The Historical Society and Museum in Galena, Illinois

The Historical Society and Museum in Galena, Illinois is located inside a three-story building that was built in 1858, and used to be the home of Daniel A. Barrows. The house was designed by William Dennison, the same architect who designed a home for Ulysses S. Grant. The home passed hands many times over the years, before it fell into the hands of the City of Galena in 1938. The Galena-JoDaviess Country Historical Society was formed the same year and signed a 99-year lease with the city to operate a museum on the property. The Barrows House today is filled with over 6,000 square feet of exhibits and displays and 10,000 artifacts.

Nine residents of Galena, Illinois went on to become Union Generals during the Civil War; the most famous resident is Ulysses S. Grant. The museum contains an entire display devoted to U.S. Grant and the Civil War. Features include original weaponry, letters, photographs and letters. The highlight of the exhibit is the "Peace in Union'' oil painting, depicting General Robert E. Lee surrendering to Grant at Appomatox in 1865.

Perhaps the most unique exhibit in the museum is the Galena landform model. All of the highest points in Illinois are located in Galena and through the large model; guests will learn how the glaciers spared the Illinois town and left the area with the highest elevations. Visitors will also be able to witness on the model; the effects erosion and siltation have taken on the Galena River.

The museum also has a large display of textiles and fabrics from the 1800's and early 1900's. The clothing collection is large and diverse; there are purses, quilts, wedding gowns and costumes. Items of pride and interest include an evening caplet worn by Mrs. Thomas Nast to the Inauguration of President Ulysses S. Grant and a crazy quilt made from pieces of scraps from the dresses worn by Mrs. Grant, while they resided in the White House.

Lead and steamboats were the founding backbone of Galena, Illinois. While Native Americans had been mining lead for thousands of years, it was when the Europeans arrived that lead mining took off. The museum has an entire exhibit devoted to the history of lead mining and several artifacts and tools from the time period. More recently, the museum opened an original 1830's lead mine shaft, which is a tangible reminder of how mining was such an integral part of Galena's past.

The museum is a self-guided facility that offers other activities for groups to participate in, such as a walking or bus tour. There is a gift shop in the museum that offers visitors a wide selection of Galena related items, Hollyhock seeds and various antiques. The museum contains all the history and information that allows a person to get familiarized with the small town of Galena, and its extraordinary history.