There have been many wonderfully eccentric creatives in Galena through the years, one of them being the children’s author, poet, and lecturer Rowena Bastin Bennett.
Waanik Suuc
Waanįk Šuuc, known to us as “Red Bird,” was a Ho Chunk leader who resisted the white incursion into Wisconsin. He was eventually surrounded and surrendered, expecting to be honorably executed. Instead he died imprisoned at Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, in 1828.
Airship
At the Galena Fair in 1911, the big attraction was an “airship,” a bi-plane piloted by Harry Powers.
Ulysses S Grant
Ulysses S. Grant came to Galena in April of 1860 aboard the steamboat Itasca. There was no fanfare when he arrived, although he quickly became a local celebrity…
Beth Baranski
After moving to Galena in 1989, Beth worked with others on community projects, completing the City’s Historic Preservation Guidebook, and preparing a report on Historic Lighting for downtown Galena. Beth served as Development Director for the City of Galena from 1991 to 1993.
Ely Parker
Born Hasanoanda on a Reservation in Indian Falls, New York, Ely Parker was a Tonawanda Seneca. Like so many Native American children, he was taken from his home at an early age and sent to a baptist missionary school.
Galena Rock Festival
In just two weeks time, a team of lawyers set up two corporations, bought a farm, built a stage and all the accompanying structures, and put on a festival for 30,000 – 50,000 people.
And it could have happened in Galena…
Lead Map
Galena is the Latin name for the highest quality of lead sulfide from which lead is produced. It was lead that brought people to the Galena area by the thousands during the early nineteenth century.
Corn Boil Photos
The first Corn Boil took place at Hughlett’s Bottom, at the end of Dewey Avenue. The Gazette reported an “estimated 800 persons” attended.
Corn Boil
The very first “Corn Boil” was held for the “Installation of Pup Tent and Initiation of Officers of the newly organized Military Order of the Cooties, Tarfu Pup Tent….”