Our museum is self-guided with over 6,000 square feet of exhibit space. We also offer other activities for you or your group. Walking Tours We provide a one-hour walking tour of Galena's Main Street every Saturday, May through October. Come along with our experienced guide and see where U.S. Grant worked as a leather store clerk. Hear the stories of wealthy steamboat captains, hardy miners, prosperous merchants and Civil War heroes, all of whom helped build the boom town of the Old Northwest. You'll even see some movie locations from "Field of Dreams," too! Tours begin at 10:00 A.M. in the lobby of the DeSoto House Hotel at 230 S. Main Street and cost $5.00 per person.  Other days and times by appointment. Step-on Guides For Bus Groups We provide an experienced and accurate guide who will board your motorcoach and provide you with a 30 minute narration of Galena's historic district. If you wish, we can also do a tour through the countryside, identifying old mine sites, the Mississippi River and the unglaciated character of our beautiful terrain. Various historic sites, such as the U.S. Grant House, can also be added to the tour.  Please call us at (815)777-9129, fax us at (815)777-9131 or e-mail us at:     info@galenahistorymuseum.org for rates and other information.                           ~Special Events~ Ulysses S. Grant's Birthday Celebration Come to Galena and help us celebrate President Grant's birthday with Civil War encampments, 19th century-style live entertainment, heritage programs, walking tours, period dance classes and the Grand Ball in celebration of President Grant's birthday.  April 18-20, 2008. For information about other places to stay and things to do in the Galena Area, phone the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800.747.9377 or www.galena.org.   Historic Cemetery Walk June 14-15, 2008; 2 – 4:30 p.m. at Galena’s Greenwood Cemetery on Gear Street Costumed re-enactors bring to life some of Galena’s most interesting residents in this historic cemetery. 60 minute guided walking tour. $10.  815-777-9129.  www.galenahistorymuseum.org.  For information about other places to stay and things to do in the Galena Area, phone the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800.747.9377 or www.galena.org.     Annual Historic Home Tour Tour of Historic Galena Homes We will feature four privately owned residences that are open to the public only on this special weekend. Home Tour tickets also include free admission to the Galena History Museum. Tickets are $14; children under 10 are free with an adult. Tickets purchased by September 15, 2008 are only $12. Groups of 15 or more may qualify for a 10% discount off regular ticket price. Tickets are available at the Old Train Depot Visitor’s Center, the Old Market House State Historic Site (Sat. only), the DeSoto House Hotel, the History Museum and any home on the tour.  For more information, please call the Galena - Jo Daviess County Historical Society at 815.777.9129    A free shuttle bus will run between all of the homes on the tour and the ticket stops.  Some walking is required, so please wear comfortable shoes.  For a free brochure or visitor information, please call the Galena/JDC Convention & Visitor’s Bureau at 1-877-444-5850 or visit www.galena.org.    For information about other places to stay and things to do in the Galena Area, phone the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800.747.9377 or www.galena.org. Galena Garden Walk A Garden Walk through Historic Galena promises to be the perfect way to pass a summer's day.  Open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the gardens on display are diverse and sprinkled around town, allowing participants to enjoy a variety of garden styles as they stroll through the historic and artistic sites of Galena.  The Garden Walk is sponsored by The Spirits of the Museum, the volunteer/support arm of the Galena/Jo Daviess County Historical Society.   Wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen and a hat, and remember a notebook and camera to record ideas for your own gardens! July 12-13, 2008. For information about other places to stay and things to do in the Galena Area, phone the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800.747.9377 or www.galena.org. Chocolate Champagne & Candlelight The "Spirits of the Museum" (a volunteer support organization for the museum) will hold their wildly popular and sinfully delicious 6th annual "Chocolate, Champagne & Candlelight," Saturday evening, November 8, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the DeSoto House Hotel in downtown Galena. Tickets are $13 and include a glass of champagne.  You may get your tickets over the phone with a Visa or Mastercard, or if you are in town they are available at the museum, Dick's Supermarket, or the DeSoto House Hotel. For more information contact the museum at 815-777-9129.  For information about other places to stay and things to do in the Galena Area, phone the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800.747.9377 or www.galena.org. Annual Mistletoe Ball Mistletoe Ball A Victorian Holiday Dinner & Dance The setting will be reminiscent of an 1868 moment in time: General Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia entering Galena's Historic Turner Hall, enjoying a resplendent holiday feast, and dancing the night away to an orchestra that sets toes tapping and rustling gowns aswirl.  You can be a part of this festive scene at Galena's Annual Mistletoe Ball: A Victorian Holiday Dinner & Dance on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 8pm until midnight in charming Galena. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Hosted by the Galena - Jo Daviess County Historical Society, the evening will feature an elegant Victorian sit-down dinner catered by premier local restaurant, Fried Green Tomatoes. Appetizers will be served at 8 p.m. along with one complimentary glass of champagne. Dinner will be served at 8:45 p.m. and will begin with mixed organic greens tossed with cranberries, walnuts and feta cheese with a sherry vinaigrette. For dinner, enjoy either slow-roasted pork shank served with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans or sautéed chicken marsala served with roasted red potatoes and broccoli. A vegetarian option is also available.  Dessert and coffee will be served at 10 p.m. The 10-piece Ken Kilian Saxtet Orchestra will offer a mix of period and contemporary music.  Period dress and holiday attire are both appropriate.  A cash bar and wonderful raffle prizes round out the unique and special evening. Reservations are a must, so please contact us early for details!  Tickets are $55 per person and can be purchased on your Visa or Mastercard by calling 815-777-9129, or send a check payable to the Galena Historical Society at 211 S Bench St, Galena IL 61036.   Tickets go on sale August 1st!   For information about other places to stay and things to do in the Galena Area, phone the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800.747.9377 or www.galena.org.

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