Old Market House (Galena, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Market House
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 123 North Commerce Street, Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1845 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000707 |
| Added to NRHP | July 16, 1973 |
The Old Market House is a historic brick building in Galena, Illinois. It was built in 1845. Today, it serves as the Galena Welcome Center. This building is a great example of Greek Revival architecture, a popular style from the 1800s. It is owned and cared for by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. This agency helps protect important historical places in Illinois.
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What Was the Old Market House For?
A Busy Place for the City
The city of Galena built the Old Market House for two main reasons. First, it was the city hall, where city leaders worked. Second, it was a public farmer's market. People could buy fresh food and goods there.
Why Galena Needed a Market
In the 1830s and 1840s, Galena grew very fast. Many people moved there because they found a lot of lead ore, called "galena," in the ground. With more people, there was a big need for food. The Old Market House helped meet this need.
How the Market Was Funded
The city planned for the market to help pay for itself. There were twelve market stalls inside the building. Sellers paid about US$50 each year to rent a stall. This money helped keep the building in good shape. The building cost US$2,500 to build. This money came from selling "stocks" for US$5 each. This plan was approved by the Galena City Council in 1845. If sellers could not rent a stall, they could sell their goods outside in the market square.
Changes Over Time: Cars and Stores
The Market Closes Down
The Old Market House was a busy market until about 1910. Around this time, more and more people started buying cars. This meant families could drive further to shop. They no longer needed to buy all their food from one local market. Also, local grocery stores paid taxes to the city. They did not want to help support a market that was their competitor. So, around 1910, the market stalls in the Old Market House closed.
City Offices Move Out
The city of Galena continued to use the building for its offices until 1938. After that, the building was empty for a while. In 1947, the city gave the Old Market House to the state of Illinois.
The Old Market House Today
Restoration and New Purpose
By 1954, the Old Market House needed a lot of repairs. It was carefully rebuilt and restored to fix damage. Today, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency uses the building as a visitor center. It has an information desk for tourists. It also has a museum that tells the story of Galena's past and its people.
