Galena’s Living History Alliance
Galena’s Living History Alliance is a local non-profit organization focusing on the history of Galena honoring it by researching the history of our participating homes, placing plaques identifying the date of construction, name and occupation of the original owner and telling the stories of the first owners.
Showcasing Galena’s historic homes
Architectural style
Over 200 homes in the GLHA plaque program showcase many exquisite architectural styles. From Italianate to Gothic Revival, Victorian, Federal and more these homes offer a glimpse into the past that cannot be experienced anywhere else.
Notable residents
Discover the many influential figures who once called our plaqued homes their own. Miners, generals, farmers and shopkeepers all called Galena home and shaped it into what it has become today.
Living history
Experience the past come to life as you explore each home’s unique story and the role of its owners in Galena’s history. Today we honor and recognize those pioneers with the beautiful plaques on their homes.
Plaque Program
Historic House Plaque Program
The Galena Living History Alliance (GLHA) is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the architectural heritage of Galena and Jo Daviess County. Our primary initiative, the Historic House Plaque Program, increases public awareness and appreciation of the area’s historic homes and buildings.
Is my home eligible for a historic plaque?
Any home built before 1930 is eligible for inclusion in the program. Over 200 buildings are currently in the GLHA plaque program. They range from log cabins, commercial buildings, stunning Italinates, and cozy miners’ cottages to stately Victorians.
A few examples of the architectural styles in the GLHA program.
William Reinwald House, 1847, Log cabin home
Charles Lowes House, c.1852, Miner’s cottage
RIchard seal house, 1871, Italianate
August J. Millhouse House, 1899, Victorian
Latest news from our blog
See our latest Facebook posts.
We update our Facebook page regularly with information about our homes, businesses and churches participating in the GLHA historic plaque program. Scroll down on the posts to see the latest posts.
Galena's Living History Alliance
A window into Galena's historic truth
We are so grateful to our Generals for helping to keep history alive. We are so proud of all of you. Welcome Home, Patrick!The Generals want to welcome back Patrick Lietzen after being deployed over in Syria.
#galenatourism
#GalenaCountry
We’ve done it!!!
It’s been a long time coming, but our website has officially been updated! A huge thank you to board member Milly Jones for the countless hours she spent carefully working through every detail. If you know Milly… you know. ❤️
The new site continues to offer many of the features visitors have come to value, including photos of the homes and buildings in the Historic House Plaque Program, online plaque application and contact forms, an interactive map showing plaque locations, and secure online payment options.
We have also added several new features to make the site easier to use and more informative, including:
A site-wide search function accessible from every page;
An enhanced search feature on the photos page that allows users to search buildings by street name, original owner, or year built;
A new blog featuring announcements, updates, and other GLHA news;
Links to our Facebook and YouTube pages.
We hope you enjoy the updated design and new features, and we invite you to explore the site and learn more about Galena’s remarkable historic homes and buildings.
www.GalenaLivingHistory.org
There is something fascinating about peeling back the layers of an old house and finding history hidden within the walls and floors.
Two of our GLHA members, Michelle and Norm, are currently renovating the bathroom in their Henry J. Stouffer House at 705 S. Bench Street, and every day uncover another little piece of Galena’s past.
Shown here is a sample of the original 1844 wallpaper discovered during the renovation, along with three hand-forged 182 year-old nails that were found tucked beneath the floorboards. Norm also discovered two porcelain electrical insulators hidden in the floor joists, part of the home’s very early electrical system.
It was reported in 1888 that the Galena Electric Light Company was "stringing wires along the streets" so homes could soon be illuminated by electric lights. At the time, this would have been considered an incredible luxury. Many Galena homes were retrofitted from gas lighting or oil lamps to electricity during the 1890s and early 1900s.
Henry Stouffer would not have had gas lighting when this home was built in 1844. In fact, it was not until 1855 that Hezekiah Gear helped organize Galena’s Gas Light Company. That means the original lighting in the Stouffer home was probably candles, whale oil lamps, lard oil lamps, or possibly early fluid or kerosene-style lamps.
We always say these old homes have stories to tell… and sometimes they are literally hiding beneath the floorboards just waiting to be discovered.
We are so proud of fellow board member, Amy Laskye. We always knew she was wonderful! ❤️Wow! That’s cool… Google acknowledged me. 😊
We’re on YouTube
See our latest YouTube videos here for insights into Galena’s history and more from our historians.
