The Hendley Building

The Hendley Building

Also known as Hendley Row, the Hendley Building played a direct and pivotal role in Galveston's maritime and port history. Here is how it connects to the Port of Galveston:

Commercial Hub for Port Trade

• Built between 1855–59 by shipping entrepreneurs William and Joseph Hendley (among others), it was designed as the headquarters for their Texas and New York Packet Line, which supported Galveston’s booming cotton export trade and other commerce with New York and beyond
• Located right on The Strand, the city’s historic commercial district along the shipping channel, it stood at the economic epicenter as the Port of Galveston became the busiest Gulf Coast port and the second‑largest cotton exporter in the U.S.

Strategic Role During the Civil War

• During the Federal occupation of Galveston in late 1862, Union troops used the building's rooftop as a lookout point, observing ship movements into the harbor.
• When Confederate forces recaptured Galveston on January 1, 1863, they too used the rooftop to coordinate their offensive, marking the building as a key vantage in military operations tied to controlling the port

Government & Engineering Authority

• Later, in February 1880, the building housed offices of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which directed harbor and river improvements on the Texas Gulf Coast, vital for maintaining and expanding port operations

Why It Matters

• The Hendley Building is more than just a historic front—it’s an architectural symbol of Galveston’s commercial and maritime ascendancy.
• As one of the oldest surviving commercial structures on The Strand, it offers tangible insight into how commerce, conflict, and infrastructure shaped the Port of Galveston’s legacy

Today, it stands as a testament to Galveston’s critical role in 19th‑century Gulf Coast trade and port history—used, at various points, by shipping magnates, Confederate and Union forces, federal engineers, merchants, and preservation groups alike.

Explore Galveston's history with the PastPort!

Your journey includes Hendley Row, a powerful experience highlighting the island's immigration and maritime past. Learn More.