IL city earns more accolades, this time from HGTV for a best downtown in the US
A northwestern Illinois city has one of the most charming downtowns in the nation, according to one popular home renovation network.
Cable network HGTV named Galena among its list of “The 40 Most Charming Small Downtowns in America.” The Sept. 17 article highlights the area’s design and architecture museum, access to the scenic Mississippi River and more.
Galena has been recognized in many publications for its main street and historic details, including a 2023 mention in Travel and Leisure magazine’s “Most Beautiful Small Towns in the U.S.” and a shoutout from Country Living for being a great Thanksgiving destination.
The HGTV list includes “vibrant towns that invite you in and encourage you to stay and explore.” Other spots to make the list include Athens, Ga., Marquette, Mich., Abilene, Kansas, and more. The downtowns are not numerically ranked.
As for Galena, HGTV’s article praised the variety of activities available in the downtown area.
“Antique shops and boutiques line the streets of this 19th-century-style downtown, along with art galleries, restaurants, cafes and tasting rooms that feature local foods and wines,” HGTV’s article reads.
Visiting downtown Galena
Galena’s historic main street has more than 125 shops and restaurants, according to tourism site visitgalena.org. You can stroll through Bella Rosa Boutique or Carlotta’s Studio, or grab a bite to eat at Durty Gurt’s Burger Joynt or Green Street Tavern & Restaurant.
“We are pleased to see that Galena has been recognized by HGTV as one of the Most Charming Small Downtowns in America,” city facilities manager Hillary Dickerson wrote in an emailed statement to the News-Democrat. “Each year we welcome more than a million visitors, and as residents, we know that Galena truly is a special place with rich history, great recreational opportunities, and unique shops, galleries and restaurants. Our community, with the help of dedicated volunteers, organizes special events each season that are above and beyond what most towns our size can fathom. Each fall, in rapid succession, we host Oktoberfest, Country Fair and the Halloween Parade. We’re proud of what we have here, and we’re excited to share it.”
For a unique walking tour experience this autumn, you can check out a ghost tour with “researched, authentic stories about Galena’s ghostly past & present with a mix of history and mystery!”
The ghost tour costs $15 for an adult, and children through high school age are free. Reservations are not required.
One of the most popular attractions in Galena is the Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site. You can visit the home from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Tours are given on a continuous basis, and cost $5 for adults and $3 for children.
Outdoor recreational opportunities include the Galena River Trail, Apple River Canyon State Park and Horseshoe Mound Preserve.
Here’s some information about Galena, from the U.S. Census Bureau:
- Population: 3,308
- Median household income: $55,765
- Poverty rate: 9.4%
- Employment rate: 66.5%
- Average commute: 14 minutes
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