The Great Galena Balloon Race

Considered the finest mansion in Galena since it was constructed in 1857. Guided tours offered about every 15 minutes from late spring to late fall, no reservations necessary.

This museum is located in an old brewery building. The museum exhibits include contemporary design, photography, sculpture, and other artwork such as weaving. The museum is headquartered in Chicago with a branch in Schaumburg.

The Dowling House is the oldest building in Galena, now a historic house museum.

The museum is housed in a 19th-century Italianate mansion and features plenty of agricultural history, Old Galena trinkets, and Civil War memorabilia. The centerpiece is a huge painting by Thomas Nast entitled "Peace in the Union," upstairs.

The house probably appears much like it did in the 1860s and 1870s, as much of the original furniture has been placed throughout the house. He only lived here for a short time, though: a year before the Civil War and a few years afterwards before he moved to the White House.

The park is on the east side of the Galena River with nice views of the town nestled into the hills. There's a gazebo, a statue of Grant, and some war trophies, including one of the first cannons to fire on Fort Sumter.