Galena 2026

Galena, Illinois will celebrate her bicentennial in 2026 with a series of events throughout the year and special attention to other events.

06/04/2026

200 Years, Endless Facts! On June 4, 1826 the first post office was established as the first in northern Illinois. Not the stately building of today, which wasn't completed until 1858, it was likely a simple structure at the corner of Perry and Main Streets. Mail was delivered on horseback every two week or so. Regular service was not established until 1826.

Ebenezer Lockwood of Prairie du Chien was the first postmaster.

Galena was quickly shaping up into what we know today in these early years!

06/01/2026

What began as a small group of friends from Montagnac-sur-Auvignon, a village in southwestern France, has grown into a remarkable men’s choir rooted in friendship, tradition, and the joy of singing together.

Since the fall of 2018, the cities of Galena and Agen have been Friendship Cities under an agreement facilitated by the Sister Cities International organization. SCI works to promote "peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation - one individual, one community at at time."

The Sister City connection was sought after a group from Agen visited Galena in 2017, then a group from Galena traveled to Agen in 2018. At that time the Galenians in Agen attended a concert by Choeur d'Hommes de l'Auvignon in a beautiful stone church.

We're thrilled to be invited the group to Galena during our bicentennial year!

05/31/2026

200 Years, Endless Facts! On May 31, 1832, during the Black Hawk War, Colonel James M. Strode declared martial law in Galena.

As fear and uncertainty spread across the lead mining region, this action placed the town under military authority in an effort to safeguard its residents during a critical moment in its early history.

Brought to you by the Galena 2026 History Committee, Galena and U.S Grant History Museum, and Galena Public Library.

05/30/2026

200 Years, Endless Facts! On May 29, 1952 General U.S. Grant III visited Galena and the home of "Galena's leading citizen of today" 92 year old Anna Felt.

Brought to you by the Galena 2026 History Committee, Galena and U.S. Grant History Museum, and Galena Public Library.

05/29/2026

200 Years, Endless Facts! Also on May 29, 1841, Galena’s first city government was formally organized.

With its new charter in place, Galena entered a new era—transitioning from frontier settlement to incorporated city.

Picture: An 1844 lithograph of Galena, Illinois, looking from Shot Tower Hill, south towards the Mississippi River.

Brought to you by the Galena 2026 History Committee, Galena and U.S. Grant History Museum, and Galena Public Library.

05/28/2026

200 Years, Endless Facts! In 1829, the Jo Daviess County commissioners ordered a tax of one-half percent on property, including town lots, and notably, on enslaved and indentured individuals.

This decision reflected the complicated legal and social realities of the time, as such practices persisted despite laws prohibiting slavery in the Northwest Territory.

Moments like this remind us that Galena’s early history, like the nation’s, includes difficult and important truths.

Brought to you by the Galena 2026 History Committee, Galena and U.S. Grant History Museum, and Galena Public Library.

05/27/2026

200 Years, Endless Facts! Around 1851, the Old No. 1 Firehouse was built on Bench Street.

It is believed to be the oldest firehouse of its type in Illinois, a reminder of how Galena organized and protected itself as the city grew in size and importance.

From bucket brigades to formal fire companies, this building reflects a community investing in its own safety and future.

Brought to you by the Galena 2026 History Committee, Galena and U.S. Grant History Museum, and Galena Public Library.

05/26/2026

200 Years, Endless Facts! In 1828, Galena established what is now known as the Old City Cemetery.

As one of the city’s earliest burial grounds, it holds the stories of Galena’s first residents—miners, families, and pioneers who helped shape the community in its earliest days.

Today, it remains a quiet place of reflection and remembrance.

Brought to you by the Galena 2026 History Committee, Galena and U.S. Grant History Museum, and Galena Public Library.

05/25/2026

200 Years, Endless Facts! On May 24, 1841, Charles A. Hempstead was elected as Galena’s first mayor.

His election marked a turning point as Galena transitioned into a formally organized city with structured leadership.

Brought to you by the Galena 2026 History Committee, Galena and U.S. Grant History Museum, and Galena Public Library.

Address

720 Park Avenue
Galena, IL
61036

Website

https://www.galena2026.org/

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