General Grant
ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCE: GALENA, ILLINOIS On October 9, 1999, I took a field trip to Galena, Illinois. Galena, incorporated in 1835, is located in the northwest corner of Illinois. Currently, Galena is considered an important tourist attraction because it is an example of a well-preserved 19th century community. In fact, 85 percent of the buildings in this town are recorded in the National Historic Register. Among the important sites to visit are Ulysses S. Grant's Home, Main Street Book Store, Mark Twain's Laughing River and the County Insane Asylum (Fried Green Tomatoes.) The first stop on my tour was U.S. Grant Home. This home was built in 1859 and was presented to the returning Civil War hero, Ulysses S. Grant on August 18, 1865. Although this home was considered luxurious at the time, it is only about half the size of an average home today. The first picture is of John Smith's log home, a close neighbor to the Grant family. This small house once housed a family of six. In the mid 1800's homes were never built any larger than necessary. The next photographs are of the inside of Grant's home. Photos 2-6 show Grant's living room. All of the furniture is original, including a piano from the early 1800's. Surpr
In photograph 19, you can see "Buck" Grant's room, which had a spindle four poster bed. In this restored town it is possible to learn about what it was like to live during the mid 1800's, almost as if you were stepping back in time. ) You can also purchase many rare books and first editions in this bookstore. It was a ghost town for many years until the 1960's when many of the buildings were renovated and restored to their natural beauty. " Although Grant only occupied this home for eleven months, it is a significant example of the extravagant lifestyle that he and his family enjoyed. I took a photograph of Main Street (photo 27) to show that the town looks very much like a 19th century city, without the cars. In fact, the town of Galena was originally named "Fever River Settlement" when it was first laid out in 1826. The white marble fireplace kept the room warm during the cold winter months. The last stop I recommend on a tour of Galena would be the presentation, "Mark Twain and the Laughing River. The bed was extremely small and looked very uncomfortable. After a long day of sightseeing in Galena, you can relax and enjoy a wonderful dinner at "Fried Green Tomatoes. Page 3 The last photograph (28) is an old church dating back to the mid 1800s. ) Page 2There were five very small bedrooms on the second floor of the home, which are shown in photos 16-21. isingly enough, the black couch was made out of horsehair that was woven into a fine thread.
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