Full Episode: Galena, Illinois | Main Streets

This charming town in northwest Illinois is named after a mineral mined here 20 years before the gold rush in California.
It was a booming mining town in 1860 with a population of over 12000 when Ulysses S Grant moved here. Grant and the lead mines are no more, but the buildings still are.
Featured:
00:00 Intro
01:46 Galena Canning
04:00 Magic Theater
05:57 The Haunted Galena Tour Company
10:23 Grant Based Tours
11:45 Galena Museum
13:50 Blacksmith
16:43 Galena Cellars
18:22 Hoof-It Goat Trekking
20:15 Jo Daviess Conservation
24:14 Ulysses Suites
25:58 Desoto House Hotel
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Main Street is alive and well. It’s where the heart of the community beats the loudest.
It’s also where you will find five-time Emmy award-winning actor and host John McGivern. Enjoyed by a nationwide audience, John’s unique brand of storytelling is expanding across the Midwest.
Growing up in the Midwest in an Irish Catholic family, John’s own experiences and memories are relatable and remind us all of our shared Midwest heritage. Through lively interviews with local residents and civic leaders, John uncovers the uniqueness and charm of each community he visits.
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@mainstreetstv on social

[@baileythompson1438]

Just booked a honeymoon in Galena I am here researching the town before we go :) thank you This channel is truly a Hidden gem

[@cocoaorange1]

I have heard of Galena for years, and have seen pictures. Nice video.

[@LTNye]

"This town needs to visit Dubuque and get a 4th Street Elevator!" was the best comment!

[@j.polishboy4871]

Just visited there 2 months ago. Really enjoyed our visit. Will be back.

[@p.t.murphymagictheatre3045]

Thank you John and Company!

[@sartorialdriver6528]

Was watching to see some Galena stuff but I was pleasantly surprised to see Reiman gardens here!

[@cut1986]

Lucky enough to be an 1 1/2 away from this great town! Visit it 6-7 times a year. The people are fantastic!

[@jackhackett80]

PT Murphy is a cool dude if you book seats for a show he's super personable and really friendly and will probably answer the call himself

[@Laine2539]

Look at those low low grocery prices 😮

[@timothykeith1367]

The Fever River was from a french word for fiber. Local legume trees produce bean pods - that was likeky the origin of the name.

[@glennso47]

Do you ever visit just to the south- Carroll County?

[@brendab5663]

Very interesting.

[@lynnhawks130]

Good show, Jeff

[@alexponce7062]

I wish you would have visited West Side sculpture park. It is very beautiful, and the owners are very nice people. 10/10

[@AlejandroDuran263]

My Uncle Ismael is a Galenian because he loves Galena too much

[@rachelhart.2386]

...by the way...I live pretty close and have never heard the county pronounced the way that you did??

[@markakira8988]

lolol @ 8:00

[@jjmcauliffe5327]

Love Galena and have been there countless times, truly a American gem. Unfortunaly I have also had the mispleasure of meeting Robert Lee Buman, the man who portrays Grant in this video. He is an embarrassment to the Galena community. Many times while out and about I would hear him spout off his racist bullshit. I have a friend who was dumfounded one night at the VFW as was I, that "Grant" was just spitting out racist garbage. The guy who is supposed to portray a Civil War hero for the Union that was responsible for the removal of slavery, is exactly the opposite of what Grant was or stood for.

[@jovanmusky]

Glad to know this, we'll be skipping his tour indefinitely!

[@cut1986]

@@jovanmusky Have met him as well. Nice person. Are you going to tour because of my single comment. Decide for yourself. Good grief.

[@cornpopsrazor5375]

@@jovanmusky Why don't you meet him and see for yourself. Do you believe everything everyone says? Passing judgement because of a comment by some random shows you have little sense. This guy probably has a personal beef with the "General". Maybe the General banged his mom when he was younger.

[@ladesigner8764]

@@cut1986 how well do you know him? “Meeting him” isn’t “knowing him”.

[@cut1986]

@@ladesigner8764 Did I say I know him? Said I met him and he was a nice guy.

[@kevinszymczak4732]

I personally would find your videos way more enjoyable if you didn't stop at every place and interview people.

[@diankreczmer6595]

Yawn is a typo

[@northerniltree]

Not really. I read your comment, and I yawned.

[@diankreczmer6595]

In the 1960's my family and I would go to visit relatives in Iowa and would stop in galena. I lived visiting Ulysses Grant house and going into his bedroom and looking through the window at the sidewalk below which I understand he had the yawn put in later. Which leads me to say how very disappointing that you would not include this part of your town's history. You seem not as interested in history as you should be. But instead showing a magic show , pushing for gawdy tourism. Disappointing, that you do not appreciate all the history that you have. Surprised that you even mentioned general Grant, but at least there was some history in mentioning that several Civil War generals came from Galena.