Ashton Villa - Galveston, TX - Historic home and museum

Ashton Villa is a historic home located in Galveston, Texas, and is just one of many beautiful homes in the area. It's open to the public to offer guided as well as holiday/seasonal tours, and is a great example of the architecture of the time.

Ashton Villa was built in 1859 in the Victorian Italianate style. The house was built by James Moreau Brown and his family lived in it for several generations afterwards. Brown was a hardware merchant, railroad corporation president and banker, and was once one of the richest men in Texas.

When the house was completed it was one of the grandest houses in the state. It was the first of the great Broadway mansions of Galveston, and set the standard for many of the luxurious homes that followed it. Since then it's been beautifully restored and houses many of the original heirlooms, antiques and art that filled the family home, and is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture. Today it's on the National Register of Historic Places and is also listed as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.

The house was opened to the public in 1975 and has been a popular tourist attraction ever since. It recently suffered at the hands of Hurricane Ike but is being renovated to its former glory, and it still offers public tours to the undamaged parts.

Restoration-in-progress tours are offered weekly, and with knowledgeable and trained guides visitors will be able to learn all about the house itself as well as the families that lived in it. Visitors are sure to leave having learnt something new, and will have a new-found appreciation for the architecture and the lives of those that lived there.

The house is also full of history, and it's even said to be haunted by Miss Bettie, the daughter of James Moreau Brown. In honor of the various ghost stories and legends, and just in time for Halloween, the house offers special "Are We Haunted?'' tours throughout the month of October. In the one-and-a-half-hour long tours, visitors are shown the restoration in progress of the ground floor before being taken to the undamaged second and third levels, where they can hear about the haunting of the house.

And, for those looking for a unique venue to hold a special occasion, the Ballroom of Ashton Villa is available to rent. With high ceilings and stunning chandeliers it offers guests a unique place to hold their function, and with the house having long been used in Galveston's social scene it's the perfect way to honor its history.

A trip to Ashton Villa gives visitors a unique glimpse into the lives of the Victorian upper class, and with such beautiful architecture it's well worth the visit. Whether you want to step back in time with one of the tours or even if you're looking for a unique venue to host an event, it offers something for all guests and everyone is bound to be in awe of Ashton Villa's unique beauty, history and style.