Galena’s Having a Birthday Party for Ulysses S. Grant

"What the...a surprise party? Everybody's coming to my place!" is a quote from Bill Murray in the movie Stripes, but it could just as easily be applied to a community-wide birthday celebration in Galena for America's 18th president, and Commanding General of the U.S. Army, Ulysses S. Grant.

Actually, there are really cool events spread over two weekends. First there's the opportunity to take a lamp-light tour of Grant's home on Friday, April 15th. Costumed guides will take visitors through the 1860-era home, giving a chance to see the original furnishings as they would have appeared in Grant's day. Other community events that weekend include a Main Street walking tour, tours of the historical museum, a Civil War pub quiz and a historically accurate service Sunday at the Methodist Church.

The following weekend, according to Jamie Loso at the Grant home:

The military encampment takes place the following weekend, April 23-24, in the park across the street from the Grant Home. Volunteers will portray soldiers, drilling and camp life from the Revolutionary War through the Viet Nam War.  They’ll also present a Civil War civilian camp. The free encampment runs 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. - noon on Sunday. That weekend coincides with the annual Grant pilgrimage by scouting groups. They’ll camp in the area and visit the encampment and other community activities. Some 2,500 scouts are expected to tour Grant’s home on Saturday.

Grant, if he were still with us, would turn a spry 194 years of age on April 27th.

For more info on the Grant celebration in Galena, contact Jamie Loso at 815-777-3310, or visit IllinoisHistory.gov or Galena.org

And, if you can spare a little over 1 minute, you can learn a couple things about U.S. Grant: