Mosquito Fleet Berth, Pier 19
Also known as: Galveston Maritime Site
Why it's listed
Pier 19 is a wooden and concrete wharf at the end of 20th Street in Galveston, Texas, at the north end of the Strand Historic District. Its waterfront location was the site of the pirate stronghold called Campeachy in 1818, and the nomination traces continuous use of the berth from that period. The pier was developed to roughly its present size after a Mexican customhouse was established in 1830. Fires in 1887 and 1893 and the hurricane of 1900 destroyed it, and each time it was rebuilt. In 1932 some wooden pilings and decking were replaced with concrete, and only maintenance has followed. The site is best known as the berth of the Mosquito Fleet, small shrimping boats crewed largely by families of many national origins. It also hosts the yearly Blessing of the Fleet. Seafood businesses along the shore face the Strand and help protect its historic character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the site has been in continuous use since the pirate-era settlement of 1818, making it probably the oldest known Galveston landmark in terms of continual use of man-made structures. It served as a customhouse area, Texas navy berth and Civil War staging area, and is best known as the berth of the Mosquito Fleet of shrimping boats. It also anchors the commercial character of the adjoining Strand district and hosts the annual Blessing of the Fleet.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75001981, listed April 21, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N end of 20th St., Pier 19, Galveston |
|---|---|
| County | Galveston County |
| Listed | April 21, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001981 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the city and still used by shrimping boats, with commercial fishing and seafood businesses along the land side. Not altered since 1932 except for maintenance. |
| Acreage | 7.3 |
| Coordinates | 29.31101, -94.79050 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75001981.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.