The Bolivar Ferry - A Quick History of To and Fro
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English - August 26, 2021 21:00 - 1 minute - 1.47 MBHistory Society & Culture Places & Travel galveston texas history audio tour free island education texas history historic Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
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The Bolivar ferry. The Galveston-port bolivar ferry is a free 24 hour marine transportation system provided by the Texas Department of transportation. This ferry system was not the first to carry passengers between Galveston and Bolivar. Early settlers use their own boats for crossing what is now known as Bolivar Roads. A regular ferry service was not started until the railroads needed a method to move freight between the two points. The first Ferries were essentially large barges that could accommodate entire trains including freight and passenger cars. These early barges had three sets of rail tracks on the deck and could have three lines of several rail cars on each track. The barges would then be pushed by tugboats from one side to the other. The Gulf and Interstate Railway completed a line between Port bolivar in Beaumont in 1896 and used barges to cross Bolivar Roads completing the railroads link to Galveston. In the early 1900s, the ferries would accommodate train, walk on and, eventually vehicular traffic. In 1930, After the wide influx of automobiles, a private venture built two ferry boats, The Galveston and the Jefferson to accommodate vehicles and walk on traffic. These vessels would make 6 to 7 trips a day, initiating the ferry system as we know it. This private ferry system was eventually sold to Galveston county and shortly after, taken over by the Texas highway department which became the Texas Department of Transportation. The ferry system has been expanded and improved constantly since the 1930s, with new and improved ferry vessels and ferry landings. The bolivar ferry is much more than a means to get from one point to the other, it is one of Galveston‘s most popular free tourist attractions. While on the ferry there is much to see, including dolphins, sunken ships, and. One of the busiest ship channels in the nations.Enjoy your ride on the ferry, just make sure you avoid the long lines on holiday weekends!