  Galena
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 75 Galena Tips.166 Galena Photos.0 Galena Videos. Galena Pages by deecat
| Page Views: 1,690 Last Visit to Galena: May, 2007 | Second Most Visited City in the State of Illinois by deecat - last update: Jun 12, 2007 |
The term Galena is Latin for "lead sulfide", which is appropriate for the name of this city since all the wealth that was here came from the mining of lead. The Native Americans called Galena and the area around it "Manitoomie" meaning "Sacred Ground" or "God's Country". I can certainly see why.
Because of the mineral treasure found in the late 1600s, fortunes were amassed and "architectural masterpieces sprang up in Galena". About this time, it was one of the busiest Mississippi River ports between St. Louis and St. Paul! It was not long-lived. The town's fortunes declined, and progress bypassed Galena.
Then, in the 1960's, Galena was rediscovered, and most of its 19th-century buildings were restored. That is fortunate for all of us who love beautiful architecture. Preservation is still strong in Galena; hopefully, the beauty will be maintained.
Galena is the county seat for Jo Daviess Count and second only to Chicago as the most visited city in the state of Illinois.
The antique shops that used to abound are no longer here. The shops over the last 20 years have changed with the times, and it is not a good thing, in my eyes. I hope this conscientious community does not let commercialism get out of hand. It's the rich heritage stretching back many centuries that is really important rather than Chinese-made items sold in many of the 100 plus shops. |
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| Pros: | "Historic, Great Architecture, Wonderful Restaurants" | | Cons: | "Crowded on weekends, especially in summer" | | In A Nutshell: | "A Lovely Old Town With Historic Buildings" |
deecat's Galena Travel Tips
 Comments for deecat about Galena | | | | |
sourbugger Sun Jun 15, 2008 21:36 UTC
i always know where to come for a good taste of americana | misterrabbit Thu May 22, 2008 20:38 UTC
Superior pages. What history. Plus it looks like a great place to eat and stay over. | KiKitC Wed May 7, 2008 10:07 UTC
Thank you for the fascinating tour of Galena. Just like my beloved south Jersey Pine Barrens, industry built the towns, which disappeared with progress. Gotta get to try some of that Cranberry Bog wine (another fine product of South Jersey as well) | volopolo Wed Apr 23, 2008 13:06 UTC
Nice page and picture too |
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