U.S. Grant Home State Historic Site — Attraction in Galena

This is a great historical spot in Galena that is underrated. I'd recommend making this your first stop for your first morning in Galena since it can get crowded if groups are large. Tours are short and free but they do invite you to donate if you can at the end of the tour. I do think they need improvements on their tour. This would include educating their tour guides on the slave background of Ulysses S. Grant and family. The tour guide was unsure each time I asked but could be hesitation not to make other tour visitors upset but I think its important to our US history to acknolwedge the good and the bad. They also should do a historical paint analysis on the home to see if they can find the true colors of the wall which was evident that they had not done so yet according to the tour guide. If you have the opportunity, take time to stroll the grounds. The house has a great view of...

We popped by and didn’t take the whole tour of the inside of the home but we did help ourselves around the property. We were a lil hungover from attending a huge wedding the night before so didn’t feel like committing to a tour or honestly being around people in general. There is a suggested donation of $3-$5 which is super reasonable. There are restrooms towards the back of the house if you need and right next to them is a tiny Exhibit Room. WORTH IT. Someone painstakingly painted the Presidents & First Wives from Washington to Obama on rocks. There is also a display showcasing all the pets that past Presidents Washington to Obama have had and it is a doozy of a display. Truly some unhinged choices like bears, a hippo, elephants, hyenas, coyote, zebra, silkworms, etc. absolutely worth the side quest. Next time we’ll do the inside of the house but again….hangover had spoken....

What a fascinating and lovely place! Large posters with information about Pres. Grant's life line the walls, and there are display cases underneath with various collections. One set of display cases contains a collection of all the animals that the Presidents have had over the years: a page lists the President and all his animals, while standing around the page are little figurines of the animals he had. Another case contains portraits of all the Presidents and their wives on river rocks. I've never seen anything like it! There are drinks for sale, on the honor system. Bring cash. The grounds are beautiful, and a good place to take a walk if you are passing nearby on a road trip (like we were) and need a break. A great place for kids to walk around and explore, as long as they remember to...