Benefiting Special Projects

 in the Restoration of

 

The League-Kempner House

 

In its hey-day, the wealthiest of Galveston’s elite built magnificent mansions on the north side of Broadway Street. Deemed the “Castle District” the survival of these homes through the 1900 hurricane transformed them into symbols of the island’s endurance and resilience.  Despite surviving many more hurricanes, economic conditions and the ravages of time have claimed all but five of those original Victorian masterpieces.  Once on the verge of collapse, The League-Kempner House is fighting for survival.  Home to two great Galveston families, the house was originally commissioned by John Charles “J.C.” League, a prominent Galveston businessman and his wife Cornia “Nellie” Ball (daughter of George Ball). Designed by noted architect Nicholas Clayton, construction began in 1893.  In 1918, J.C.’s widow sold the mansion to Eliza Kempner, herself a widow with eight living children, four of whom lived with her.

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The house is slowly being brought back to life after years of neglect, vandalism, termites and water damage. Today, The League-Kempner House operates as a historic house museum for the purpose of preserving Galveston history and educating the public. Open for tours during the restoration process, guests are given the rare opportunity to see the substantial work needed to save this Galveston architectural treasure.  Operated entirely by volunteers, tours are currently offered Wednesday through Saturday.

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Net proceeds from the Mourning Tea are designated for Special Projects that elevate the restoration process. Special Projects include installation of a lift to provide disabled visitors access to the first floor, ADA compliant bathrooms, and restoration and re-installation of the stained-glass windows and skylights.