"Long ago in the Northwest corner of Illinois, there was a little lead mining town called Galena. Located on a river, Galena was a bustling center of trade in the 1800s that had its share of ship captains, miners looking for lead, and a famous Civil War General who became our 18th President, Ulysses S. Grant. Even longer ago, hundreds of thousands of years ago, melting glaciers from our northern hemispheres pushed down across North America flattening the land in its path. The northwest corner of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, was left untouched, a driftless zone that was left unglaciated, leaving this area, to this day, incredibly beautiful. Hills, bluffs, valleys, and outcroppings of exposed rocks are the result and make this area unique. This territory is part of the Mississippi Valley."
Belden School lies just outside of the small river town of Galena, tucked and nestled in the hills on one acre of land. Replacing a wooden schoolhouse that had burned, Belden School was built in 1859 and named after Thomas Belden, one of the Territory's first settlers. Belden School closed its school doors in 1943 due to low enrollment and consolidation. Recently restored, Belden School awaits visitors who want to step back in time. Please contact the Galena Territory Association for information 815-777-2000.
Click on Yellow Marker on map to get directions.
View Belden School-52 Heatherdowns Lane, Galena, Illinois 61036 in a larger map