Stillman House / Future Home Galena and U.S. Grant Museum, Galena, Illinois
Image by myoldpostcards
This French Italianate style victorian mansion was constructed in 1858-59 for Mr. Nelson Stillman, a regional dry goods merchant. The mansion is located a short walk from the home of President Ulysses S. Grant, who was entertained at the home on several occasions.
Stillman became wealthy from his involvement in the shipping operations on the Mississippi River and from organizing wagon trains that were heading out west. He also opened an emporium on Galena’s Main Street.
The Stillman’s lived in the mansion for over 25 years. Upon Nelson Stillman’s death, Mrs. Stillman moved to Chicago to be closer to her relatives. She rented the property out to families until the early 1900s. The property remained a single family home until 1933. It was then converted into a nursing home from 1942 to 1968. A large one story dining room addition was added and porches were enclosed.
From the 1970s until 2017, the mansion served as a bed and breakfast. An adjacent structure (pictured behind the mansion on the left) also had many purposes: a Medieval banquet and dance hall, tea room and wedding chapel.
In 2017 the Galena-Jo Daviess County Historical Society purchased the site to relocate its Galena and U.S. Grant Museum into a new building on the 3.6-acre property. Currently, the building hosts administrative offices and a conference room.
The Stillman House is a contributing property in the Galena Historic District which encompasses 85 percent of the City of Galena and includes more than 800 properties. The Galena Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, with modifications in 2013.
Galena is the seat of Jo Daviess County in the northwest corner of Illinois. This is the unglaciated area of northwestern Illinois. The rolling hills, history and abundant 19th century architecture draws visitors from throughout the country. The estimated population of Galena in 2019 was 3,158.
