Jessica Gunderson - Can You Survive the 1900 Galveston Hurricane?: An Interactive History Adventure

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YOU are living in Galveston, Texas, in the year 1900. Thousands of people call Galveston home. The city is well-known as one of the busiest shipping ports in the country.

In September, you hear about a storm heading your way. Youve seen storms before and dont think much about it. But when the hurricane hits, its more powerful than anything youve ever seen. Will YOU make it through the storm alive?

Chapter One sets the scene. Then you choose which path to read. Follow the links at the bottom of each page as you read the stories. The decisions you make will change your outcome. After you finish one path, go back and read the others for new perspectives and more adventures. Use your devices back buttons or page navigation to jump back to your last choice.

Galveston, Texas, is a city on an island in the Gulf of Mexico. Officially founded in 1839, it became a bustling city with sparkling beaches and a booming waterfront. The Port of Galveston even rivaled New Orleans, Louisiana, as the nations top exporter of cotton. The Strand financial area was as busy as New Yorks famous Wall Street financial district.

By 1900 the city had a population of about 38,000 people. Tall, stately mansions lined Broadway, the main street in the city. A linked Galveston to Houston by railroad. Trolley cars traveled along Broadway and the beachfront. Swimmers flocked to the beaches. People cycled and strolled along the boardwalk near the beach.

However, Galveston had its problems too. Tropical storms often rolled in from the Gulf of Mexico, drenching the city and knocking down trees and small structures. Much of the city was barely above sea level. During storms, the waters of the gulf sometimes rushed in and flooded the low-lying streets and alleyways. Local citizens just called these floods overflows and werent alarmed.

But in 1900 this casual attitude would change. In late August, a tropical began to form in the Caribbean Sea, and then it swirled into the Gulf of Mexico. The cyclone strengthened and became a hurricane, heading straight toward Galveston.

On September 7, 1900, large swells are forming out in the gulf. The swells crash hard onto Galvestons beachfront. Many residents are gathering on the beach to watch the waves come in.

The swells are dark, swirling with sand lifted from the bottom of the sea. But no one seems concerned. The weather is hot and humid. Everyone is glad that a storm will help cool things down.

Like the other locals, you arent too alarmed by the coming storm. But by the next day the winds are howling, and the streets are flooding more than ever before. You quickly realize that this isnt any ordinary storm. The situation is dangerous, and many may not live through it.

Its September 8, 1900. Youre a young, aspiring journalist on assignment in Houston, Texas. But covering the wedding of a rich couple isnt very exciting, at least not to you.

Youve always dreamed of being a reporter who covers exciting stories like wars and disasters. But youre a young woman. Your editor doesnt believe women should cover such stories. Instead, he assigns you to the fashion and society pages.

As the couple take their vows, you scribble descriptions of the brides dress and the grooms hopeful smile. You know your readers will love all the details you include. But still, youre bored.

Someone bumps into you, and your pencil goes flying. You almost drop your brand-new Brownie point-and-shoot camera.

Sorry, miss, says a man, bending down to pick up your pencil. He hands it back to you and looks up at the bright sky above. I wasnt paying attention. I was watching for the storm.

Storm? you ask.

Havent you heard? he says. A big storm is heading this way. He introduces himself as Peter. Do you write for the Houston News society page?

Actually, yes, you beam at the recognition. Im working on a story now.

Sounds like an exciting job, Peter says.

You roll your eyes. Not really. Nothing exciting ever happens in Houston.

But Peter isnt listening. Hes staring up at the clouds again.

Are you a ? you ask.

Just an , he tells you. But trust me. This storm is going to be bad! Huge swells are crashing on Galvestons beach. That means the storm is stirring up waves way out in the gulf.

Galveston is just a few miles across the bay from Houston.

Peter leans in close, glancing around him. Im heading to Galveston to watch the storm. I cant miss the chance to see this.

If the storm will be as bad as he says, you could land the big story youve always wanted.

Im going to Galveston, too, you tell him. Come on. We can head to the train station together.

When you reach the train station, its bustling with people. The train for Galveston is about to depart. At the ticket counter, the station agent tells you theres only one ticket left. But theres another train bound for Galveston, leaving from the town of Beaumont nearby. You could go to Beaumont and catch the train there.

You can take this train, Peter says. Ill go on to Beaumont.

You hesitate. Maybe you should go to Beaumont, too, so you can travel together. But you want to get to Galveston soon. You dont want to miss your chance to take photos of the storm.

The train station is crowded and hot. You would normally be utterly bored, but Peter is entertaining you. He tells you all about his love of weather. In your notebook, he draws various shapes of clouds and labels them.

Some people think are a sign of a hurricane, he tells you. He draws a sketch of a hazy, gray sky.

Youre about to look out the window when your train pulls into the station. Its raining, and Peter holds his jacket over your head as you cross the platform onto the train.

At Bolivar Point, the train stops. Here, it will chug aboard a ferry to cross the channel to Galveston. You lean over Peter to peer out the window. Buckets of rain hide your view. Then you see the ferry, fighting its way through huge waves crashing against its bow.

As the ferry nears the pier, the wind knocks the boat backward. The captain tries to steer the ferry to the pier, but the storm is too strong. The ferry turns back toward Galveston.

What do we do now? you cry.

As if in answer, the train starts moving backward. The conductor is taking you back to Beaumont.

All for nothing, you mutter, staring down at your notebook. Nothing in the notebook is worth anything. Except maybe Peters sketches.

Its probably for the best, Peter tells you. Then he gasps and points at the floor.

The train is filling with waterfast.

You look out the window. You dont see land anymorejust water surrounding the entire train.