A Weekend in Historic Galena, Illinois

Galena is nestled in northwestern Illinois and is full of rich history. At one time, it was a booming steam boat hub that was actually larger than its counterpart Chicago. It was one of the most important cities in Illinois because of its proximity to the Mississippi river and its lead mines. Galena was also home to several civil war generals including Ulysses S Grant. In 1828, there were over 10,000 residents that called Galena home. The boom ended in the early 1900s with the overall decline in the use of lead. Today 3500 residents call Galena home.

We decided to take a weekend trip to Galena after George visited it on his Blue Ridge Parkway motorcycle trip. The city is just over 4 hours from our house, so an easy drive. The drive took us through the driftless area of Wisconsin which is an area worth exploring. We did a quick stop in Viroqua, Wisconsin for coffee and then made our way to Dickeyville to check out the Dickeyville Grotto and Shrines.

Our accommodations in Galena were in the heart of the historic downtown. We stayed at the Balendine suites. It was constructed in the 1800s and was formerly a hospital, then apartments, and is now an Airbnb with 8 different units to choose from. Our unit was a suite perfect for a single person or a couple. It featured a kitchenette that was well appointed, a comfy queen bed, and a private bathroom. The best part about it was, once we parked our car, we could walk anywhere we wanted in order to explore historic downtown Galena. This was a great benefit because parking in downtown Galena can be a nightmare.

The main street is incredible. It really gives you a taste of what Galena might have been like during the 1850s boom. Blocks of storefronts greet you with an old timey, quaint feeling. However, don't let that fool you. Galena is a hopping tourist town. Several of the shop owners told us October is their busiest month with shoulder to shoulder crowds. Thankfully, we were there the first weekend in November so missed the busy crowds. While this was nice from the perspective of not having to be jostled by crowds of people, it did mean that some attractions were not open. George was looking forward to seeing the 1800s working blacksmith shop which was closed because we were out of season. We could have researched that aspect better, but most likely would have chosen being out of season with fewer people around anyway.

Because we were there during the off season we were fortunate enough to have a private tour of the Grant home. This museum is free to the public, although they do accept freewill donations. The house is filled with furniture and decorations original to the house. Walking through the house and grounds gives you a unique idea of what life was like in the 1860s. Including the once a week bath. All six family members used the same bath water, with Dad going first.

Galena's historic district is very walkable but he prepared. There are lots of steps! If you have mobility issues, you will want to consider driving your car or getting one of the local transportation services to shuttle you around. Our room was at the top of an old flight of narrow windy stairs, we walked up several flights of stairs to get to the Grant house, and we also took the historic high school light steps to view the incredible houses on Prospect street. It's a real cardio and calf workout!

When we travel, we work hard to not eat all our meals out. (Check out budget friendly food ideas here.) That being said, we do like to treat ourselves to a nice meal when we travel. Food choices abound in Galena. You can pretty much find whatever you are looking for from a casual dining experience to a more formal dining experience. For our trip, we chose to have dinner Friday and Saturday in restaurants within walking distance of our hotel. The first night we ate at Market House restaurant, a building that was completed in 1848. The food was delicious and very affordable. Our Saturday meal was eaten at the Embe Eatery. Located less than a block from our hotel, the food was homecooked and very good. And we finished off our meal with warm, homemade bread pudding! Delicious!

We would highly recommend a visit to Galena. If you're a history buff, you'll love all that Galena has to offer. If you enjoy good food and shopping, Galena fits the bill. Whether you are looking for an adventure filled getaway spot, or a more low key spot, Galena has a lot to offer!

Have you been to Galena? Are you interested? Let us know in the comments. We would love to hear from you.