When you stay at the Hellman Guest House Bed and Breakfast in Galena, Illinois, it is like stepping back in time, to an era when life was much less hurried. This 19th century Queen Anne Victorian home, with its spectacular view of downtown and the surrounding countryside, features a wraparound porch, original woodwork, stained and leaded glass windows, and beautiful gardens. The home is nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood, but yet still walking distance from downtown Galena.

Get a taste of history, enjoy the outdoors, sample the creative community or just relax and unwind. Galena attractions can easily keep you busy for days.

• Ride in a hot air balloon over the picturesque landscape.
• Tour President Grant's home and other historical mansions.
• Play golf on some of the best courses in the state.
• Rent a kayak and travel down the Galena River to the Mississippi.
• Ride a trolley and learn about the rich history of Galena and its famous residents.
• Ski at one of the highest rated ski resorts in the Midwest.
• Bike, jog or walk along the scenic trail along the Galena River.
• Be entertained by local theatre groups and musicians.
• Luxuriate in one of Galena's spas and salons and leave your cares behind.
• Tour a local vineyard and enjoy a wine tasting.
• Take a carriage ride through the streets of yesteryear.
• Try your luck at riverboat gambling on the mighty Mississippi.
• And many, many more.

The Hellman House was built in 1895 and is named after John V. Hellman, a wealthy merchant who built the home for his wife, Wenona, and their three daughters.

John's father, John H. Hellman, left his family at age eleven to worked on a farm in Iowa. Later, he moved to Galena where he became success in the retail grocery business. Wenona's father, Captain Daniel Smith Harris, was a prominent steamboat magnate in Galena's.

With their roots firmly planted in Galena, and with John V. a success in his own right, the Hellman family lived in late Victorian splendor in their nine room home. Their legacy remains for you to enjoy.

You are sure to enjoy this comfortabe, inviting home with its period furnishings, whether your pleasure is reading in the library, viewing Galena through the parlor's antique telescope, gathering in the parlor for a chat and tea, or capturing a quiet moment on the porch, patio or in the gardens. The third floor was originally built as a ballroom. From there, you can gaze over miles of scenery that includes a breathtaking view of farms dotted along the JoDaviess countryside, trees dressed in a rainbow of colors (especially in fall), and the historic Galena downtown area.

Contact Rita Wadman at (815) 777-3638 or by email to book a stay, or visit Hellman Guest House Bed and Breakfast in Galena, Illinois.