There is so much to enjoy in Galveston, only an hour’s drive from Houston, Texas. This ‘Palace’, just one example, took six years to build. Made to order for a military man who later became a U.S. Congressman, it was completed in 1893, with 52 rooms. (The wooden staircase alone took three years.)

You just want to pinch those cheeks of the moulded sculptures. Don’t worry, this lion won’t bite.

Stained glass in this mansion abounds. With its own unique beauty, it is specially protected from famous Galveston hurricane winds.