Consider a Galena Inn for Your Next Weekend Getaway
Visitors to Galena, Il will discover fascinating stories surrounding the Galena inn and bed and breakfast industry. Many Galena inns are sites in and of themselves. It is worth a tourist's time to take in these stories as an integral part of their visits.
The city itself draws over one million tourists annually, largely because of its rich history. The town gets its name from lead ore, called "galena." The area is plentiful with it. During the city's early days, it was the lead that helped it to prosper.
The presence of lead ore was well known as far back as the 1600's. Native American tribes used and traded it.
As new settlers arrived over the decades, they set up mines and began exporting the lead. The town's location on the Mississippi River made it a natural trade route. The city was producing 80 percent of America's lead by 1845.
Like many towns dependent on a single industry, the town declined as the demand for lead dropped. Lead was being phased out of many manufactured products because it was discovered to be toxic. It was being replaced by other less-expensive, easier-to-obtain materials in other products.
The decreased demand for lead nearly devastated the town. It went from a population of 14,000 at its height to fewer than 3,500 in the 1980's.
Town leaders realized they needed to "reinvent" the city to escape extinction. They knew that the city was a hidden gem full of American history. They decided to play up its historical value as a means of breathing new life into the economy.
Galena, Il has a unique distinction that would serve its economy well. Over 80 percent of the city's structures were part of the Galena Historic District. This district was (and remains) part of the United States' National Register of Historic Places.
Much of the downtown area appears as it did when it was built in the 1800's. Most commercial buildings (and some homes) were made of red/brown brick.
Many of these buildings were refurbished and retrofitted to meet modern building codes. Their original structure, decor and character were largely preserved. New businesses moved in to old buildings. New efforts were made to encourage tourism.
Today the town has turned around and thrives on tourists who come to enjoy its old world character. In addition to numerous historic sites, visitors can also enjoy modern amenities and services. The town is home to golf, spas and lakes rife with water sports opportunities.
The Galena inn and hotel industry is thriving thanks to tourism. In fact, many Galena inns and bed and breakfasts are attractions in their own rights. A number of Galena inns are located in historic buildings. Others are in converted historic homes.
It's highly recommended that visitors choose a Galena inn or B and B located in one of these historic homes. The homes have been outfitted with modern technology (like showers and fire prevention systems). However, their decor has been preserved or restored to closely resemble the original interiors and exteriors.
A stay in a historic Galena inn is like an up-close-and-personal history lesson. Guests are usually encouraged to spend time admiring the various rooms. The homes' owners are well-versed in the histories of their buildings. They love to share this information with their guests.
A significant number of the best Galena inn and B and B establishments are centrally located. Guests can walk to the downtown area, or drive there within a few minutes or less. Some Galena inn and bed and breakfasts offer visitor tours.
Galena Il bed and breakfast info can be found online. The official Galena tourism Website contains lodging information and links. Bookings can be arranged and paid for on the site of the Galena inn of your choice.
The city itself draws over one million tourists annually, largely because of its rich history. The town gets its name from lead ore, called "galena." The area is plentiful with it. During the city's early days, it was the lead that helped it to prosper.
The presence of lead ore was well known as far back as the 1600's. Native American tribes used and traded it.
As new settlers arrived over the decades, they set up mines and began exporting the lead. The town's location on the Mississippi River made it a natural trade route. The city was producing 80 percent of America's lead by 1845.
Like many towns dependent on a single industry, the town declined as the demand for lead dropped. Lead was being phased out of many manufactured products because it was discovered to be toxic. It was being replaced by other less-expensive, easier-to-obtain materials in other products.
The decreased demand for lead nearly devastated the town. It went from a population of 14,000 at its height to fewer than 3,500 in the 1980's.
Town leaders realized they needed to "reinvent" the city to escape extinction. They knew that the city was a hidden gem full of American history. They decided to play up its historical value as a means of breathing new life into the economy.
Galena, Il has a unique distinction that would serve its economy well. Over 80 percent of the city's structures were part of the Galena Historic District. This district was (and remains) part of the United States' National Register of Historic Places.
Much of the downtown area appears as it did when it was built in the 1800's. Most commercial buildings (and some homes) were made of red/brown brick.
Many of these buildings were refurbished and retrofitted to meet modern building codes. Their original structure, decor and character were largely preserved. New businesses moved in to old buildings. New efforts were made to encourage tourism.
Today the town has turned around and thrives on tourists who come to enjoy its old world character. In addition to numerous historic sites, visitors can also enjoy modern amenities and services. The town is home to golf, spas and lakes rife with water sports opportunities.
The Galena inn and hotel industry is thriving thanks to tourism. In fact, many Galena inns and bed and breakfasts are attractions in their own rights. A number of Galena inns are located in historic buildings. Others are in converted historic homes.
It's highly recommended that visitors choose a Galena inn or B and B located in one of these historic homes. The homes have been outfitted with modern technology (like showers and fire prevention systems). However, their decor has been preserved or restored to closely resemble the original interiors and exteriors.
A stay in a historic Galena inn is like an up-close-and-personal history lesson. Guests are usually encouraged to spend time admiring the various rooms. The homes' owners are well-versed in the histories of their buildings. They love to share this information with their guests.
A significant number of the best Galena inn and B and B establishments are centrally located. Guests can walk to the downtown area, or drive there within a few minutes or less. Some Galena inn and bed and breakfasts offer visitor tours.
Galena Il bed and breakfast info can be found online. The official Galena tourism Website contains lodging information and links. Bookings can be arranged and paid for on the site of the Galena inn of your choice.
