The Galena History Symposium will be held in Galena, IL May 15-17, 2026 as a part of the Galena Bicentennial celebrations. Professional and avocational historians, archeologists, and preservationists will present papers, panels, and performances about the history of Galena, Illinois.

Galena history includes the stories of pre-historic mound builders; Native nations and struggles for autonomy and land rights; the booming lead mining trade; the illegal enslavement of Black workers; the busy Mississippi River port; the work of women leaders including Sarah Coates Harris; and Congressman Elihu Washburne and his most favored military man, General Ulysses S. Grant.

As Galena settled into small town life in the late 1800s, many families left Galena for better opportunities. The 19th century commercial buildings and homes were barely maintained. Today, with over 100 years of preservation efforts, Galena, a city of 3,250 people, is the third most visited tourist destination in the state of Illinois after Chicago and Springfield, with a remarkable assortment of historic buildings and homes on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Symposium will be held at the DeSoto House Hotel on May 15-17, 2026, with registration opening in December 2025. For more information, see galenahistory.org and click on the Symposium tab. For questions, email Tracey Lee Roberts, coordinator at galenahistorysymposium@gmail.com See our Facebook page: Galena History Symposium at https://www.facebook.com/groups/609040911815246