Tucked behind a chain-link fence at 1417 Harborside Drive stands the silent relic of one of Galveston’s most enduring legends: the pirate stronghold known as Maison Rouge, or the “Red House,” once commanded by the notorious Jean Lafitte. From 1817 to 1821, this red-painted fortress served not only as his residence but as a fortified base for raiding Spanish ships under the Mexican flag.

According to the Texas Historical Commission marker, Lafitte’s stronghold featured cannon ports on its upper floors and was filled with treasure seized from his maritime exploits. In a dramatic act of defiance, Lafitte torched his mansion, fort, and settlement in 1821 after being ordered to leave by U.S. authorities, departing for Yucatán and leaving only the ruins behind.

Today, the site reveals only concrete foundations and fractured steps from an 1870s structure built atop the original layout. This overlay symbolizes Galveston’s layers of history—piracy, hospitality, and the hard truths of its past.

Texas A&M-Galveston professor Stephen Curley told KGTX 7 that, “the legends and lies and truths about Lafitte are great fun, but some of the reality is pathetic and tragic,” pointing to the often overlooked fact that Lafitte’s wealth included profits from the slave trade; an unfortunate norm for that time period.

Galveston has embraced Lafitte’s lore: annual Mardi Gras parades feature costumed “Lafittes,” minor league baseball once took the pirate-themed name “Galveston Pirates,” and a local LGBTQ bar carries his name. Meanwhile, the Pirates – Legends of the Gulf Coast museum on The Strand offers immersive exhibits and live reenactments, giving locals and tourists alike a hands-on dive into early-19th-century piracy along the Gulf.

Despite centuries of lore, hard evidence of buried treasure, secret tunnels, or Lafitte’s precise activities on Galveston remains elusive. Most historians, including Lou Graves MacBeth of the Laffite Society, dismiss sensational treasure tales while acknowledging the site’s deep-rooted intrigue.

What stands today at Harborside Drive is more than just a ruin: it’s a testament to Galveston’s coastal history, a mingling of myth and reality, celebration and condemnation. As the city preserves this historic marker and crumbling foundation, it invites visitors to walk among the echoes—of rum, rebellion, riches, and regret —and to explore a chapter of the Gulf Coast that is as compelling as it is complex.

Photo credit: KGTX 7/Whisper Williams

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article included language that could be interpreted as encouraging visitors to visit Maison Rouge. We want to clarify that this location is private property, and entry without permission is not permitted. The reference has since been removed to avoid any suggestion of trespassing.