I Took a Haunted Tour in Galena, Illinois, and Learned the Ghost Stories Were Real

The moment the calendar flips to October, my inner ghost hunter awakens. The fog on the ground, bare branches against the windows, and the bright harvest moon create an eerie atmosphere. My senses sharpen, and I can't help but want to believe in ghosts. 

If, like me, you’d like to affirm or refute all things paranormal, I know the perfect place for a ghost challenge. You’ll find it in Galena, the most haunted town in Illinois.

It teeters on the banks of the Mississippi,  a small Illinois town that turned 199 this year (2025). It’s intoxicatingly picturesque by day and exorbitantly creepy by dark.

Is Galena the Most Haunted Town in Illinois?

Often, when you hear the words "most", "best", or "real", it’s a relative statement rather than a fact. “The most” anything is routinely nothing more or less than someone’s perspective. However, in some cases, such as when Galena is called the most haunted town in Illinois, it’s not just one opinion. It’s a collection of experiences so prevalent that they’ve become synonymous with the location.

Galena has a rich history of highs and lows, creating a backdrop for its tales of sorrow and conflict. The town features an abundance of historic buildings still in use, strong generational ties, and tangible artifacts that foster the perfect atmosphere for keeping local legends alive.

Yet despite checking off all the boxes of what’s possible, the experiences each of us has here are unique. Nobody but you will ever know if you actually felt a breath on the back of your neck, or if that glowing orb you saw was really unexplainable. But one thing is surely irrefutable: the most haunted town in Illinois unabashedly invites you to find out for yourself. So I said yes, and booked the “Haunted Galena Ghost Walk” with the Haunted Galena Tour Company.

The Haunted Galena Ghost Walk: What to Expect

The Haunted Galena Ghost Walk is a guided tour that takes participants through the historic district of Galena. While it doesn’t enter many buildings, the tour includes strategic stops outside haunted sites. The tour guide, dressed in period clothing, shares captivating stories about real people and events in the most haunted town in Illinois. Over 90 minutes, the tour visits several of Galena’s many haunted locations. Here are three of the most memorable stops:

Visiting the Haunted Dowling House in Galena, Illinois

The walking tour starts on a steep, winding street in front of the Dowling House, Galena's oldest building, just before sunset. It feels old and cinematic, not to mention adequately eerie, accentuated by thick spider webs and glowing lanterns. I can feel the anticipation among the growing crowd of ghost seekers, most of whom are still gauging the vibe of this tour. My kids giggle and whisper “red rum,” clearly noticing the house's deep, blood-like color.

The Dowling House is a popular haunted attraction in Galena, not just because it’s the oldest building in town, but also because it’s one of the best places to capture a paranormal photograph. Locals believe it’s haunted by its former occupants and the fur traders they hosted in the mid-1800s. There have also been countless reports of a ghost cat that wanders the premises. Photographs of apparitions in the top-floor windows and standing on the porch have been routinely documented from the 1960s through the present day. 

The Galena Ghost of Maryanne Miller at the Old State Market House

Undoubtedly, the creepiest ghost story I heard in Galena was the tale of Maryann Miller. According to the legend, she was imprisoned in the basement of the Old State Market House for public intoxication.  She drowned when a freak rainstorm flooded her cell. Since her death, her ghost has haunted the building, with reports of a woman crying or screaming from the basement, sudden cold spells, flickering lights, and locked stalls in the women's bathroom down there.

To elaborate further on the story, local lore suggests that Maryann Miller was a woman of the night, may not have had proper documentation of her identity, had no relatives in Galena, and was never given a tombstone. It’s not surprising that I was unable to validate the event or her existence. However, the Old State Market House building dates back to 1845; prostitution in Galena during that time period was likely prevalent. It was also illegal, which led women to hide their true identities and live under alias names in the cities where they worked. Additionally, flooding was a catastrophic problem in Galena during the 1800s, although records of specific events are rare.

Galena’s Historic and Haunted Desoto House Hotel

The DeSoto House Hotel is another primary haunted attraction in Galena, the most haunted town in Illinois. Despite (or perhaps despite) its paranormal reputation, it is the oldest continually operating hotel in the state of Illinois. It first opened in 1855 during Galena’s mining boom, and was known as “The Largest Hotel in the West.” It welcomed notable patrons like Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. Today, the DeSoto House is a popular destination for history enthusiasts, paranormal seekers, and wedding ceremonies.

As far as ghost stories go, there are many associated with the DeSoto House Hotel. Still, the most notable tale is about the “Lady in Black” who has been spotted routinely wandering the lower level of the hotel for decades. She was often seen disappearing into a wall. Historical reports suggest that a door may have once stood in that exact spot, prompting the excavation of a hole to allow her to pass freely. The hole is now covered with glass, serving as a primary tourist attraction in the building. 

When Can I Book a Ghost Tour in Galena?

The most haunted town in Illinois isn’t a Halloween gimmick; instead, it’s a year-round phenomenon that invites the paranormal to flirt with the living even when it’s not Halloween. Visitors can choose from several different ghost tour providers for a comprehensive experience. The tour I booked was the  “Haunted Galena Ghost Walk” with the Haunted Galena Tour Company.

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