Ten historic places of worship, a historic cemetery and a meditative labyrinth will be open to visitors on Saturday, February 9, for Galveston Historical Foundation’s annual Tour of Sacred Places. The event will begin at 9 a.m. with a talk by Fran Gale on cemetery and monument restoration at St. Joseph’s Church, 2202 Avenue K. Gale is a nationally known scholar and consultant on conservation of architectural materials, and director of the Architectural Conservation Laboratory at the University of Texas School of Architecture. The tour begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 4:30 p.m.

The popular tour benefits GHF’s ongoing restoration of St. Joseph’s Church, the oldest wooden church building in Galveston and the oldest German Catholic church in Texas. Closed in 1968 by the Houston Galveston Archdiocese, the church is managed by Galveston Historical Foundation and preserved as an ecumenical museum celebrating Galveston’s rich religious heritage.

As always, a wide range of religious traditions and building styles will be featured, showcasing the surprising depth and range of sacred architecture that exists in Galveston.

Advance tickets for the tour are $7 ($6 for GHF members) and may be purchased by phone at (409) 762-3933, or in person at the Heritage Visitors Center, 2328 Broadway. Pre-reserved group rates are $6 per person for 20 or more tickets. On the day of the tour tickets may be purchased for $8 at St. Joseph’s Church, 2202 Avenue K.