Cotton Compress & Warehouse District | Cotton Capital to Port Powerhouse
Galveston Unscripted | Free. Texas History. For All.
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The Port of Galveston has played a vital role in international trade for many years, serving as a hub for a variety of commodities. Initially used for shipping cotton and agricultural products, the port evolved into a major center for various types of cargo. With the development of railroads in Texas, the transportation of cotton became economically feasible, and cotton compressors allowed for more efficient storage and transport. The district established in the late 1800s was home to numerous cotton warehouses, which stored cotton from all over Texas before being shipped around the world. Today, remnants of the compress and warehouse district can still be seen in the area between 28th and 51st streets and north of Broadway. Cotton remained one of Texas's most profitable exports until the mid-20th century, and the cotton and compress and warehouse district of Galveston was a natural extension of the port.