebrations with a big National Maritime Day event presented by Wallenius Wilhelmsen 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, May 22, at Pier 21. The free event will feature vessel tours, including a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, a commemorative ceremony at 10 a.m. and maritime information booths. — MORE

Party on the Pier Presented by Royal Caribbean
Friday, October 17

It’s our birthday and we’re having a party! The Port of Galveston will celebrate its 200th birthday with a free Party on the Pier presented by Royal Caribbean. Come to Pier 21 the evening of October 17 for a spectacular drone show, live music, a Jean Lafitte lookalike contest, food trucks and family fun! Mexico designated Galveston a provisional port of entry on October 17, 1825, while under Mexican rule.

Port 200th Anniversary Gala Presented by Carnival Cruise Line
Saturday, October 18

Carnival Cruise Line will present an elegant evening of dinner and dancing at the Port of Galveston’s 200th Anniversary Gala at the Galveston Island Convention Center. We’ll celebrate the port’s history and spotlight our port partners. Tables and individual tickets will be available for purchase this summer. Stay tuned for more details.

Spanning two centuries, the Port of Galveston’s fascinating history could fill a book with tales of pirates, naval battles, riches, and resilience.

Established by a proclamation issued by the Congress of Mexico on October 17, 1825, while the land known as Texas still belonged to Mexico, the Port of Galveston is the oldest port in the Gulf of Mexico west of New Orleans. Read More

BE A PART OF PORT HISTORY

We invite you to join us in celebrating the Port of Galveston’s bicentennial in 2025. We’re planning a full year of activities to share the port’s history, spotlight the contributions of the port and its port partners, and celebrate our present and future.

SAVE THE DATES!

• Thursday, May 22, 2025 – National Maritime Day observance
• Thursday, October 16, 2025 – Sponsor golf tournament
• Friday, October 17, 2025 – Party on the Pier public event
• Saturday, October 18, 2025 – Gala dinner and dancing
• October – Port history book is released

Thank you to our sponsors for funding Port 200th anniversary events to spotlight the port’s history, as well as the economic contributions of the port and its port partners. Net proceeds will fund maritime scholarships.