The Carr Mansion is a Greek Revival-style home that was built in the 19th century and has been meticulously restored. This bed and breakfast has retained all of its historic charm while also boasting a contemporary aesthetic and a high level of elegance.

In Galveston, the Carr Mansion is an excellent location for hosting intimate gatherings of family and friends as well as weddings and business conferences. For your upcoming event, we would be thrilled to collaborate with you to deliver exceptional service and a one-of-a-kind experience. Please get in touch with us as soon as possible for additional information, to check our availability, and to book a tour.

History

Shannon Eddings, an interior designer based in Austin, was tasked with bringing together Carr Mansion’s historic architecture and contemporary aesthetic. Shannon explains, “I purposefully kept a bit of a nautical theme throughout [the resort] because Galveston is historically the largest seaport town in Texas.” “At first, it was the city’s rich history that piqued my interest in the location.” During the time that the building was undergoing major restorations, she spent a year collecting pieces that went along with her provincial theme. Each piece, whether it be the gorgeous antique furniture and rugs, the brass decor, or the impressive collage of coastal paintings in the hallway on the second floor, has been perfectly curated and displayed among the design. In addition, Shannon took a lot of care with the lighting throughout the house. She said that she wanted to show “the beauty of the two eras meeting” by contrasting contemporary light fixtures with the ceiling medallions that were originally installed. Each room has its own unique, custom-tailored theme, and yet they all contribute to the overall grand feel of the space, which transports guests to a luxurious experience steeped in tradition.

A gorgeous Greek Revival mansion built in the middle of the nineteenth century can be found on a quiet street away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the island. It is one of the few remaining landmarks from the island’s original building boom and is packed with history. In the beginning, the land was purchased from E. B. Nichols, who was a merchant, banker, and owner of real estate in Galveston. Lewis W. Carr was the builder of the home in 1866 when it was first inhabited. In addition, as of the year 2018, we have rechristened it the Carr Mansion in recognition of its history. In 1870, Richard Coke, a former governor of Texas, was the first person to purchase the home. The former governor, who is best known for helping to establish what is now known as Texas A&M and using the Galveston estate as his summer home, is best known for restoring constitutional law and order to the state of Texas. Later on, the house was bought in 1876 by Horace Sloan and Jane Austin, and then again in 1889 by Herman and Bertha Marwitz, who gave the property to their daughter and new son-in-law, Ida and John Gross. Herman and Bertha Marwitz bought the property as a gift for their daughter and new son-in-law.

John Gross, the Secretary of Galveston Dry Goods, started planning an expansion and remodeling project with Nicholas Clayton, a prominent Galveston architect. The expansion and remodeling project was going to include a new elegant ballroom in the Queen Anne architectural style with a corner turret and a large bay window, along with two additional bedrooms. The new exterior was finished off with a brand new front entrance that featured French doors as well as a fan light arch that featured beveled glass above. As part of the renovations to the interior, a fan light arch was installed at the entrance to the ballroom, and ornate fireplace mantles were brought in from Europe for both the dining room and the new ballroom. A second expansion took place in 1898–1899, and it included the installation of indoor plumbing and electricity, as well as a new dining room (which is now the Pub), kitchen and butler’s pantry, additional bedrooms, and the Carriage House.

Carr Mansion is one of the few remaining landmarks representing Galveston Island’s earliest building boom. It was one of the few buildings to survive the Great Galveston Storm of 1900, which is considered to be the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the United States. The grade of the island was raised in 1902, and as a result, the estate was elevated by eight feet. In order to finish off the elevation change, some new steps as well as a couple of lions were added.

Bed and Breakfast with a Historical Affair in Galveston

Carr Mansion served as a church, a boarding house, and a private residence during the subsequent fifty years after the Gross family sold the property in 1950. The Gross family owned the property until that year. The property, which had been abandoned for many years, was finally sold in 1997, and the following year, in 1998, it was transformed into a hotel with a tropical theme and given the name Mermaid & Dolphin Boutique Inn. In 1999, the inn was highlighted as part of the 25th Anniversary Tour hosted by the Galveston Historical Foundation. In addition, HGTV’s “Secret Gardens of Galveston” featured the inn as part of their tropical garden tour.

In 2017, the estate was purchased by an investor team based in Austin and led by Clay Carter. Immediately after the purchase, work began to transform Carr Mansion into a contemporary and aesthetically pleasing destination for tourists visiting Galveston. “Growing up in Houston, Texas, I have fond memories of going down to Galveston to visit the strand, as well as the ocean, and it is a truly special place,” said Clay Carter, who is the lead investor in Carr Mansion. “Galveston is a place where you can feel like you’re in another world.” I wanted to be a part of good things being redeemed and resurrected, and that’s one of the values that drove me to spruce up this old house and give it a new lease on life. We are overjoyed to be able to give this stunning and historically significant home a new lease on life and to give visitors and residents of Galveston experiences that they will never forget. The estate has successfully regained its former stately elegance, and all of the history and allure that the estate has to offer are now on full display. Even each individual bedroom on the estate has been given a name in honor of one of the many people who have spent significant portions of their lives at the estate over the course of its history. The Carr Mansion will be open for business in the summer of 2018, making it the ideal location for weddings, corporate retreats, and other special events.