The hurricane of July 21, 1909, did extensive damage to Galveston's beachfront. The Breakers and Murdoch's bathhouses were destroyed, as was Bettison's Pier. The Surf Bathhouse, however, escaped significant damage. The Seawall was strewn with wreckage, although it weathered its first major test with flying colors. As the Galveston Daily News, July 21, 1909, noted, 'the Seawall paid for itself today.' No lives were lost on Galveston Island, but 20 people died on the coast and 5 drowned at fishing piers on the jetties. Altogether, Galveston County sustained only about $2 million in damage.

The Galveston and Texas History Center has three photographs relating to the 1909 Storm and copies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Weather Report from July 15th through July 22.

Index to Photographs	U.S. Department of Agriculture Weather Report 85-0020
Bathhouses: 1, 3 Beachfront: 3 Breakers Bathhouse: 1 Fort Crockett: 2 Gulf of Mexico: 1, 3 Military: 2 People: 1 Seawall: 1, 3 Surf Bathhouse: 3 U.S. Army: 2	July 15, 1909 July 16, 1909 July 17, 1909 July 18, 1909 July 19, 1909 July 20, 1909 July 21, 1909 July 22, 1909

Galveston and Texas History Center I Rosenberg Library