Discovery Depot Children's Museum 128 South Chambers St. Galesburg, IL 309.344.8876 Open: Tues. - Sat., 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (also open Mondays in the summer); Sun., 1:00 - 5:00 pm. Third Friday of the month 10:00 am - 7:00 pm. Discovery Depot provides an environment for fun and educational experiences for children and families. Interactive exhibits, programs, and collections stimulate curiosity, promote discovery, and encourage learning. A place where play and learning go hand in hand.
Seminary Street Historic Commercial District is one of the Midwest's stunning success stories in downtown restoration. Buildings once nearly abandoned now thrive with restaurants, distinctive specialty shops, a day spa, coffee roastery and a bakery. Antiques and collectibles from some of the Midwest's finest dealers can be found at The Galesburg Antiques Mall in the historically restored building on the corner of Main and Seminary Streets. 309.342.1000
ShowPlace 8 Theatre 1401 W. Carl Sandburg Drive Galesburg, IL 61401-1370 Showtime Phone: 1-800-FANDANGO Office Phone: 309-343-4171
Galesburg Railroad Museum 211 South Seminary Street Galesburg, IL 309.342.9400 Open: April through November Hours: Tues. - Sat. 10:00am - 4:00pm and Sun. 12 noon - 4:00 p.m. After Scenic Drive open weekends only through middle of November. Experience railroading of the early 1900s at the new Galesburg Railroad Museum building that sits next to the Amtrak Depot. The building holds an extensive collection of railroad memorabilia on view for the public to see. Take a tour through the restored passenger engine built in 1930 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, a fully-outfitted car used by the Railway Mail Service and Railway Express Agency, a Pullman parlor car, caboose and two 1950’s inspection cars outfitted with track maintenance tools. Galesburg is an Amtrak city with daily service to downtown Chicago and many other destinations. For Amtrak fares and reservations, call your travel agent, or Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com.
Carl Sandburg State Historic Site 331 East Third Street Galesburg, IL 309.342.2361 Open: Year-round, except major holidays. Hours: Closed Mon. & Tues., Wed. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm. Author-poet Carl Sandburg was born here in a three room cottage on January 6, 1878. From these humble beginnings, Sandburg went on to achieve international acclaim for his poetry, children’s stories, and a six volume biography of Abraham Lincoln. A Visitors’ Center and gift shop is located next to the birthplace. Be sure to walk through the wooded park and perennial garden where the ashes of Carl Sandburg and his wife lie beneath “Remembrance Rock.” Quotation Walk leads you through the garden with famous quotes from Carl Sandburg’s writings engraved in the stepping stones.
"Old Main" Knox College 1 E. South Street Galesburg, IL 309.343.0112 Open: September - May, except major holidays. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, or by appt. Old Main’s construction in 1857 reflected the prosperity that the new railroad began bringing to Galesburg three years earlier. It is the sole remaining original site of the great Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858. The debate was staged against the east wall of Old Main, and two large bronze plaques with the likenesses of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas grace that wall. Registered as a National Landmark, the building itself is a significant example of American Gothic Revival architecture.
Knox County Court House 200 South Cherry Street Galesburg, IL 309.343.3121 Open: Year-round, except major holidays. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm. The cornerstone of this sandstone building was laid in 1884 and construction was completed in 1886 at a cost of $150,000. The ornate details are typical of the Romanesque period. To the west of the Court House is Standish Park Arboretum with over 170 trees and shrubs.
Galesburg Civic Art Center 114 East Main Street Galesburg, IL 309.342.7415 Open: Year-round, except for major holidays Hours: 10:30am - 4:30pm; Saturday, 10:30am - 3:00pm. Monthly exhibits include both local and national artists. Every spring, the national juried GALEX show is exhibited—attracting artists’ entries from around the country. Annual events include “Art-in- the-Park” the third Saturday in July, a festive holiday art market in Nov./Dec., and two major fund raisers: the Holiday House Walk showcasing five Galesburg homes and the Marti Gras costume ball held in the spring. The Art Center also provides an artist gallery gift shop with works by area artists.
Orpheum Theatre 250 E. Main Street Galesburg, IL 309.342.2299 Open: Year-round, except major holidays. Hours: Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 5:00pm. The Theatre, showcasing nineteenth-century eclectic architecture, opened in 1916. While the facade is French Second Empire style, the interior features classic Corinthian columns. An Italian Renaissance plaster frieze graces the mezzanine hall, and French baroque medallions ring the main hall. Built as a vaudeville house, the Orpheum hosted many early stars of stage and screen, including Jack Benny, George Burns, and Houdini. Today it continues to reflect its former glory, bringing to its stage a diverse blend of top entertainment.
Stockdale Soldier Citizen Museum 1001 Michigan Avenue Galesburg, IL 309.342.1181 Open: Year-round, except major holidays. Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 2:00pm; Saturday, 9:00am - 4:00pm. Located in the Robert Dunlap Room of the Admiral James Stockdale VFW Building, the museum has artifacts from the War of 1812 through Desert Storm. An M-60 tank is in front of the building.
Central Congregational Church Central Square Galesburg, IL 309.343.5145 Open: Year-round, except major holidays. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - noon & 1:00pm - 4:30pm. This imposing Richardsonian Romanesque church building, constructed in 1898 of dark red sandstone transported from Michigan, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has a number of magnificent rose windows, and is located on the site of the “Old First Church”— founded by the original settlers who came here with George Washington Gale to start a religious community and college.
Corpus Christi Catholic Church 273 South Prairie Street Galesburg, IL 61401 Open: Year-round, except major holidays. Hours: Mon. - Fri., 9:00 am - noon & 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm Completed in 1885, the church has a 150' spire and neo-Gothic architecture. Only ten Catholic churches in the U.S. have a saint’s body, and Corpus Christi houses the holy relic of St. Crescent, taken out of the catacombs in Rome in 1838.
Reagan Trail Galesburg is one of a handful of communities linking the historical landmarks that played a vital role in Ronald Reagan’s life in Illinois. Galesburg is also unique as it is the only place where both the former President and First Lady grew up in the same community. Stop by the Galesburg Welcome Center for a brochure with a self-guided tour of Reagan sites or call 309-343-2485.
Nearby... Use Galesburg as the hub of your trip to visit these other area attractions:
Bishop Hill - 20 miles north. Restored Swedish settlement from the mid-1800s, with restaurants, shops and historical buildings. Nauvoo - 90 miles southwest. Mormon settlement with restored shops and homes—including the houses of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and the rebuilt temple. Knoxville - 6 miles east. Historic buildings—including a log cabin, old school house, jail, and the 1830s Walnut Grove Barn.