Jack Johnson Park
Galveston native Jack Johnson, a former world boxing champion (1908–1915), is honored at his namesake park with an impressive life-sized statue. Known as the “Galveston Giant,” Johnson was the first African American heavyweight boxing champ. His athletic achievements and bold defiance of early-1900s cultural norms made him a controversial figure, and he has only recently received significant recognition.
The park’s adjacent Central High School is considered the first African American high school in Texas, established in 1885. The current two-story brick building was built in 1924 and is attached to the former 1905 Rosenberg Colored Library, which was developed by the Rosenberg Library Association for the local African American community.
Jack Johnson Park
Hours
Park open daily, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.