Tree Carving Tour - Self-Guided Preview

The Island Totem Pole was carved by artist Jim Phillips for the Case family at the request of Mrs. Case to honor her late husband Roger.

The Case family moved to Galveston from Michigan and the Totem Pole sculpture represents everything that Mr. Case loved about Galveston Island.

In this large carving by Dayle Lewis you will see 17 birds on the branches of this Live Oak tree. Look closely and you'll also see many relief carvings of several small plants and animals around the trunk of the tree.

This carving by Earl Jones honors Elissa, the Official Tall Ship of Texas, and the second oldest operational sailing vessel in the world, and you can tour it right here in Galveston!

Elissa was built in Aberdeen Scotland as a merchant vessel. She was originally launched on October 27, 1877.

Elissa made her first voyage as a restored sailing ship in 1985, traveling Corpus Christi, Texas.

A year later, she sailed to New York City to take part in the Statue of Liberty's centennial celebrations.

When she's not sailing, Elissa is moored at the Texas Seaport Museum in Galveston. Public tours are available year-round, provided she is not out sailing.

This carving by Dayle Lewis honors a great Dane named Hunter who lived in this house. If you look closely at the dog's paws, you'll see the tree had grown around the fence and the artist used this part of the tree to make it appear as if the dog is hanging onto the fence.

The owners of the house always dress Hunter up in seasonal garb. Often found in Astros, Texans and other sporting gear, here he is shown practicing good social hygiene during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020.

This incredible work of Earl Jones is a tribute to all the wildlife living in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The sculpture includes two swordfish, dolphins, a large clam shell and other fish as well.

Football fans who look closely will see the logo for the Tennessee Titans football team carved behind the tip of the sword of the lower swordfish in the sculpture.

Why use the Titans logo? The home is owned by the Owner and Chairman of the Board of the Tennessee Titans football team. Prior to moving to Tennessee, the Titans were known as the Houston Oilers.

From here, go to 8th St. and turn left - then take another left onto Ball St.

When Earl Jones was carving the pod of dolphins at 902 Ball, the boy who lived at this address was sad because he wasn't getting a dolphin.

This touched the heart of sculptor Earl Jones and he surprised him with the gift of this small dolphin carving.

Another carving by sculptor Earl Jones, the Mermaid represents the mother of the family and the Dolphins represent the children. The residents of this home were happy to keep this "family tree" and now enjoy it's new, artistic form.

Now go to 12th street and turn right, then turn left onto Winnie, and make another left on 13th street. The Pelican with Two Alligators will be on your right side on 13th street.

The Pelican is hidden behind the alligator in the foreground on this beautiful work of art from Earl Jones,

Now, continue ahead on 13th street and turn right on Ball street.

This squirrel is found hiding behind the white picket fence. Look closely around the yard and you may find other carvings from Dayle Lewis of a Dolphin, Eel & Dorado, Owl and Wildlife Totem Pole.

The house at 1316 is a 1900 Storm Survivor, as indicated by the diamond shaped badge to the left of the front door.

The house is tall and skinny, which is why the homeowners asked sculptor Daryl Lewis to carve these two tall thin Herons to match the style of their house.

The previous homeowner at 1419 Ball assisted sculptor Dayle Lewis in carving this large guitar as a salute to his love of music.

This sculpture is a tribute to the Great Blue Heron, the largest of the North American herons, standing tall over wetlands and shores of open water.

Great Blue Herons can be found in marshes, swamps, shores, and in this case, the Galveston Historic District.

Another work from sculptor Dayle Lewis this festively colored toad welcomes visitors as they enter the yard at 1615 Ball.

This carving by Jim Phillips was commissioned by the owners of the house to serve as a reminder of their many trips to Japan. Note that the Geisha is facing West - the direction you'd need to travel to reach Japan.

Just up the street at 1709 Ball is the historic 1892 "Easter Egg" cottage, which is available for tours by appointment.

To continue the sculpture tour, go to 18th St. and turn right one block, then turn right onto Winnie.

Many people aren't aware of Galveston's connection to the movie "The Wizard of Oz". One of the directors of the movie, King Vidor, was born in the front downstairs bedroom of this home on February 8, 1894.

This carving by Jim Phillips honors the memory of Vidor, who survived the great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, and based on that experience, published a fictionalized account of that hurricane, titled "Southern Storm", for the May 1935 issue of Esquire magazine.

Notice that Toto also was carved to keep the Tin Man company. He's at the lower left of this photo.

This carving of a Grandmother reading to her Grandchildren was carved by Earl Jones. The Adoue family, for whom the park is named, donated the money for the sculpture.

The text on the bottom of this carving by Jim Phillips says "In Memoriam - Galveston's Lost Oaks - September 13th, 2008" - the day Hurricane Ike took hundreds of trees from the Island.

To continue the tour, turn left onto 10th St and continue one block and turn left onto Church St.

The sculpture by Jim Phillips was carved into a Japanese Yew tree which was only partially dead. The half that didn't survive the storm was sculpted into hisbiscus flowers, a sea shell and sand dollars.

You'll find this hermit crab sculpted by Jim Phillips at the left side of the property near the picket fence. Another one of his remarkable works to bring the lost trees of Galveston back to life.

Pelican-watching is a favorite activity for many as they "dive bomb" for food in the Gulf of Mexico. This Pelican carving by Dayle Lewis shows a Pelican perched upon a piling, scouting out his next meal.

To continue the tour, turn right onto 18th St and then right again to Postoffice St.

Jim Phillips carved this sculpture of an Angel cradling a Bunny as she watches over the yard, a sanctuary for birds, butterfly and bunnies.

Another work of Jim Phillips, this carving a Pelican about to enjoy his catch of the day.

To enjoy our last carving on the tour, turn right on 16th Street and keep an eye out for a mermaid!

This mermaid is one of the newest sculptures on the Island, and another work of Jim Phillips.

Notice the name "OLLA" at the bottom of the sculpture. This was named for the homeowner's grandchildren, Olivia and Ella.

We hope you enjoyed this self-guided tour of our East End Historic District and Tree Sculpture Tour!

Visit the Galveston Experience Company to learn about the other activities on the Island as well as their many popular Bus tours.

And, stop by their offices at 15th and Seawall to get your Free photo with their resident Ghost, or a scenic Galveston backdrop.