The Port of Galveston is the port of the city of Galveston, Texas. It was establishe by a proclamation issued by the Congress of Mexico on October 17, 1825, while the land known today as Texas was still part of Mexico. The Port of Galveston is the oldest port in the Gulf of Mexico west of New Orleans. During the late 1800s, up until the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the port was the busiest on the Gulf Coast and considered to be second busiest in the country, next to the port of New York City. The port exported most of the nation's cotton, along with large amounts of cattle, rice and other commodities. Galveston's wealth and great esteem was due in large part to the port's activity. The port was devastated by the 1900 Storm, and though it has since recovered, it's position was quickly overtaken by the Port of Houston and other deep-water ports that were able to expand without restrictions due to geographic features.