Galveston's Carr Mansion has a new life as a bed-and-breakfast destination

PHOTOS: Inside Galveston's Carr Mansion

A mansion built on Galveston Island just after the Civil War, surviving the devastating 1900 hurricane along the way, will begin a new life as an boutique bed-and-breakfast destination later this summer.

See more photos from inside this huge island house... less PHOTOS: Inside Galveston's Carr Mansion

A mansion built on Galveston Island just after the Civil War, surviving the devastating 1900 hurricane along the way, will begin a new life as an boutique ... more Photo: Maggie Kloss Photo: Maggie Kloss Image 1 of / 78 Caption Close Galveston's Carr Mansion has a new life as a bed-and-breakfast destination 1 / 78 Back to Gallery

A mansion built on Galveston Island just after the Civil War, surviving the devastating 1900 hurricane along the way, will begin a new life as an boutique bed-and-breakfast destination later this summer.

Investor group GTX Ventures bought the property last year and soon began to transform it into a boutique bed-and-breakfast. Austin's Shannon Eddings, whose work has been seen on HGTV and various interior design magazines, went to work on the home adding her modern flair to its eight themed rooms.

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The Carr Mansion was built in 1866 by Lewis W. Carr in a Greek Revival style, which was very popular. Just four years later he sold the home to Texas Governor Richard Coke, who used it as a summer home until 1876, according to the Carr Mansion's official website.

Horace Sloan and Jane Austin Sloan, sister of Texas founding father Stephen F. Austin, lived in the home with her husband from 1876 until 1889. Just before the turn of the 20th century it finally got indoor plumbing and electricity.

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After the great storm the home was raised eight feet. It changed hands over the years and served stints as a private residence, church house, and a boarding home. By 1998 it was restored and later turned into the Mermaid & Dolphin Boutique Inn where its been a wedding venue and event center. It's location within blocks of The Strand and the Seawall has been a plus.

For Eddings working on the mansion was a dream project.

"It combined two of my passions, history and design, and got me seriously interested in 1800's Texas architecture. It was exciting to juxtapose the historic woodwork and molding of the place with the clean-lined, contemporary furniture and lighting," Eddings said this week.

Photos of the renovation above show a melding of 19th century Galveston Island with its 21st century counterpart.

"I worked to honor the intrinsic beauty of the old home while maintaining the comfort of a current, modern lifestyle. It truly makes for a one of a kind space, something that can be hard to come by these days."

Houston native Clay Carter, lead investor on the Carr Mansion project, has fond memories of visiting Galveston and the Strand with family.

"One of the values that drove me to revitalize this house is a desire to be a part of good things being redeemed and resurrected," Carter said this week. "We're thrilled to be able to breathe new life into this beautiful, historic home and provide memorable experiences to tourists and the Galveston community."

Bookings for the Carr Mansion will open up July 9, according to a mansion representative, with nightly pricing varying depending on room choice and scheduling. A grand opening party will be held on Saturday, July 7 and its open to the public.

Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com.