A New Home for Galena’s History
For 88 years, the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum has called the historic 1858 Barrows Mansion home. Owned by the City of Galena, this beautiful home has housed our museum since 1938—and our collection has filled every floor of this historic property.
While the Barrows Mansion is a treasure in its own right, it was never designed to serve as a modern museum or archival facility. That is why our new facility, opening in fall 2026, is such an exciting and important step forward.
Our new museum will feature a dedicated archival room, temperature-controlled spaces, ADA accessibility, and purpose-built areas for preserving and sharing our collection. This new facility will allow us to better care for the more than 14,000 artifacts that tell the story of Galena and Jo Daviess County.
This week, Bradford Systems is installing space-saving storage racks that will provide secure, efficient storage for a portion of our collection. We are also purchasing new exhibit cases that will allow visitors to safely enjoy more of these remarkable artifacts on the exhibit floor.
These improvements have been made possible through matching grants and the generous support of people like you.
But we still have a ways to go.
Will you be our partner in preserving Galena and Jo Daviess County’s history for generations to come? Donate today and help us build a museum that protects our past while inspiring future generations.
Together, we can ensure that the stories, objects, and people that shaped our community will continue to be preserved and shared for generations to come.