Free State of Galveston An Anthology of Texas Crime Fiction" by Bill Davis, "et al". Galveston's Balinese Room was also the subject of a 1975 song by rock band ZZ Top. "Galveston, The Musical!" opened in 2003 at Galveston's Strand Theatre and in 2011 at The Hobby Center in Houston; the musical theater production centers on the arrival of the Maceo Brothers, who created their own empire that sustained Galveston during this period of the island's history. Free State of Galveston The Free State of Galveston (sometimes referred to as the Republic of Galveston Island) was a whimsical name given to the coastal city
Port of Galveston Galveston Wharf Company took control of the port in 1869. They built a grain elevator in 1875, leading Galveston to become a major grain exporter over the next few decades. By 1878, the port of Galveston was the nation's 3rd largest cotton exporter; they fell to 5th by 1882. Galveston's wealth and great esteem was due in large part to the port's activity. As other areas of the United States began to transition to a more industrial economy, Galveston was unable to compete. The port continued to primarily export agricultural goods. Local leaders often blamed the lack of industrial goods