Sacred Heart church was established on June 21, 1884 by Rt. Rev. Bishop Nicholas A. Gallagher.
At one point Sacred Heart was the largest church in Texas (1892). It was also the third largest in the southern United States.
Sadly the Storm of 1900 demolished the original building. This storm devastated most of Galveston and became what has been known
as the worst natural disaster to ever strike the United States, killing 10,000 people.
All but two stained glass windows, the Mass bell, the statue of the Sacred Heart and the Crucifix were destroyed.
These items remain at the present church that was constructed in 1903-04. A prominent landmark in the city, it features ornate octagonal towers,
flying buttresses, elaborate ornamentation, and a variety of arches. The design reflects influences of the Moorish, Byzantine, Gothic, and the Romanesque styles.
This building's dome was damaged in a 1915 hurricane, and was redesigned by Architect Nicholas Clayton.