Galena in Jo Daviess County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The De Soto House

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 12, 2014

1. The De Soto House Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Opened in April, 1855, the five-story, 240 room De Soto House was “the largest and most luxurious hotel in the West.” Abraham Lincoln spoke from its balcony in 1856 and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858. Ulysses S. Grant maintained his 1868 presidential campaign headquarters here. By 1880 Galena's prosperity had faded and the hotel's two upper stories were removed.

Erected 1959 by Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Illinois State Historical Society series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1855.

Location. 42° 24.876′ N, 90° 25.797′ W. Marker is in Galena, Illinois, in Jo Daviess County. Marker is at the intersection of South Main Street and Green Street, on the right when traveling north on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 230 S Main St, Galena IL 61036, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Galena Public Library (approx. 0.2 miles away);

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Ulysses S. Grant Home (approx. 0.4 miles away); Galena, Illinois (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Point Of Beginning (approx. 6½ miles away in Wisconsin); George Wallace Jones (approx. 9½ miles away in Wisconsin); Sinsinawa Mound (approx. 9½ miles away in Wisconsin); St. Augustine Church (approx. 9.6 miles away in Wisconsin); a different marker also named Galena, Illinois (approx. 9.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galena.

Also see . . . DeSoto House Hotel. (Submitted on March 12, 2014.)

The De Soto House Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 12, 2014

2. The De Soto House Hotel

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 539 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 12, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.