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
The Living History Walk is nearly here!
The Galena Living History Alliance and the Galena Center for[…]
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
One of the nicest parts of what we do at Galena’s Living History Alliance is getting to know the wonderful people who own and care for these beautiful old homes.
We are so grateful to every homeowner who has applied for a historic plaque and allowed us to share a little of their home's history.
We also know that sometimes the day comes when it's time to say goodbye to a home you've loved for so many years. And we all know how difficult that decision must be. After all, these aren't just houses. They're homes filled with wonderful memories, and saying goodbye isn't always easy.
So, as a small way of saying thank you to the homeowners who have supported us, we are always happy to share when one of their beautiful homes goes up for sale. Our hope is that another family will come along, fall in love with it just as they did, and continue giving it the love and care it deserves.
These old homes have been here long before us, and with a little luck and a lot of love, they'll be here long after us, too.
And isn't that what preserving Galena's history is all about?
And so we come to the tenth and final stop on our Stroll Through Time!
And what a way to end our journey! We simply cannot say enough about Ron Jenkins and his absolutely extraordinary portrayal of Amos Farrar!
The Amos Farrar House, built in 1824, is one of the oldest homes in Galena, and we knew it deserved someone special to bring its history to life. Well, did we ever find the right man!
Ron didn't just learn a script. He dove headfirst into researching Amos Farrar, uncovering details and stories on his own that made his portrayal all the more remarkable. By the time our Stroll came around, we were convinced Ron hadn't just studied Amos Farrar. He had become him!
Ron, you were simply magnificent, and we are so very grateful!
We're sharing a little clip of his performance so you can see for yourselves!
And while this may be the final stop on our first Stroll Through Time, it is certainly not the end of our journey!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 26th, 2027, when Galena's Living History Alliance presents our Second Annual Stroll Through Time! We'll be taking you down another historic street in beautiful Galena, introducing you to more of the fascinating people who once called these remarkable homes their own.
We can hardly wait to do it all again!
Our ninth stop along our Stroll Through Time brought us to the Otis Horton House at 309 Park Avenue, built in 1870.
Today, we want to thank Jim Baranski for his wonderful portrayal of Otis Horton!
Jim stepped into this role at the last minute, and it was no small undertaking! His script was quite lengthy, with a great deal to learn in a very short time. But he rose to the occasion and gave a beautiful performance.
Thank you Jim, for being willing to jump in and help make our very first Stroll Through Time such a success.
We're sharing a little snippet of his performance for everyone to enjoy!
And don't forget, we'll be strolling through history again on Saturday, June 26, 2027, when we bring another Galena neighborhood and its former residents back to life!
We’re on YouTube
See our latest YouTube videos here for insights into Galena’s history and more from our historians.
