In the late 1950s two Galveston marine biologists, Dr. Albert Collier and Dr. Sammy Ray pioneered the Galveston Marine Laboratory, conducting scientific research in oceanography and marine biology at the former Army barracks of Fort Crockett.

In 1958, at a Maritime Day Celebration at the Galvez Hotel, the guest speaker, Admiral Ford from the federal Maritime Administration, noted that one of the responsibilities of the Maritime Administration was to oversee the operation of the nation’s five state maritime academies. During the question and answer session the possibility of establishing a maritime academy in Galveston was raised. Admiral Ford’s positive response prompted the Galveston Chamber of Commerce to form a steering committee to pursue a local academy. This led Rear Admiral Sherman Wetmore, of the U.S. Naval Reserve and other interested Galvestonians to petition the Texas Legislature to appropriate monies to establish the Texas Maritime Academy.

The Galveston Marine Laboratory and the Texas Maritime Academy provided the foundation for Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG).
The Academy began operation as part of The Texas A&M University System in 1962. Several hundred people attended the 1964 dedication of Fort Crockett as the campus of the Texas Maritime Academy.

Texas A&M University at Galveston now serves as the “ocean oriented campus” of Texas A&M University. The campus offers a unique blend of marine and maritime programs, including majors in science, business, engineering, and transportation. Maritime Studies became the first bachelor of arts academic program in 1998. Students receive hands-on experiences which complement their academic studies. The atmosphere fostered by the

faculty, staff, and students emphasizes the intimate relationship between the University and the sea.

In addition to the facilities at Ft. Crockett and the Mitchell Campus on Pelican Island, Texas A&M University at Galveston also includes an Offatts Bayou Campus. These 14 acres of land on Teichman Road house the Center for Marine Training and Safety, as well as research and recreational facilities.

In 1996, the original training ship was replaced with the 393-foot USN Chauvenet, which was renamed Training Ship TEXAS CLIPPER II. Then in 2005, the TEXAS CLIPPER II was replaced with the former USNS Sirius and later in 2009 with the former SS Cape Gibson. The fourth TEXAS CLIPPER will provide additional classroom, meeting, and training space during the school year and will serve as the floating classroom for the Texas Maritime Academy.

Today the campus offers undergraduate degrees in Marine Biology, Marine Sciences, Marine Engineering Technology, Marine Transportation, Marine Fisheries, Maritime Systems Engineering, Maritime Administration, Maritime Studies, Ocean and Coastal Resources, and University Studies (Marine Environmental Law and Policy).  Additionally there are master’s level degrees in Marine Resources Management and Marine Biology and a doctorate degree in Marine Biology.

 Enrollment has increased significantly from ninety-one students in 1971 to more than 2,000 at present.

There are three residence halls on campus housing around six-hundred students. A physical education facility opened in 1994. The facility was the training camp facility for the World Champion Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995. The Jack K. Williams Library, completed in 1986, contains over 46,000 books, 35,000 bound volumes of journals, a collection of charts and maps, and houses the Galveston Bay Information Center. There are numerous other buildings on campus providing classroom and laboratory space, including the Powell Marine Engineering Complex which opened in 2005.