 The Free State of Galveston ( sometimes referred to as the Republic of Galveston Island ) was a whimsical name given to the coastal city of Galveston in the U.S. state of Texas during the early @-@ to @-@ mid @-@ 20th century . Today , the term is sometimes used to describe the culture and history of that era . During the Roaring Twenties , the city was a popular tourist destination and home to a number of celebrities , including film director Howard Hawks and actor John Gilbert .
The city of Galveston was founded in 1839 , but did not become a city until 1865 . In 