Unboxing History

Mardi Gras Majesty: Unboxing Galveston’s Legacy

• Unboxing History | History Expert Jodi Wright-Gidley & Galveston Author Christine Hopkins • Season 2 • Episode 1

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In this episode of Unboxing History, hosts Christine and Jodi explore a colorful artifact from the Galveston County Museum's collection – a crown from the 1961 Treasure Ball Royal Court. They delve into the rich history of Mardi Gras celebrations in Galveston, detailing key events and traditions that have shaped the festivities over the years. The discussion covers the origins of Mardi Gras in Galveston, the prominent krewes, and the significance of the Treasure Ball. Listeners are also introduced to the museum's permanent Mardi Gras exhibit, which features a vast collection of capes, trains, crowns, and more, highlighting the community's enduring connection to this vibrant tradition.


Special thanks to the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

Thank you for listening to Unboxing History, presented by the Galveston County Museum.
For more information on the Museum, visit our website.

History of the Galveston County Museum
The Galveston County Museum was formed in 1976. It was located on Market Street for many years. After Hurricane Ike damaged the HVAC and electrical systems in 2008, the unharmed artifacts were moved. Now, the museum is located in the Galveston County courthouse building at 722 Moody/21st Street in Galveston.

​Galveston County Museum is a joint project of the Galveston County Commissioners Court and Galveston County History, Inc. The museum cares for a collection of 20,000 artifacts and archives. We also maintain the Historical Commission's library. If you are interested in research or donating an artifact related to Galveston County history, please call 409.766.2340.

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Mardi Gras Majesty: Unboxing Galveston’s Legacy

[00:00:00] 

[00:00:06] Christine Hopkins: Welcome to Unboxing History. The podcast where we take a deep dive into the Galveston County Museum's collections and the stories behind it. I'm Christine Hopkins.

[00:00:16] Jodi Wright-Gidley: And I'm Jodi Wright Gidley.

[00:00:17] Christine Hopkins: So each episode, we're going to dive in deeper into. One of the artifacts that's part of the collection. So today, we're unboxing something related to Mardi Gras, something colorful, something fun.

[00:00:31] Christine Hopkins: So, let's, let's dive into it. 

[00:00:33] Jodi Wright-Gidley: Okay.

[00:00:33] Jodi Wright-Gidley: So, it's a little crown. So this is a crown that was worn by the crown bearer that was part of the 1961 Treasure Ball Royal Court. The little man that wore this and carried this was named Joe Taboracci. His family donated this to the museum in the early 90s. It was donated by Mary Lasko and her family.

[00:00:56] Christine Hopkins: Well, and for those of you that don't know, during Mardi Gras [00:01:00] season, Galveston comes alive with colors and parades and Mardi Gras beats. And there's a lot of history behind that in Galveston and in Galveston County. So, you know, we have this new permanent exhibit, which we're highlighting today. I mean, look behind us.

[00:01:16] Christine Hopkins: If you're watching this, if you're listening, we'll describe it. But if you're watching this, you can see all these vibrant colors and all these beautiful treasures behind us. So tell us a little bit about the history of Mardi Gras and Galveston. 

[00:01:29] Jodi Wright-Gidley: So Mardi Gras and Galveston has deep roots. So the, a lot of people say the very first Mardi Gras themed event was at Michel Menard's house, and that was in 1853.

[00:01:40] Jodi Wright-Gidley: And then there was a group of guys. Prominent businessman that held a masquerade ball in 1867. But in 1871, Mardi Gras and Galveston really got big because that's when the krewes came in. So you had the Knights of Momus and the Knights of Myth, and they were competing societies that held all [00:02:00] kinds of fancy balls, parades with fancy invitations and costumes.

[00:02:05] Jodi Wright-Gidley: And so from there it just grew and grew and grew over the years. 

[00:02:09] Christine Hopkins: And what's so nice about this treasure or this artifact that we unveiled today, look at this, it even has this really formal pillow, but this is something that a mother or an aunt or a seamstress made with care and love. And, you know, one of the things we're talking about the Mardi Gras krewes, but the big tradition has also been Treasure Ball.

[00:02:28] Christine Hopkins: Treasure ball has been going on for a long, long time in Galveston. It's been a fundraiser for the O'Connell High School. And, you know, again, if you look at this in detail, you know, you can see that something's sewn on or it's been glued on, but still it's just such an important part of of our history.

[00:02:46] Christine Hopkins: And like you said, with Mardi Gras, we've grown and now we're the third biggest Mardi Gras in the country. And so what started as private balls and parades and parties and fundraisers like what O'Connell has [00:03:00] done turns, has turned into probably more than 20 parades, balcony parties, I mean formal, incredible balls, as well as just those parade viewing parties. 

[00:03:10] Jodi Wright-Gidley: And there's so many krewes now. They all have their own personality. They all do their own events. Now we have chicken runs and family-friendly parades and something for everybody. 

[00:03:20] Christine Hopkins: And so what do you think makes Galveston's Mardi Gras unique from the other celebrations across the country?

[00:03:26] Jodi Wright-Gidley: Yeah, well, I guess The traditions that grew here in Galveston are different from the ones that are in other towns and it's also a family tradition. You know, for Treasure Ball, you may have a child being a crown bearer at age five and then he'll grow up to be king. Or you'll have a flower girl who becomes queen and her sister's a princess and it's just a big family event.

[00:03:48] Christine Hopkins: Well, and I know I have a friend that I introduced you to where all of her family have been in Treasure Ball. And there have been several queens in her family because, you know, they partcipated, like you said, as children. And [00:04:00] then the goal is to be queen.

[00:04:02] Christine Hopkins: And that's all related to how much money and how you're doing with your fundraising. So, this is an incredible collection. Tell us a little bit about this Mardi Gras collection that the Galveston County Museum has. 

[00:04:11] Jodi Wright-Gidley: So, we have hundreds of Mardi Gras items, from capes and trains, to crowns, beads, and all kinds of things.

[00:04:18] Jodi Wright-Gidley: So right now we've created a gallery that will be permanent Mardi Gras year round. So anytime you visit, you can see some Mardi Gras. And then what we're going to do each year is change things out. So every year we'll change out, you'll see different capes. This year the oldest thing we have is from the 1930s.

[00:04:34] Jodi Wright-Gidley: We go all the way to the 80s. But we continue to collect Mardi Gras too. So, if you have an old cape or train gathering dust under your bed, think about donating it to the museum. 

[00:04:45] Christine Hopkins: So, the capes that are behind us some of them are from Treasure Ball, but some of them are from Mardi Gras krewes as well.

[00:04:50] Jodi Wright-Gidley: Yes. 

[00:04:51] Christine Hopkins: And so I'm counting, gosh, like a quick count, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Oh, there's like 10, probably more than that. There's 10 or [00:05:00] more and there's even some right outside of this entrance and I just think it's incredible. And and some, so if someone wants to donate, how do they go about doing that? 

[00:05:08] Jodi Wright-Gidley: Just give us a call or email.

[00:05:10] Jodi Wright-Gidley: Mhm. 

[00:05:10] Christine Hopkins: Well, happy Mardi Gras, Jodi. And this is a really great opportunity. This is another wonderful reason to come and visit the Galveston County Museum. You know, you can actually try on a cape and take your photos with it, too. And you'll you'll be so impressed with the creativity, and the love that's been put into these Mardi Gras trains.

[00:05:32] Jodi Wright-Gidley: And that wraps up our unboxing. Thanks for joining us for Unboxing History.

[00:05:36] Christine Hopkins: Remember to subscribe to Unboxing History to stay up on all the upcoming episodes. And remember, until next time, keep exploring history one artifact at a time. 

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