Galena

Galena's history dates back to the time when it was established as a lead mining town in the 19th Century. After the population boomed, the city flourished as a mining hub, which led to the rapid infrastructure development in the surrounding region. including the making of the "mother road" Route 66. Today, the fascinating mining history can be explored at the Galena Mining & Historical Museum. Here, you can also see the International Harvester L-170 truck, which was the inspiration behind Sir Tow Mater's character in the Disney movie "Cars".