Inside Bishop's Palace: America's Most Enchanting Victorian Era Mansion
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- Опубліковано 27 січ 2025
- Step inside Bishop’s Palace, a legendary Victorian masterpiece in Galveston, Texas, that has withstood the mightiest forces of nature and time. Once known as Gresham’s Castle, this architectural marvel witnessed the rise of a powerful family’s fortune, weathered the catastrophic 1900 hurricane, and later became a cherished diocesan residence before transforming into one of America’s premier historic landmarks.
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Location: Galveston, TX
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Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress,
CC BY-SA 3.0Photos from: Wikipedia User: Rwminix
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Music from Epidemic Sound
That grand staircase is absolutely breathtaking! A masterpiece within a gorgeous work of architecture.
One of the most amazing I've ever seen and I seek them out. * This is probably the only one I've seen with a pulpit extension and a fireplace. It's almost outlandish.
The staircase is my favorite feature of any house! This is truly magnificent! Where would the chimney go😮?!!!
Thank you so much for showcasing Bishops Palace. I had never heard it referred to as Grisham’s Castle. It is my favorite house in the world. It speaks to my soul. I have toured it at least a half dozen times but never got to see the third floor, the boys’ rooms. The Grisham’s had 6 children and were very devote Catholics. You didn’t get to see the Solarium and the cherubs painted on the ceiling at the end of the video were painted by Mrs. Grisham and they are portraits of her children. Finally Nicholas Clayton, probably my favorite architect, design many beautiful buildings, some of which still stand today and can be seen on a walking tour of The Strand.
I've had the tour of this house in person and it is absolutely breathtaking
What an incredible mansion. The octagonal dome was quite amazing. Looks to be maintained in pristine condition.
It IS but original! Not restored! The Moody mansion was restored and sadly looks brand new inside, this house has patina
I had never heard of this house before. Thank you Ken for devoting an episode to this magnificent work of art!
Sadly I doubt this glorious temple to Victorian architecture could be replicated today. Which is why conservation and restoration of the houses that remain is so important.
I grew up in Galveston. My art teacher told me that Mrs. Gresham was a gifted artist who painted her children as cherubs on the ceiling. She was also manic-depressive, and during those episodes she painted the walls in the basement, one all fire, another all ice, another a jungle. At one point, the wall murals were whitewashed, which my teacher thought was a very unfortunate loss.
Beautiful architecture. The woodwork.. marble pieces.. stain
glass.. and a chapel in the home. WOW! True masterpiece
This is one of my favorite properties ever featured on your channel. I love this Ken. You do an amazing job. Thank you.
This house looks like it could survive a 300 km wind...it would exceed the strictures of future building codes.
Absolutely incredible house. Thanks again for sharing this with us
The entryway and grand staircase are BREATHTAKING!
Great feature, Ken. I saw the picture and knew you were in my old, well not my neighborhood, but you get the idea. I've taken the tour a couple of times in my younger years. Owning a home of this grandeur was on my "one of these days" list. Never happened. A very impressive building and home. One that is worth the tour.
I enjoy your perfect narrations and presentations. You are a great writer.❣️🇺🇸👏🏻
Truly stunning & Magnificent architecture . Inside and out this is a true masterpiece . The elaborate woodwork ,marbled entry hall. Then that elaborate grand staircase and the stained glass . A true feast for the eyes . I am so happy to see this Architectural Masterpiece did not get destroyed . Too often it is the case . Thanks Ken and Happy Holidays to you and yours . 🎄🎄🎅🎅⭐️🌟⛄️⛄️❄️❄️
Good job on the video. I first visited this beautiful place when I was about 10. Fell in love with the palace. The windows are so cool. I’ve been back at every couple of years. It hasn’t changed. I’m 57 and visited 2 years ago. Still enjoying this beautiful piece of history. Thank you for making your videos.
Exquisite millwork. The staircase has to be among the very best in the US, perhaps the world. Never seen anything like it, and I love it, it's so fabulous. But either the Gresham family was exceptionally religious, or the Catholic Church, when it owned the property, I suspect turned a master bedroom suite into the chapel and bishop's quarters. Otherwise, the lack of a proper master suite with dressing and bath rooms is startling - that would not have been done in that era. One of the very best Victorians you've ever commentated. I totally adore it and wish it were mine.
I think we only saw two floors?
The exterior. Regardless of all the embellishment, myriad windows, and changing materials, it is so very balanced and utterly satisfying to look upon.
I have visited the Bishop’s Palace several times and was always impressed with the silver door knobs and hinges and the silk wall coverings.
Fantastic craftsmanship!! This house is a thousand times better than ugly steel and glass. This house is amazing! Isn't that called a turret and not a tower???
Great question! Towers touch the ground, turrets protrude from a building and do not touch the ground.
One of the few survivors of time and the great hurricane. Have had the joy of taking tour of this house. The docent explained that German woodcrafters were responsible for that lavish grand staircase. Thank you for presenting this home, Ken. Great job, as always! ❤
Oh my goodness ... Only one word can describes this beautiful home...
Magnificent !
You should see this gem during “Dickens on the Strand”! Galveston is a wonderful place to visit or holiday!
Dear Ken, Please disregard the comment from the person that said that your voice was annoying. I worked for the telephone company and as a receptionist, etc. and have heard thousands of voices I find your voice soothing and particularly enjoy the fact that you research the properties and include interesting facts. Thank you for your videos.
Thank you for your kind words!
Cheers,
Ken
Here’s a simple solution for the person who made that voice comment. Shut off. Go elsewhere. Get manners.
You just don't see craftsmanship like this anymore
If you did, only the likes of Elon Musk could afford it!
The central hall and the grand staircase are the stars of this beautiful house. Thank you!
The entrance hall is just amazing! My question is how did that fireplace vent? I can't imagine the smoke venting out behind the landing, the soot would cover the stained glass windows?🤔🤔😁
Truly a treasure. I love the staircase, dome, and beautiful rooms. I would love to see it in person. TY, This House.
all that beautiful wood .........
What a beauty! One of my favorites, if not my most favorite.
The magnificent woodwork and the staircase are outstanding!. What a beautiful home.😊
This is my favorite home in Galveston. I have been there many times. The weddings they used to have on the grand staircase were beautiful. Always wanted to get married there but they don't do weddings anymore.
GORGEOUS ❤
Stunning !
Magnificent! What a beautiful home
Love the Hall fireplace with the "trick" of not having a vertical flu.
It’s really hard to separate any one happy site in that home. It’s all over the top. Thanks for bringing us along Ken!
I've had the great fortune to be able to tour this amazing house. It is breath taking. The staircase is amazing, on the mid landing is an extra Balcony that extends out called the Ladies balcony. Created so the ladies could showcase their gowns as they came down the stairs. Every floor is spacious and light filled. Even the basement. This building survived the 1900 hurricane.
A most beautiful mansion
Visited there a couple years ago. Gorgeous place. ❤❤❤
it's good to hear the Galveston Historical Society now has the responsibility for this historic building.
I have driven by this place but wasn't able to stop to go inside. So beautiful!
I am so glad to find your channel..... keep up the good work and focus on Victorian architecture
Glad that hurricane didn't destroy it! The entry is just amazing!
Toured this home every time we had visitors from out of town while we lived in Houston. Incredible workmanship.
Exterior walls must have been 18" thick, and each of the large stair posts took 6 months to hand carve.
This is a gorgeous mansion. The fireplaces are fantastic! To think the original owner never paid any real estate taxes because it was never considered completed.
All was beautiful
ALL OF IT ! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
It would cost a massive fortune of money to construct that mansion today using the same building materials of its day.
It’s a masterpiece!
It would be nice to see it furnished ,with as close as possible antiques .
Your production is just right, balance of architectural detail, history just the right length. Welcome change from so many vanity channels on UA-cam that are all about the presenter.
How is the fireplace beneath the grand staircase vented?
My immediate thought.
In theory, the fireplace vents via a duct under the stairs, which connects to the chimney that emerges from directly behind the skylight. However, the under-stair fireplace is gas (all the others in the home are coal), and there is no historical record of it ever being used, leading some to believe that it was only intended to be decorative.
@ thank you!
I thought that too!
I like it.
Until now, I've never seen the renovations. It looks a lot nicer now, compared to when I visited during a field trip when I was a kid. I need to check it out again.
the library, always the library is my fave room.
There years ago. breathtaking. I live near Capsholom, the Oliver Mansion and Tippecanoe, the Studebaker mansion. they are worth the trip north.
Ive been inside here!! Stopped by here before i left Galveston TX fromy cruise. The pictures dont do it justice!
Very beautiful. 😊😊
KEN, THIS IS DEFINITELY ANOTHER DEMOLITION FREE ZONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's nice to see something not demolished
That gorgeous staircase! But...where did the chimney go, since right above it where the stairs and and even farther up windows?
Beautiful ❤❤❤❤
Which part was my favorite? All of it, right down to the modern electric fans which made it feel like a home!
More beautiful than any manor house in England. The wood work and rock construction is my favorite.
It is beautiful, Galveston TX is where she is and there are others homes there also
Toured it many years ago. Yes, very awesome!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been there and it’s truly impressive.
Where does the chimney go for the stair fireplace?
Magnificent house! I would be surprised if there hadn't been at least some damage from that devastating hurricane. I've heard that almost the whole island was submerged?
I don’t know if they still decorate, but at Christmas, it was so pretty.
Nice for holidays... some new furnitures, a little bit more equipment for modern times... would be a nice location for some weeks!
❤ wow, just wow. ❤ 🇨🇦
I have briefly lived in Galveston Island, I only visited Moody Mansion ( 1895) on same street.
I don't know if it's me, but did we only see two floors?
Incredibly beautiful house.
Thank you.
What a beautiful mansion! I'm glad it still exists. I hope for architectural treasures, there are hefty safety and legal measures put in place to protect them. I mention this because I heard the Bidwell mansion in Chico, CA burned down. I suspect an arsonist, paid by a development corporation.
Gigantic fireplaces in every room to withstand Galveston's horrible winters.☺😂
my husband and I went there on our honeymoon, it is beautiful and the house next door Aston Villa
Have you considered doing an episode on Iolani Palace in Hawaii? It is known as the only palace in the United States.
I covered Iolani Palace in this video, enjoy! ua-cam.com/video/MkcKpiud520/v-deo.htmlsi=v7dCWQ7lT4nuBbc5
The staircase is awesome
You should do one on The Grey Gardens House, the Most Infamous Mansion in the Hamptons!
I think i saw this when we departed for a cruise from Galveston in March
If you'd like know more about the 1900 hurricane, I recommend "Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History" by Erik Larson.
At 4:01 and 4:07, I suppose there is a servant staircase behind the third walled up (or rather, half-blind) window? And one more thing: Where are the chimneys of the stair fireplace or is it fake?
Does the fireplace in the foyer have a chimney or am I missing something?
where does the fireplace vent to at the bottom of the staircase?
Hello!! I love your videos I’ve been obsessed:) Me and my sister took a picture in front of this house a few year back! But, not to long ago I watched the millionaires row of riverside in Manhattan and I fell in love with Samuel Baynes two Mansions. I wanted to know if you knew any information on the floor plans of them? I’ve been researching and not been able to find anything so far.
Thank you for watching! I have not uncovered floor plans for those two houses (yet). I’ll make sure to post them if I ever do. Cheers!
@ Thank you so much!!
So sad, 'The Church' got their hands on this magnificent structure.
Staircase is amazing. Looks like a minister could do a sermon from the landing but agree, how is that fireplace vented?
I might squealed when I saw you post this today!!!! Bring on more Galveston and I have picture of me super pregnant on that staircase
I am appalled that the Catholic Church would exhibit such outrageous opulence by providing a Bishop with a home worth millions. People sacrifice their last cent for the church, and this is how they choose to spend it. It is utterly disgraceful!
Treasure ❤🇺🇸🙏🏻👍🏻
Windswept House. IYKYK. 😉
Always say it, going to the beach from Houston, never went in it though.
How are houses of this scale kept clean?
Are there any secret passages in this house?
I notice there are no gutters or downspouts on many of these old mansions. I wonder how was water conveyed away from these homes?
How much does it cost to heat that place?
An American home with a chapel. Love it.
I’ve been there many times! It’s in original condition and pictures do not do it justice! Go see Galveston and take the tour!
Too bad no pictures of the bathrooms and no other more detailed pictures of the kitchen, I'm sure it has more in it other than the small table and chairs set and the old stove. The entryway was most impressive with the View of the staircase and the fireplace under the stairs, very unusual. The amount of woodwork and Master craftsman for the woodwork and the stone work but really what impressed me was the actual roofing material and the exceptional artistic look it has on the round touret.