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Galena

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This is the third and final part about Galena, Illinois. Galena Country offers an escape featuring: natural recreation, special events, unique shopping, fine dining, local tastings, and an historic flair that will enrich your experience.

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West Street Sculpture Park is an outdoor art gallery of over 30 metalworks created by John Martinson, whose “Leaning Tower of Family Farming” stands out among the tall trees.
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This is the view of historic downtown Galena, from Grant Park, located over Galena River.
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H.H. Kohlsaat Bridge was built in 1880 and serves as the main pedestrian bridge from Grant Park to downtown.
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BNSF Railway, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the largest freight railroad in the United States.
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Lunch of chicken, brussel sprouts, and scalloped potatoes at Green Street Tavern and Restaurant in DeSoto House.
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Pretzel-Crusted Walleye: a pretzel-crusted Canadian walleye fillet, topped with whole grain mustard sauce, and served with jasmine rice and asparagus.
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Lemon Blueberry Cake is a decadent lunch dessert.
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The best way to see Galena is by way of Galena Trolley Tours.
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Belvedere Mansion and Gardens, offering tours every fifteen minutes during late spring to late fall, is always a must-see from the trolley.
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Heavy-duty steel floodgates were added to the levee system in 1951 to protect Main Street from Galena River overflow.
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Historic downtown Main Street is highlighted on many lists for top travel destinations.
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Galena features a multi-tiered infrastructure overlooking Galena River.
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Over the years, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and other notable figures stayed at the landmark DeSoto House.
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If the sweeping views from another time and place look like it could be straight out of a movie, run it back to “Field of Dreams.”
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Linmar Gardens, situated above downtown Galena, is a secluded three and a half acre escape into lush collections of native plants, flowers, ponds, and a 25-foot waterfall.
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The waterfall cascades from a natural bluff, and features a replica of a regional mine.
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Linmar Gardens is also host to daily visitors who take full advantage of their free admission.
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Can you see the two daddy long-leg spiders?
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The hidden gem is this sunken garden, built in the foundation of one of the first African-American churches in Illinois, now enlivened as a cool and dewy nano ecosystem.
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The Mississippi River is a short drive and easy walk from Galena.
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Horseshoe Mound is an approximately 200-acre preserve, offering unparalleled views of Galena, the Mississippi River, and Iowa and Wisconsin in the distance.
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The Stonehenge-esque looking circle is Council Ring, made of stones that align with the sun during winter and summer solstice.
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The circle is a gathering place for people, positive energies, and good vibes.
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Back in town, we wet our whistle at Root Beer Revelry for some sweet suds on tap.
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Let’s take flight, from left to right: Great Revivalist (like a root beer barrel candy from Clinton, Iowa); Millstream (smooth with vanilla, anise, and cinnamon from the Amana Colonies of Iowa); Berghoff (a wintergreen kick from Chicago); Potosi (smooth with Mill Creek Honey from Potosi Brewery); III Dachshunds (sassafras, vanilla, caramel, and wintergreen from Appleton, Wisconsin).
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The Haunted Galena Tour Company leads evening candlelit ghost walks, this time led by co-owner Ted Williams, starting here at Dowling House.
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This building used to serve as the town jail, where years ago someone was trapped in a cell while it flooded; now, at night, if you knock on the door where the cell once stood, a return knock will answer you.
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The “Lady in Black” sometimes appears on the lower level of the DeSoto House, making an entrance from near the TV, and walking through this wall that was partially excavated in 2011, with the discovery of a hidden relic of a doorway.

Things that go bump in the night clink glasses during the day. Visit Galena once, and you will come back to chase yourself, retracing the steps of other visits, and taking new paths. See yourself in Galena, and you might catch a sighting reflected of someone in a hurry—it could be you.

To learn more and plan your visit to Galena, click Visit Galena

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31 thoughts on “Galena”

      1. Honestly, the New Year has started out pretty rough with trials and challenges, but I have to believe that God is with me and that these to shall pass (I Hope 😢😭).

        Happy and Blessed New Year to you.

        I will definitely keep you posted once the journey begins.

        Liked by 2 people

  10. Brings back memories, spent a lot of time in Galena and surrounding areas when I was growing up – just a few hours from where I grew up and less where we live now. A lot of that was spent on the slopes there where I learned to ski as a kid and then converted to a snowboard when I got out of college. Thanks for the recap!

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  11. Galena sure looks to be a picturesque town/city. All the buildings look so well kept up with no litter to be seen anywhere. People really seem to take pride there. Love that you can go sightseeing using a trolley. I always love to see a thriving downtown. It is the heart and soul of any town or city. The Galena County website is a great link you shared to learn more. ☺️

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  14. As always, your wonderful photos and descriptions make this destination come alive. I particularly liked how green and lush everything looked as well as the view of the Mississippi River.

    I imagine that sampling so many different root beers leaves one longing for something savory.

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    1. You are exactly right! We could’ve gone for a pretzel or cheese flight after so many tasty root beers. But then we’d have to swing back to sweet, and then to salty, etc. Sound familiar? 😆

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