Historical Markers and War Memorials in Galena, Kansas
Columbus is the county seat for Cherokee County
Galena is in Cherokee County
Cherokee County(83) ► ADJACENT TO CHEROKEE COUNTY Crawford County(66) ► Labette County(18) ► Jasper County, Missouri(62) ► Newton County, Missouri(40) ► Craig County, Oklahoma(6) ► Ottawa County, Oklahoma(33) ►
Touch name on this list to highlight map location. Touch blue arrow, or on map, to go there.
In 2001, members of the community joined with the Galena Chamber of Commerce to donate a block of the downown Route 66 main street to construct a park for everyone to enjoy.
Route 66 Howard "Pappy" Litch Park
The Oldest Mining Town in . . . — — Map (db m43047) HM
Formerly, modern-day Galena was a wooded area of the Kansas
Ozarks. By 1835, it was part of the Cherokee Neutral Lands, though
Euro-Americans quickly settled the region after Kansas became a state
in 1861. Sharing a border with slave-state . . . — — Map (db m161630) HM
Named for the ore it produced, Galena lead mining was the largest industry in our history, starting in 1873 and continuing until 1973. The mining and smelting required 3 railroads, 65 crushers, 2 smelters and 3 sludge mills to handle the ore . . . — — Map (db m43035) HM
As an important mining town, Galena had
numerous mines and smelters, but none
was more important than the Eagle-Picher
smelter plant north of the pre-1940s Route 66
alignment. The facility operated from around
the late 19th century until 2004 . . . — — Map (db m161632) HM
For many years, a large garage/service station stood at this location.
The owner, Howard "Pappy” Litch, was an avid Galena historian.
"Pappy” spent much of his life promoting his hometown and saving
its history. To honor him for . . . — — Map (db m161633) HM
Geological remnants of Mississippian times are found in the limestone cave region of the 55 square mile Ozark Plateau in the very southeast corner of Kansas. The cherty limestones of the area were developed in marine environments during the late . . . — — Map (db m61154) HM
This 1.2-mile section of roadbed is the most intact section of the original U.S. Highway 66 (Route 66) in Kansas. It was first paved around the turn of the century using macadam made from the waste products of the nearby mines. Prior to its federal . . . — — Map (db m170666) HM
Dedicated to the Glory of God
and to the Spirit of
Sacrifice and Honor of the
Men and Women of
this community who served
our country in all wars
Lest we forget they have
given all for the principles
of democracy
Freedom of . . . — — Map (db m61152) WM
There is plenty to do while visiting Galena, aside from Cars
on the Route, starting right here in Howard "Pappy Litch
Memorial Park. Named for a local historian, the park was
once a federal weigh station. This official Route 66 . . . — — Map (db m161631) HM
