Galena

I really don’t know whether to love or hate Galena. I love that it’s got a wonderful old town feel to it. Really, there are few places like this in America. The whole center part of town is from the 19th Century with little in the way of new buildings—Montpelier, VT might come close. Galena is genuinely historic with associations to Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas and Ulysses S. Grant, who lived in Galena for several years.

But then there’s the other side. Because its fortunes had turned so much, Galena couldn’t afford to tear down all of those wonderful 19th-Century buildings for many years. Then it was discovered. And how! Today the place is mobbed by tourists browsing through the many tchotchky and geegaw shops. Even after Thanksgiving the streets were so crowded with holiday shoppers, that I thought better of trying to haul baby around in the stroller. In a way, it kind of detracts from the atmosphere.

I really am torn about the place. Charming and gross all at once.

My wife called it a shopping theme park for adults.

A warm and fuzzy town. Stuck in the age of home-baked cookies. Go for a three hour walk, but stay away from the touristy shops selling cheapo Chinese wares!

Went here on a business call with my past job. I was shocked at how neat it was.