Jean Lafitte in Galveston: Pirate History You Can Still See
Yes, Galveston really was a pirate island. The privateer Jean Lafitte settled on Galveston Island in 1817 and ran his colony, Campeche, until 1821, when the United States demanded he leave. Before sailing away, he burned his home, his fort and the village. Two centuries later you can still visit the places tied to his story, and see most of them in about an hour.
In short
• Jean Lafitte based his operation on Galveston Island from 1817 to 1821.
• His headquarters was known as Maison Rouge (the "Red House").
• He burned the settlement when he left in 1821, so little survives above ground.
• Today you can see the Maison Rouge site, the 1877 tall ship Elissa, and the pirate museum near the harbor.
• Our 1-hour Pirates Tale Tour links them together on a Segway, starting at $60.
Who was Jean Lafitte?
Jean Lafitte was a pirate and privateer who first made his name around New Orleans. During the War of 1812, Lafitte and his Baratarian fleet helped General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. After the war he needed a new base, and he found one on the windswept sandbar of Galveston Island.
When was Jean Lafitte in Galveston?
From 1817 to 1821. Lafitte and his men set up a settlement called Campeche on the island and ran their ships and trade from it. In 1821, under pressure from the United States, Lafitte left Galveston. A Texas historical marker records that he burned his home, fort and village before sailing away.
What was Maison Rouge?
Maison Rouge, French for "Red House", was Lafitte's headquarters on the island. It burned with the rest of the settlement in 1821. The site is near the Galveston harbor today, and it is the first stop on our pirate tour, where your guide tells the story of the colony and the man who ran it.
Is there a pirate museum or pirate ship in Galveston?
Pirate history is concentrated near the harbor, a short ride from the Strand:
• Pirates! Legends of the Gulf Coast is a pirate museum near Harborside Drive and is part of our Pirates Tale Tour route.
• The Elissa is an 1877 tall ship docked at the Texas Seaport Museum. It is not a pirate ship, but it is the best place on the island to picture what a 19th-century sailing ship looked like. Our guides stop here so you can see it up close.
Check the museum's own website for its current hours and tickets if you plan to go inside.
What about Lafitte's buried treasure?
Every pirate island has a treasure legend, and Galveston's is the treasure said to be buried at Three Trees. No one has proven it exists, but the story is one of the favorites on our tour, along with what remains from Lafitte's days on the island.
How to see Galveston's pirate history in one hour
The Pirates Tale Tour is a 1-hour guided Segway tour that:
• zooms by Maison Rouge, the site of Jean Lafitte's house
• shows you the Elissa, Galveston's tall ship
• visits the Pirates! Legends of the Gulf Coast museum area
• shares the legend of the buried treasure at Three Trees
Length: 1 hour
Price: $60 per person
Departs: 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM
Starts at: 519 25th Street, Strand Historic District
Experience needed: None. Training is included before every tour
Because it is only an hour, it fits easily into a beach day or into the time before or after a cruise. Families love it: pirates, treasure legends and a real tall ship keep kids interested from start to finish.
FAQ
Did Jean Lafitte live in Galveston?
Yes. Lafitte based his pirate and privateering operation on Galveston Island from 1817 to 1821, at a settlement called Campeche, with his headquarters at Maison Rouge.
Why did Jean Lafitte leave Galveston?
The United States demanded that he leave. In 1821 he burned his home, fort and village and sailed away from the island.
Is there a pirate tour in Galveston?
Yes. Segway Galveston's Pirates Tale Tour is a 1-hour guided Segway tour of Galveston's pirate sites, including Maison Rouge, the Elissa and the pirate museum area. It costs $60 per person.
Is the Galveston pirate tour good for kids?
Yes. It is one of our most family-friendly tours: it is short, full of stories, and every rider gets Segway training first.
Where does the pirate tour start?
At our shop at 519 25th Street in the Strand Historic District, Galveston, TX 77550.
Ready to go? Book the Pirates Tale Tour or call 409-692-6691.