The hotel’s current structure, completed in 1968, stands as one of the Historic District’s leading full-service hotels, providing the perfect setting for leisure, business, and conference guests. Let the DeSoto House Hotel make your day a Historic Event. Rooms 209 and 211 of the hotel were used as Ulysses S Grant's campaign headquarters during … The hotel is perfectly located right downtown near shops, restaurants and bars. Have you ever encountered the Lady in Black? Please enter your email address below to sign up for our mailing list. We stayed 2 nights, having to change rooms once because our suite was booked the second night. Elihu Benjamin Washburne House is situated 1700 feet southeast of DeSoto House Hotel. A depressed economy and fire-fighting concerns caused removal of the top two stories in 1880. If one listens closely enough, one can hear the DeSoto’s rich heritage whispering of historic conversations and music from grand balls of days gone by. If you’re ghost hunting in El Paso, make sure the De Soto is one of your stops. In addition, retail stores, offices, a saloon, and a bowling alley also found their home in the DeSoto House. We look forward to every visit! Locals and paranormal enthusiasts assert that many landmarks in this town are haunted, including the DeSoto House Hotel. 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. 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. The DeSoto House Hotel, on Main Street, opened in April 1855 and is reported as the oldest operating hotel in Illinois. 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. It was founded in 1855 and has hosted some famous guests over the years. Our goal is to provide you with an atmosphere that is relaxed, casual, and complete with all the necessary modern amenities. 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. 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. Named in honor of Galena's nine Civil War generals, this restaurant offers casual dining with Galena's ambiance and historic charm. DeSoto House has become our go-to-place for our Galena escapes. The DeSoto House. 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. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest. W.H. Staying at the Desoto helps kids and adults alike turn back the clock to the mid 1800's. 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. 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. DeSoto House Hotel, Galena, IL. Opened in 1855, the downtown DeSoto House Hotel is the oldest operating hotel in Illinois. A Local Legend Treasured Among Savannah Historic District Hotels. Both rooms were well appointed, a little dated, but very clean and nice - just like it should be in this beautiful historic hotel. The original hotel building consisted of five stories and a lower level. Since 1855 we have been the premier location for Galena’s most beautiful weddings. In 1855, there was only one place to stay in Galena, and this was it. Named for the discoverer of the Mississippi River, the DeSoto House opened on April 9, 1855 and was billed as the “Largest Hotel in the West.”. The lobby and furnishings are a flashback to the centuries past. 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. In 1869, a steam boiler in its basement exploded. Three restaurants; meeting, banquet, wedding facilities; self-guided historic walking tour; 'Quiet Room' to sit and enjoy the historic video. However, the identity of "The Lady In Black" is something of a mystery. Our goal is to provide you with an atmosphere that is relaxed, casual, and complete with all the necessary modern amenities. 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