Three restaurants; meeting, banquet, wedding facilities; self-guided historic walking tour; 'Quiet Room' to sit and enjoy the historic video. The DeSoto House, which opened in 1855, was five stories high when Lincoln stepped onto its second-floor balcony. Furnishings included velvet carpets, rosewood furniture, marble -topped tables, satin damask curtains, and a “double round seven octave carved rosewood Piano Forte”. 6.1K likes. The hotel is perfectly located right downtown near shops, restaurants and bars. Since 1855 we have been the premier location for Galena’s most beautiful weddings. From its grand opening in Galena’s glory days, through economic change and misfortune to once again offering deluxe accommodations and superior service in a most historic setting. Today the DeSoto House  currently offers 55 guest rooms with private baths, three dining areas, a ballroom, conference and banquet rooms, specialty shops, and a private parking garage. Illinois' oldest operating hotel, 55 Victorian-style guest rooms; enclosed guest parking. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. While staying at Desoto Hotel, visitors can check out Root Beer Revelry (0.0 km) and Old Market House State Historic Site (0.2 km), some of Galena's top attractions. Named in honor of Galena's nine Civil War generals, this restaurant offers casual dining with Galena's ambiance and historic charm. The town's first sightings date back to the 1800s, establishing a long history of hauntings. Gradually, with the economic tide of the town, the DeSoto House ebbed into a role of a combination hotel-boarding house. 291 Locations. W.H. Seven years elapsed until 81 year old mayor, Frank Einsweiller, was able to assemble all the necessary people and funding to begin the $7.8 million restoration, on the condemned building which transpired between April 15, 1985 and April 19, 1986. Then with a fire and a boiler explosion ten years apart and an economic decline when railroads replaced steamboats, the DeSoto House fell into disrepair. Staying at the Desoto helps kids and adults alike turn back the clock to the mid 1800's. Nestled on Main Street in the heart of downtown Galena, we are surrounded by Galena’s architecture and history. Our goal is to provide you with an atmosphere that is relaxed, casual, and complete with all the necessary modern amenities. The DeSoto reigns as “Savannah’s hotel,” a beloved landmark that has played gracious hostess to presidents, local personalities, and visitors since 1890. In 1869, a steam boiler in its basement exploded. Since 1855 we have been the premier location for Galena’s most beautiful weddings. In addition, retail stores, offices, a saloon, and a bowling alley also found their home in the DeSoto House. Rooms come with double, queen or king beds, and suites offer sitting areas with fireplaces. Thank you! Step inside our downtown Savannah hotel for foie gras and fried green tomatoes, or meet us on the back porch for a “Sip & Stroll” walking tour. DeSoto House Hotel. Whatever the reason, we can’t help but be fascinated by the paranormal, and there’s one town in Illinois known for its spooky activity. Please place your order by Friday, June 19, 2020, by 8:00 p.m. for pickup between the hours of … DeSoto House Hotel: history - See 706 traveler reviews, 243 candid photos, and great deals for DeSoto House Hotel at Tripadvisor. As much a part of Savannah as city squares and Spanish moss, The DeSoto blends the elegance, history, and charm of one of America’s oldest cities with a playful dose of Southern spirit. In 1880, the upper two floors of the hotel were removed. For guests with a … A flood in 2011 forced the hotel to make repairs, and when they removed the drywall near where the Lady in Black was spotted... well, they found out that the wall she disappears into used to be a doorway. As a simple fact of the business, people come and go in hotels all the time. Renovation of the hotel was attempted once again in 1971 and 1977. Are we titillated by the thought that we cannot truly know if spirits or an afterlife exists, or are we so moved by the plight of our fellow humans that we forget that ghosts are dead people? The DeSoto House. The hotel is perfectly located right downtown near shops, restaurants and bars. Locals and paranormal enthusiasts assert that many landmarks in this town are haunted, including the DeSoto House Hotel. However, the identity of "The Lady In Black" is something of a mystery. A reporter from the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser wrote of the DeSoto House that it was “the perfection of neatness, convenience, and accommodations”. The DeSoto boasted 225 guest rooms, a gentleman’s reading room, ladies’ parlors, a 300 seat dining hall, a kitchen with equipments for feeding hundreds, and it own gas works for lighting halls, dining rooms, and public areas. A depressed economy and fire-fighting concerns caused removal of the top two stories in 1880. With more than 100 years of history in one of Texas’ most haunted towns, the De Soto Hotel has a reputation as a paranormal hotspot. The DeSoto House is well worth the stay. Rooms always clean, food always good, property always well maintained and staff always polite. The DeSoto House Hotel is the oldest operating hotel in Illinois located on famous Main Street in Galena, IL. Named after the explorer Hernando DeSoto, it billed itself as "the largest and most luxurious hotel in the West." Craving more haunted history? History of the De Soto Hotel 100 Years, 3 Ghosts Though it has been in operation in El Paso for more than 100 years, the De Soto Hotel’s history is a mostly quiet one since its construction. It has operated as a hotel and a long term affordable residential location for retirees and has remained a landmark of El Paso history in this time. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest. 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Just walk out our front door and you are on Main Street amidst everything Galena has to offer and just outside our back door is beautiful Grant Park. 230 S Main St Galena, Illinois 61036 | 800-343-6562 or 815-777-0090. Green Street Tavern, the third dining area, in its 1883 location is the perfect place to sit and watch Main Street. And so, the DeSoto House has come full circle. Grant later used rooms 209 and 211 of the hotel as his presidential campaign headquarters. DeSoto House Hotel: Great History and Location - Clean - Out Dated - See 706 traveler reviews, 243 candid photos, and great deals for DeSoto House Hotel at Tripadvisor. Notable sites include Grant’s Home, Turner Hall, Market House, Old Stockade, Coatsworth Building, Desoto House Hotel, Washburne House, Blacksmith Shop and many more historic houses, churches, and downtown Galena buildings. The hotel is consistent. Blewett redecorated the hotel to cater to the needs of the community. Thus the DeSoto House began its years as the center of Galena’s social and political activities. Just two years later, on July 25, 1858 Senator Stephen A. Douglas spoke from the same balcony. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is - she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives. Blewett purchased the hotel in 1871 and once again Galena had entered an economic period of prosperity due to small local industries. Enjoy quiet dining with excellent food and service inside the historic DeSoto House Hotel. The DeSoto House encompasses a four-story atrium for Courtyard dining serving breakfast, lunch and private banquets as well as the Generals’ Restaurant named in honor of Galena’s nine Civil War Generals which offers a lounge and dining rooms amidst the atmosphere of the original brick walls and beamed ceilings. DeSoto’s post office was established, and an auction of town lots took place. DeSoto House Hotel: Halloween Night Haunted Historic Dinner - See 702 traveller reviews, 243 candid photos, and great deals for Galena, IL, at Tripadvisor. More Information. The DeSoto House Hotel in Galena, Illinois, was truly a grand establishment in the mid-1800s, the five story hotel the center of both social and political events. If you’re ghost hunting in El Paso, make sure the De Soto is one of your stops. Misfortune was to haunt the DeSoto House once again on December 7, 1869, when a steam boiler located in the dye works in the hotel’s basement exploded. We invite you to enjoy your time with us and it is our honor to add your name to our list of notable guests. In 1855, there was only one place to stay in Galena, and this was it. As the economic focus of Galena shifted, and railroads instead of steamboats took the lead in transportation, the DeSoto House also met with problems. A Local Legend Treasured Among Savannah Historic District Hotels. DeSoto soon had a general store, grist mill, blacksmith shop, hotel, public hall, and private school. The Elihu Benjamin Washburne House, also known as the Washburne-Sheehan House, is a 1 1⁄2-story Greek Revival house located at 908 Third Street in Galena, Illinois. It was founded in 1855 and has hosted some famous guests over the years. Guests can get a glimpse of the history of The DeSoto, in a dedicated area in the hotel’s lobby. The DeSoto House was host during this period, to traveling performers such as General and Mrs. Tom Thumb, Duprey and Green’s Minstrels, and American aeronaut, Professor S.M. DeSoto House Hotel/Facebook As the oldest operating hotel in Illinois, this unique destination has a story to tell. A depressed economy and fire-fighting concerns caused removal of the top two stories in 1880. Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! Features. If you like Mexican restaurants, DeSoto House Hotel is conveniently located near Los Aztecas II, … Elihu Benjamin Washburne House is situated 1700 feet southeast of DeSoto House Hotel. Hotel History The DeSoto House Hotel is the oldest operating hotel in Illinois, first opening its doors in 1855. Staying at the Desoto helps kids and adults alike turn back the clock to the mid 1800's. Welcome to the Desoto Beach Properties. DeSoto House Hotel, Galena, IL. Please enter your email address below to sign up for our mailing list. Photo: IvoShandor, CC BY-SA 3.0. All our rooms, suites and vacation rentals have recently been renovated and updated as we strive towards total guest satisfaction. A Local Legend Treasured Among Savannah Historic District Hotels. Plus, guests can enjoy a lounge, which has made this a popular choice among travellers visiting Galena. Brooks. We bought the Desoto Beach Hotel in 1999 and have acquired many other beach rentals since. In addition to hosting what just may be the most haunted hotel in Illinois, Galena features a few other haunted landmarks. Then the occasion would arise to welcome home returning soldiers or dignitaries, or welcome celebrities to the area, the DeSoto House proved itself to be the ideal place for a great banquet or ball, providing ample space and just the right atmosphere for such events. Desoto Hotel is a historic hotel offering a flat screen TV and air conditioning in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as free wifi is offered to guests. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: Galena is a fairly small town of just a few thousand residents, but paranormal experts assert that there could be just as many ghostly residents hanging around this community. Amelia’s Galena Ghost Tours and All About a Ghost Tours are great ways to tap into stories of Galena’s other side. We look forward to every visit! Can't wait to travel through time and possibly come face-to-face with a ghost? If you’re looking for a historic hotel right in the middle of the bustle of Galena’s Main Street, you’ll feel right at home at the DeSoto House Hotel. As much a part of Savannah as city squares and Spanish moss, The DeSoto blends the elegance, history, and charm of one of America’s oldest cities with a playful dose of Southern spirit. The DeSoto House. As mentioned before, the ghostly woman would descend the staircase and disappear into a wall. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. Once the principal river port of the Upper Mississippi Valley, Galena reached its economic peak during the 1850’s. The rooms are decorated in a 1850's charm with modern conveniences and flat screen TVs. Both rooms were well appointed, a little dated, but very clean and nice - just like it should be in this beautiful historic hotel. Bennett as a fishing resort, stood at the site of what was lastly a Wells Fargo Bank, and served not only sports fishermen but visiting presidents and wealthy travelers from the north and pioneers who eventually settled in DeLeon Springs. Let the DeSoto House Hotel make your day a Historic Event. The lobby and furnishings are a flashback to the centuries past. Information. What is it about the world of the paranormal that is so intriguing to us humans? Situated in the heart of Savannah’s historic garden district, The DeSoto has a storied history, dating back to 1890. Find out more about the DeSoto House History. Have you ever encountered the Lady in Black? Rooms 209 and 211 of the hotel were used as Ulysses S Grant's campaign headquarters during … At the time of its conception, the DeSoto House was built to service the many people arriving in Galena which was flourishing as a major mining and trade center. Opened in 1855, the downtown DeSoto House Hotel is the oldest operating hotel in Illinois. DeSotoHouseHotel | The DeSoto House Hotel opened in 1855 & continues to welcome guests with hospitality, charm & history. Service inside the historic DeSoto House has come full circle | Twitter | |. 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