Great River Road
Galena National Register Historic District, IL

The town of Galena is a well-known destination for travelers from Chicago and beyond seeking quiet pastoral scenes, quality antiquing and shopping, and small town charm. Main Street is a breathtaking, unbroken wall of historic storefronts nestled between the hills, where Galena's 19th Century lead mines were found, and the river where the steamboats plied their trade. Galena's position near the northern terminus of the Great River Road makes it a natural gateway and introduction to river history. Individual historic sites include:

• The Belvedere Mansion (1857, Italianate home of steamboat captain)
• The DeSoto House Hotel (decadent accomodations), Dowling House (1826 trading post)
• Galena Post Office (first in the nation named "Great American Post Office" by Smithsonian)
• Costumed interpreters lead visitors through General Ulysses S. Grant's home. He was a resident in Galena before the Civil War.

For centuries, people have been coming to Galena for different reasons. Today, one of those reasons is the recreational activities the town has to offer. Skiing and golfing are both popular activities as well as the classic riverboat cruise. Galena is a perfect stop on the Byway no matter what the reason might be.