Jean Lafitte's pirate ships (1815-21) and Republic of Texas Navy (1836-40s) once sailed here. Galveston Wharves &amp; Cotton Press Company, chartered 1854, built an early dock. Confederate marine assaults at sites in vicinity wrested the isle city from Federal occupation, 1863. Rum runners allegedly invaded the area in 1920s. Through the years, the Mosquito Fleet docked here among other ships, enriching the city and nation and blending Asian and European fisher customs into Americanisms. The international custom of blessing the fishing fleet is observed yearly in Galveston. The fleet is named for the shrimp boats' insect-like profiles. 
The pier hosts shrimpers today.
<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jim_Evans" title="User:Jim Evans">Jim Evans</a>
CC BY-SA 4.0
<span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>