Posted on

Galena

Scroll down to see more content

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.

Scroll down to see more photos and read more about Galena.

01_G24
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.
02_G24
This is the view of historic downtown Galena, from Grant Park, located over Galena River.
03_G24
H.H. Kohlsaat Bridge was built in 1880 and serves as the main pedestrian bridge from Grant Park to downtown.
04_G24
BNSF Railway, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the largest freight railroad in the United States.
05_G24
Lunch of chicken, brussel sprouts, and scalloped potatoes at Green Street Tavern and Restaurant in DeSoto House.
06_G24
Pretzel-Crusted Walleye: a pretzel-crusted Canadian walleye fillet, topped with whole grain mustard sauce, and served with jasmine rice and asparagus.
07_G24
Lemon Blueberry Cake is a decadent lunch dessert.
08_G24
The best way to see Galena is by way of Galena Trolley Tours.
09_G24
Belvedere Mansion and Gardens, offering tours every fifteen minutes during late spring to late fall, is always a must-see from the trolley.
10_G24
Heavy-duty steel floodgates were added to the levee system in 1951 to protect Main Street from Galena River overflow.
11_G24
Historic downtown Main Street is highlighted on many lists for top travel destinations.
12_G24
Galena features a multi-tiered infrastructure overlooking Galena River.
13_G24
Over the years, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and other notable figures stayed at the landmark DeSoto House.
14_G24
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.”
15_G24
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.
16_G24
The waterfall cascades from a natural bluff, and features a replica of a regional mine.
17_G24
Linmar Gardens is also host to daily visitors who take full advantage of their free admission.
18_G24
Can you see the two daddy long-leg spiders?
19_G24
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.
20_G24
The Mississippi River is a short drive and easy walk from Galena.
21_G24
Horseshoe Mound is an approximately 200-acre preserve, offering unparalleled views of Galena, the Mississippi River, and Iowa and Wisconsin in the distance.
22_G24
The Stonehenge-esque looking circle is Council Ring, made of stones that align with the sun during winter and summer solstice.
23_G24
The circle is a gathering place for people, positive energies, and good vibes.
24_G24
Back in town, we wet our whistle at Root Beer Revelry for some sweet suds on tap.
25_G24
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).
26_G24
The Haunted Galena Tour Company leads evening candlelit ghost walks, this time led by co-owner Ted Williams, starting here at Dowling House.
27_G24
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.
28_G24
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

If you are on Facebook, like my page at Facebook – The Simple Luxuries

To see more photos, follow my Instagram feed at Instagram – The Simple Luxuries

“My camera is my witness, my blog is my voice.” ©2025

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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  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. ☺️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    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? 😆

      Like

      Reply

Leave a reply to Writer McWriterson Cancel reply