Coordinates: 42°25′N 90°26′W / 42.417°N 90.433°W / 42.417; -90.433
Galena is the largest city in, and county seat of, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States with an estimated population of 3,396 in 2006. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, as well as its ski and golf resorts. Galena was the home to Ulysses S. Grant, several other war generals, entertainers, and politicians.
History
Galena has a rich history which is still visible in the city's architecture. Originally it was inhabited by Native Americans in the Sac and Fox Nation. By the late 17th century, French people began to settle in the area and in the early 19th century American settlers arrived. Following a sharp decline in the demand for lead, Galena's population dropped from 14,000, where it was in mid 19th century, to only 3,396, where it is in the early 21st century.
The official flag of Galena was adopted by the city of Galena in 1976 to symbolize mining, agriculture, steamboats, and the 9 American Civil War generals from the city.
Lead mining
The city is named for the mineral "galena". It is the natural mineral form of lead sulfide and the most important lead ore mineral. Native Americans, including the Sac and Fox tribes, mined the ore in Galena for use as body painting. In the 1690s French trappers discovered the area and also began mining the lead.
Within a few centuries American settlers arrived in the area. George Davenport, a retired colonel in the United States Army, successfully shipped Galena's first boatload of lead ore down the Mississippi River in 1816. Three years later a trading post was built in Galena which led to the first steamboat arriving in 1824. By 1845 Galena was producing nearly 27,000 tons of lead ore. At that time Jo Daviess County was producing eighty percent of the lead in the United States.
1980s
Until the late 1980s, Galena remained a small rural farming community. In 1990, local industries included the second Kraft Foods cheese plant founded by James L. Kraft, the first being in Stockton, Illinois; Lefco Foundry; John Westwick's foundry; and Microswitch, Inc.
In the 1980s, a tourist campaign was strongly endorsed by then-mayor Frank Einsweiler. Since that time the face of Galena has changed a great deal. Long-standing businesses in the downtown area including Stair's Grocery, Sullivan's Grocery, Clingman's Pharmacy, the oldest continuously operating pharmacy in Illinois, and Hartig's Drugs have closed their downtown locations. Clingman's and Hartig's have relocated to locations on the outskirts of Galena while Stair's and Sullivan's closed their doors for good.
Culture
Tourism
Galena is a very popular tourist destination hosting well over one million visitors each year. Galena is also popular with Chicagoans, many of whom keep second homes in the area.
Cityscape
Eighty-five percent of the structures in Galena are within the Galena Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and greatly contributes to the city's popularity. The Old Market House State Historic Site, built in 1845, is a museum of local social history. Main Street in downtown Galena has a large number of specialty shops and restaurants and is home to the Galena Cellers winery. Galena's Saint Michael's Church was founded by the pioneer priest Father Samuel Mazzuchelli. The church is named after one of the three Archangels. Opened in 1855, the downtown Desoto House Hotel, is the oldest operating hotel in Illinois. There are also several resorts and golf courses located in and around Galena including the Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa and the Chestnut Mountain Ski Resort.
Education
Galena is home to Galena High School. Since 2007, Highland Community College has offered classes in the city.
Galena Territory
The Galena Territory is a private 6,800-acre (28 km 2 ) development located several miles southeast of downtown Galena. The territory, which is managed by a homeowners association, has set aside 1,500 acres (6 km²) of protected recreational land. The remainder is filled with low-density residential development and the Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa. The resort is best known for its 63 holes of championship golf, including "The General," which Golf Digest ranked #41 in the 07/08 "America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses."
People
Civil War figures
- Future President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant lived in Galena for several years, first in a rented house while he worked at his father and brother's leather shop in 1860–1861. After leading the Union side in the American Civil War, Grant returned to Galena to a hero's welcome on 18 August 1865, and was presented with a furnished home, known today as the Ulysses S. Grant Home, which he lived in until becoming president in 1869, and visited regularly until 1880.
- Elihu B. Washburne — Grant's Secretary of State and an opponent of slavery, was also a resident and lawyer in Galena. The Elihu Benjamin Washburne House is a registered historic site.
By the end of the American Civil War, the count of generals from Galena reached nine; besides Grant:
- Augustus Louis Chetlain, who is considered the 1st man from Illinois to volunteer for the Union army
- John Oliver Duer
- Jasper Adalmorn Maltby
- Ely Samuel Parker
- John Aaron Rawlins, Grant's Secretary of War
- William Rueben Rowley
- John Corson Smith
- John Eugene Smith.
Galena was also briefly represented in Congress by Edward Dickinson Baker, who would later be the only U.S. Senator to fall in battle.
Other residents
- Richard H. Cain – local barber in Galena; Vice President of the "Colored Convention" in 1853, where he shared the podium with Frederick Douglass; only United States Representative from South Carolina's at-large congressional district (1873–1875); U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 2nd congressional district (1877–79), a Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; first president of Paul Quinn College
- John W. Cox, Jr. (1947–) – United States Representative from Illinois' 16th congressional district (1991–1993), the first Democrat to serve the area since 1850; later Galena's city attorney
- John H. Gear (1825–1900) – was in Galena from 1836 to 1838; mayor of Burlington, Iowa (1863); Governor of Iowa (1878–1881); U.S. Representative from Iowa (1887–1891, 1893–1895); U.S. Senator from Iowa (1895–1900)
- Dr. Edward Kittoe — Galena physician who was a doctor on Grant's personal staff
- Frederick Dent Grant — son of Ulysses S. Grant
- James D. Lynch (1839–1872) — pastor of the Galena African Methodist Episcopal Church; first black Mississippi Secretary of State
- Don McNeill — longest host of a U.S. network entertainment show: Don McNeill's Breakfast Club
- Herman Melville — writer
- Major Thomas Melvill, Jr. – uncle of Herman Melville; lived in Galena from 1837 until his death in 1845; helped establish Galena's chamber of commerce in 1838
- William A. Richards (1849–1912) – Governor of Wyoming (1895–1899)
- Frederick Schwatka – explorer
- LaMetta Wynn (1933–) – first black woman to head an Iowa municipality: Mayor of Clinton, Iowa (1995–2007); graduated from Galena High School
- Clint Youle (1916–1999), born between Galena and Scales Mound, Illinois – first national TV network weatherman: The Camel News Caravan on NBC, May 1949 to 1956; became known as "Mr. Weatherman" nationally; Republican member of Illinois House of Representatives; died in a Galena hospital
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