It's Impossible To Drive Through This Delightful Illinois Town Without Stopping
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Robin Jarvis
Author
The Prairie State is so captivating. From the northern all the way around to the southern regions, there are irresistible little towns scattered all over Ilinois. One of those delightful little spots is Galena. This small city of around 3,500 people is one of those places you can’t drive through without an urge to stop.
As charming as it is beautiful, Galena is perhaps one of the most well-preserved towns in the entire country. Is it any wonder people want to see more of it?
Galena is most renowned for its architecture and its history. Most of the buildings in the historical downtown area fall into both categories, like the Illinois Central Train Depot shown here. It was built in 1857.
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For avid historians, a short walk around town yields much more in the way of eye candy. There are old buildings and old houses everywhere you turn.
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The home of the city's most famous resident, Ulysses S. Grant, sits perched high on a rolling hill.
And he has a park named in his honor with a giant monument and statue watching over it.
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In recent decades, Galena has gotten serious about attracting visitors. Two separate trolley companies are on hand to give newcomers a firsthand tour of the place. Other tours are available as well, like the walking ghost tour.
All of them give visitors more insight into the wonderful buildings, the history and the wonderful architecture.
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Want to get a taste for 19th century life in Galena? Visitors can stop by the old blacksmith shop to watch items being forged.
Galena was once considered one of the most important and influential cities in the midwest. The old homes here are a testament to the wealth that thrived in Galena in the 1800s.
One thing's for sure in this small city: no matter how many times you visit, or how many tours you take, they're always something new to discover.
Are you one of the hundreds of thousands of people who visit Galena each year, completely mesmerized by all this charming little city in Illinois has to offer? If so, we’d love to know and to see your photos of Galena in our comments on Facebook!
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