HistoricSiteMarkers
Reconstruction & Gilded Age

Wegner House

Galveston, Galveston County, Texas

Marker Inscription

Built during Galveston’s prominent business era, this house was completed in 1892 in the San Jacinto neighborhood for Ernest and Christiana Wegner. Designed by architect Carl Heufs, the house is a classic L-plan Queen Anne Victorian perched high on a brick basement. Architectural changes were made in 1933 in the arts and crafts style. The current façade shows elements of both styles of architecture used on the house. The house survived the 1900 Great Storm virtually untouched while houses around it were destroyed. It remained in the Wegner family for 81 years. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 2014

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

Completed in 1892 for Ernest and Christiana Wegner, this L-plan Queen Anne Victorian rose on a high brick basement in Galveston's San Jacinto neighborhood during the island's booming business era. Designed by architect Carl Heufs, it was remodeled in 1933 in the Arts and Crafts style, and its facade still shows both. Remarkably, the house came through the catastrophic 1900 Great Storm nearly untouched while neighboring homes were destroyed, and it stayed in the Wegner family for 81 years.

Why it matters

Its survival of the 1900 hurricane makes it a rare witness to Galveston's Gilded-Age prosperity and the disaster that ended it.

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Related people

  • · Ernest Wegner
  • · Christiana Wegner
  • · Carl Heufs

Related events

  • · 1900 Galveston hurricane

Themes & tags

Nearby & related markers

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William and Adele Skinner House

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Best-Lucas House

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