Galveston Island Real PIRATE HOUSE Remains

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Galveston Island Real PIRATE HOUSE remains of Jean Lafitte | Most Famous Pirate in Texas. We're in Galveston, TX today exploring the remains of Pirate Jean Lafitte's House! Jean Lafitte was the most famous pirate in all of Texas in the 1800s and made his home in Galveston, TX for 4yrs. In this video we get a sneak inside and will see if we can find any buried treasure that apparently still remains on the property!
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Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 - c. 1823) was a French pirate and privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. He and his older brother Pierre spelled their last name Laffite, but English language documents of the time used "Lafitte". This has become the common spelling in the United States, including places named after him.
Lafitte is believed to have been born either in Basque-France or the French colony of Saint-Domingue. By 1805, he was operating a warehouse in New Orleans to help distribute the goods smuggled by his brother Pierre Lafitte. The United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807, so the Lafittes moved their operations to an island in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. By 1810, their new port had become very successful; the Lafittes had a profitable smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy.
Despite Lafitte warning the other Baratarians of a possible military attack on their base of operations, a United States naval force successfully invaded in September 1814 and captured most of his fleet. Later, in return for a legal pardon, Lafitte and his fleet helped General Andrew Jackson defend New Orleans during the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, as British forces sought access to the Mississippi River. After securing victory, Jackson paid tribute to the Lafitte brothers' efforts, as well as those of their fellow privateers, in despatches.
The Lafittes subsequently became spies for the Spanish during the Mexican War of Independence. In 1817, Jean founded a new colony on Galveston Island named Campeche, which at its height earned millions of dollars annually from stolen or smuggled coin and goods. Very little is known about Lafitte, and speculation about his life and death continues among historians.

[@TravelswithNick]

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[@thearchive1973]

I was writing to say hello and I hope you folks are doing well. Have a great day buddy.

[@BIGGER_RED]

Let’s starts diggin!!!

[@rhondaz356]

I think we've all heard of him but, this is so cool, Nick. Thanks for providing some details to fill out this legendary figure. 🌞👏 BTW, I follow Adam the Woo, the huge Disney fan, too.🤠

[@TravelswithNick]

Thank you! I found this story very interesting and it was honestly my favorite travel vlog in Galveston :). Glad you enjoyed it Rhonda !! Adam the Woo is a cool dude!

[@rodneyringler3745]

The first wooden model ship model I built was the 2nd USS Enterprise. So I was surprised to find out through research some of it's History and it's ties with this place. Jean Lafitte was called a Pirate, but... He had a Letter of Marque from Brazil that Authorized him as a Privateer. Brazil was a Portuguese territory and They did not get along with Spain. Jean Lafitte was a successful businessman in the Caribbean Islands, His wife, son and he were on a ship returning to France. The ship was stopped by a Spanish ship and the French ships company STRANDED on an island. Subsequently, before they were rescued, Lafitte's family died from an illness. So, he went to Brazil, got his Letter of Marque, and began a private war on the Spanish. He had several small fast ships in his service manned by other Captain's and Crews... He always had One strict rule. NEVER ATTACK AN AMERICAN OR BRITISH FLAGGED VESSEL UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH. Jean Lafitte's original base of operations was in the Bayou's of the Mississippi Delta, South of New Orleans. There are historical buildings in and around the French Quarter that belonged to him and his brother and still exists to this day. The war of 1812 broke out. In 1814, 3 days after the peace treaty between the US and Britain had been signed, The British invaded South of New Orleans to take control of the mouth of the Mississippi. General Zachary Taylor, 1500 American Regular's with 3 shots of ball and powder each marched into New Orleans to defend it. He knew he was out numbered and did not have the supplies to mount a defense. Mean time One of Lafitte's Captains had attacked a US flagged Vessel, looted it and killed everyone to cover it up. Some of the loot was sold and it was soon recognized to have come from the ship and Lafitte and his men branded Pirates. Warrants were issued. Lafitte approached General Taylor, the Govenor and Mayor and suggested, For Amnesty for himself and his men, He would provide all his cannon, men, shot and powder needed to mount a defense of New Orleans. Now, in that age, The art of Modern Artillery was just starting. Lafitte's men were formally in Napoleons Army and were cutting edge Artillery men. We all know the ending... but... New Orleans was going to have a huge victory shindig... Everyone was going to be there. As Jean Lafitte took his place on the Grandstand with the other Dignitaries, they all turned their back on him to snub him, except for General Taylor, who said, Gentlemen, "You all Know Captain Lafitte" and they snubbed him again. Talk in their circle was Yeah we know him, get a rope! Taylor refused the Amnesty but gave Lafitte and his men time to escape justice. They went to Galveston. So... This little 14 gun Brig USS ENTERPRISE sails into Mosquito Bay, clearly outnumbered by the Pirate Fleet. Sent word As a NAVY Vessel on Official Business they requested a Parley. Lafitte agreed and invited the Officer's to dinner at Mansion Rouge. After dinner terms were demanded. Both Parties agreed Lafitte was given 30 days to depart the premises... The Enterprise would go down to Campeachie MX to quell a revolt and return. After the allowed time, the Enterprise returned, Found the fleet dispersed and the mansion burned down. Keep in mind, there are not many places in Texas with French names, La Port, Tx is one and is very close to Galveston. After Lafite left... there were many rumors of him... But for all practical purposes... He just flat out disappeared.

[@TravelswithNick]

Thank you for the highly detailed comment and info!

[@rodneyringler3745]

@@TravelswithNick It was a long essay. I had to cut much of the detail's and all of the references out. I tell all this... Pirates or Privateers little matter These guys were business men. They did not bury money and jewels. It cost money and commodities to be successful, then and now. Like modern businessmen... the results are the same. How they profited, may be questionable. Did they bury it? Highly unlikely. Did they reinvest in their "Eneterprise"? Most undoubtedly. Romantic Notions, create rumors and speculation's. The more the merrier! This is one way that legends are born... and dreams stay alive. One fact... Jean Laffitte's Mansion Rouge was described in the Navy Log as a Red Castle with cannon's in the turrent's. It is also considered one of the first BRICK building's built in Galveston and Texas. Much was wood, and most of that was scavenged and lost after the 1900 storm. That part of the island wasn't raised after the storm. That's the only reason the foundation remains today.

[@Autourdumonde1]

Amazing new video Nick. Your travels are always super cool. Have a nice week end. 👍👍🚶😀

[@TravelswithNick]

Glad you enjoyed it thank you!! Thanks for stopping by as well 😎👍👍

[@BEACHLIFE78]

cool video love looking round old ruins , so much history 😎👍

[@TravelswithNick]

Thank you!! 😎👍👍

[@laetitia449]

Whouah great 👍 I want to visit it but it s not easy to park. Thank you for the video so cool.

[@TravelswithNick]

I just parked in the side of the road about a block down the street. Not too bad. Glad you enjoyed and thanks for watching!!

[@ParsimoniousPiper]

That’s very cool! And you managed to get us in without drawing unwanted attention!

[@TravelswithNick]

Yes! Was very surprised as you can probably tell to get in lol. Glad you enjoyed 😎👍

[@AnnaTravels]

Wow that's pretty cool.

[@TravelswithNick]

Thank you! I had fun doing that video 😎👍👍

[@marypettyfer4640]

That tree above the steps was absolutely magnificent 👌

[@marypettyfer4640]

When you showed damage from the salt.

[@TravelswithNick]

@@marypettyfer4640 Glad you enjoyed it! This was probably my favorite vlog in Galveston :)

[@JoChris]

Next up- diggin for gold! Bring that shovel! Lol! That was cool. Loving the history. (I follow Adam the Woo too) 👍🏼

[@TravelswithNick]

LOL thank you! Next time I’ll remember the shovel 😎👍

[@marypettyfer4640]

Thankyou 👍👌😊🙏❤

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Great information, and very cool to see! I have to admit that I was expecting a bit more "arrr" in the narrative... Oh, I mean "narrrrative". Too bad about the salt water affecting the steps that much - it's really nice that they're still standing though after all these years.

[@bethchilds5487]

Jean lafitte was a close relative to 1 of my gramp fathers

[@BeanThatDude]

Lots of sick and creepy also fascinating stuff about this earth background , history .etc

[@TravelswithNick]

Glad you enjoyed it !!

[@kbilly5247]

That is not the ruins of Lafitte's house. That's the ruins of a house built on the same site after Lafitte's house was destroyed. In other words, it's the right location but not the ruins of HIS house. Those ruins are the remains of the home of sea captain E.E. Hendricks. It was built around 1870 and torn down in the 1950s.

[@shawnryan8345]

That was cool 👍. To see the remnants of JL home -( u got to walk it & feel it 😀) makes the imagination run😀. Maybe my vision was better than the real - who knows -,I enjoyed it ⚠️ & there seems to be an interesting Disneyland connection to the pirate himself !

[@TravelswithNick]

Very glad you enjoyed it Shawn!! If you don’t mind me asking, what Disneyland connection? Do they have a ride or something based off of him? I’m interested to know 😄👍

[@shawnryan8345]

@@TravelswithNick - morning - the reference is to New Orleans / the island with the steam boat and Pirates of the Caribbean 😀. Some is a stretch but I picked up o it with Off Hand Disney - You Tube - His content is interesting too and covers some history - worth a look for this subject !

[@TravelswithNick]

@@shawnryan8345 awesome I’ll check it out! Thanks!

[@MonkeyBat14]

i cant share it BC I live here, and I'm going tomorrow with a metal detector

[@willypetenpm2060]

You know I’ve been looking For That Treasure Myself but Respecting all laws within the Search, Do You Really Think it could Be inside The Remains? If so than Good Deal On Protecting it.🙌🏼

[@TravelswithNick]

That would be cool if it was somewhere on the grounds! haha. Thx for watching!!

[@willypetenpm2060]

Honestly I Didn’t Theorize it But My other Question is Where Was He Born?

[@MonkeyBat14]

bad ass

[@mk-apache6161]

Do you like wearing your jeans? Or do you like wearing your johns? Or neither?

[@bmfilmnut]

The ruins are NOT of Jean Laffitte’s house.. I don’t know what the sign says but it’s hard to believe that it would say that it is the ruins of Laffitte’s house. However, those ruins are on the site of Laffitte’s house which he destroyed when he left Galveston. The ruins that are now on the site are that of the home of sea captain F.W. Hendricks. He built the home in about 1870 which was about 50 years after Lafitte destroyed his house on the same spot. Captain Hendricks’s how was torn down in the 1950s and what you see is the remains of his house.

[@williambarrows7136]

the foundation wasnt burned. The next house was built on the original foundation and cellars was my understanding. Making it possible that these are the original remains.