Page 398 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

396  THE GREA T LAKES

Illinois made Galena the busiest
Mississippi River Valley port
Except for the densely populated area around Chicago between St. Louis and St. Paul
(see pp384–95), Illinois, with its natural vistas, is a predomi­ in the 1840s.
nantly rural state. In the center are rich, flat farmlands dotted The town’s population
with scenic byways, quaint historic towns, and wine trails. peaked at 15,000 during the
Civil War, when the elite erected
Known as the “Land of Lincoln,” most of the sites related to many magnificent homes in a
the president are concentrated in Springfield, the heart of the wide variety of ornate styles.
state. Some rather unusual and picturesque scenery can be Some of Galena’s historic
found in the hilly “Driftless Region” along the Mississippi in the homes are now open to visitors.
northwest, and in the rugged “Illinois Ozarks” in the southwest. The Belvedere Mansion, built
in 1857 by a local steamboat
owner, is a 22-room Italianate
The growth of Rockford structure with a varied
followed the tragic 1830s collection of period furnishings
Blackhawk War between the and some quaint recent
Sacs of northern Illinois and the additions, including the
US Army, determined to displace draperies from the Gone with
the tribes from their farmlands. the Wind movie set. Civil War
After the Sacs lost, they were general and US president
relocated to Iowa. A stone Ulysses S. Grant lived
statue of the Sac warrior Chief quietly in Galena, between
Blackhawk is located 27 miles the signature events of his
(43 km) south west of Rockford. military career and time in the
White House. His small, Federal-
Y Klehm Arboretum & style 1860 home contains many
Botanic Garden of Grant’s original possessions
2715 S Main St. Tel (815) 965-8146. and furnishings.
Rock River, overlooked by the statue of Sac Visitor Center: Open 9am–4pm daily. The Galena/Jo Daviess
hero Black Hawk, southwest of Rockford & 7 ∑ klehm.org County History Museum
Y Anderson Japanese Gardens chronicles Galena’s lead mining
2 Rockford 318 Spring Creek Rd. Tel (815) 229- and Civil War shipping days.
9390. Open May–Oct: 9am–6pm Informative 1-hour walking
* 150,000. ~ @ n 102 N Main St,
(800) 521-0849. ∑ gorockford.com Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm Sat & Sun. & 7 tours of Main Street begin at
∑ andersongardens.org 10am on Saturdays from May
Dubbed the Forest City in the late Y Nicholas Conservatory through to October.
1800s, Rockford today has beau- and Gardens
tiful public and private gardens 1354 N 2nd St. Tel (815) 987-8858. P Belvedere Mansion
and miles of parkland along the Greenhouse: Open 9am–5pm Tue–Fri, 1008 Park Ave. Tel (815) 777-0747.
Rock River, which bisects the city. 9am–3pm Sat & Sun. Closed Mon. 7 Open mid-May–mid-Nov: 11am–
Of its three most-visited gardens, ∑ nicholasconservatory.com 4pm. &
the Klehm Arboretum and E Galena/Jo Daviess County
Botanic Garden contains 150 acres History Museum
(61 ha) of plants. Anderson 3 Galena 211 S Bench St. Tel (815) 777-9129.
Japanese Gardens has a tea- * 3,600. ~ @ n 101 Bouthillier, Open 9am–4:30pm daily.
house and a 16th century-style (877) 464-2536. ∑ galena.org Closed Jan 1, Easter, Thanksgiving,
guest house. Nicholas Dec 24, 25, 31. & 7
Conservatory and Gardens Perched on a bluff overlooking ∑ galenahistorymuseum.org
features an aviary, lagoon, and the Galena River
recreation path with views of near its confluence
downtown’s historic buildings, with the Mississippi,
including the Coronado Theater, a this immaculately
gilded 1927 Moorish movie palace. preserved town is
On the town’s east side, a relaxing tourist
the Midway Village and destination with
Museum Center is both a living 19th-century
history center and local history homes, historical
museum. Exhibits tell the story landmarks, and
of ethnic groups who flocked to antique shops.
the city’s factories. The grounds Its status as the
have been turned into a 19th- shipping center
century village, with restored for the region’s
buildings from the area. many lead mines A scenic view of Galena with its historic landmarks
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp422–4 and pp425–7

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm