12/12/2025
From a stable to a visitor's center to our "Galveston's Juneteenth Exhibit - "And Still We Rise"" exhibit, the carriage house of the 1859 Ashton Villa has seen a lot.
James Moreau Brown built Ashton Villa in 1859. A significant amount of the brickwork, both in the house and here in the carriage house, was done by a brick mason slave named Aleck. Aleck's story is highlighted at both our Ship To Shore experience at the Galveston Historic Seaport and at "And Still We Rise..."
The work being done now, thanks to a matching Texas Preservation Trust Fund grant from Texas Historical Commission, includes new mortar and stainless steel tie rods, ensuring the building continues to tell Aleck's story and others for another 166 years and more.