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Dowling House

220 Diagonal St., Galena, IL 61036
815-777-1250
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Ranked #6 of 14 attractions in Galena
Type: Historic Sites
Most recent review
- 27 Apr 2013
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26 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    16
    6
    4
    0
    0
Date Rating
Galena, IL.
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 April 2013

The Dowling House gives you a good picture of what it was like to live in Galena in the 1800's. How rooms were decorated and functional and how traveling artists would barter for rooms by bringing incomplete paintings and painting the hosts picture above the body. Sometimes the head did not match the body, but it was a very unique... More

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Chicago, IL
Top Contributor
66 reviews 66 reviews
20 attraction reviews
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 January 2013

Just more early history of Galena. My daughter was fascinated by the tools in the house, and the unique cupboards upstairs. We also learned about the iron posts holding the walls together, and why so many early American houses have the stars on the front.

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Galena, Illinois
Senior Contributor
30 reviews 30 reviews
7 attraction reviews
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 November 2012

The building looks (& Is) old & drab, but very, very interesting. Very much worth the time. Ticket can include a tour thru the Belvedere & as awesome as that is, Dowling's history & artifacts had me spellbound

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Glenview, Illinois
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
9 attraction reviews
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 November 2012

There is so much hidden history in Galena. The Dowling place is one of these. Awesome place to learn. Staff is very well versed in the subject

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Saint Louis, Missouri
Top Contributor
55 reviews 55 reviews
19 attraction reviews
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 October 2012

My husband, a St. Louis Post Dispatch photographer and I, a writer, did a Galena story some 30 years ago and at that time, we passed the owners of the house raking leaves. They invited us in and we had coffee with them as friends. This time the house was a museum but looked as good from outside as it... More

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Aviston, Illinois
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
5 attraction reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 October 2012

The home was very interesting and the guide was very knowledgable of the history. restored very well

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La Crosse, Wisconsin
Senior Contributor
48 reviews 48 reviews
19 attraction reviews
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 October 2012

Our guide had us transported in time from the very first! Her stories and facts were so interesting and intriguing. While the house itself is small and you think you could breeze through it quite quickly, our guide took her time and gave us excellent insight into the house's past.

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Dousman, Wisconsin
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 1 October 2012

Short tour, good information...the price could have been a little cheaper. After the tour we both left with a feeling of - "that's it". Make sure to ask tons of questions or your tour will be only what the guide is suppose to say

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Joliet, Illinois
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 September 2012

Guided 3o min tour of the home. Very informative, we learned a lot of the history of Galena, which was good since we knew nothing.

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Saint Charles, Illinois
Senior Contributor
30 reviews 30 reviews
7 attraction reviews
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 September 2012

So much history. Our tour guide was full of information about the original owners and the subsequent ones. She was incredibly knowledgeable.

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