Moody Mansion

The Moody Mansion shines with history, grandeur, and stunning architecture.

This beautiful historic residential Romanesque mansion was completed in 1895 and was designed by the architect William H. Tyndall. Originally, Narcissi Willis had wanted an impressive home built for the family, but her husband Richard Willis, a cotton broker, preferred to keep his resources liquid and wanted them distributed to his children upon his death. When he died in 1892, Narcissi Willis had the mansion built in place of the family home, which alienated the children from her. She lived alone in the mansion till the end of her life with one very well-paid housekeeper. Their children never visited the mansion.

Eventually, the mansion was put up for sale by Beatrice Willis, one of the daughters. Due to local hurricanes, the Moody family got a great deal on the home. Moody family members lived in the home until 1986, and it is now a beautiful historical museum. The Moody family had built a great American financial empire beginning with cotton and expanded into banking, ranching, insurance, and hotels. This mansion is available for tours, weddings, and group events. Of the 31 original rooms, 20 are shown on the tour. The Moody's life is described in detail throughout the tour through an individual electronic device so that you can go at your own pace.

Hurricane Ike caused flooding in the basement in 2008 that ruined the period kitchen and Libbie Moody's potting room, but by July 2014, the basement is now home to the Galveston Children's Museum. It is open daily and features a self-guided audio tour. Admission for adults is $15, $7 for children ages 6 to 18, and children 5 and under are free. Come and take a look inside the stunning Moody Mansion located in Galveston, Texas.