Main Street in Galesburg, IL
Ronald Reagan’s Childhood Home
Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, spent part of his childhood in Galesburg. As a boy, he went to Silas Willard Elementary School in Galesburg, and his report card (with excellent grades) is still on display in the local antiques mall.
Young Ronald Reagan only spent a couple of years in Galesburg. However, several years after he left, Nancy Robbins would arrive in town. She would later become Nancy Reagan, one of the most influential First Ladies of the United States. Nancy frequently visited her grandparents in Galesburg, where she was frequently seen at the local ice cream parlor.
Nancy and Ronald never crossed paths in Galesburg, but their shared past in the town would later make for a romantic coincidence. Today, you can visit the Ronald Reagan Trail to learn more about Reagan and his life. The trail offers a self-guided tour experience, and it runs through Galesburg and other Illinois locations that impacted Reagan’s early life.
Carl Sandburg’s Birthplace
By Robert Haugland – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72572756
If you’re visiting Galesburg, IL, you may want to visit the Carl Sandburg State Historic Site while you’re in town! Sandburg, a celebrated American writer and poet, was born in Galesburg in 1878. Born into a poor family, Sandburg experienced working-class American life in Galesburg. He left school for several years while he delivered milk, worked in a barber shop, and formed impressions of the American Midwest that would strongly influence his writing and poetry. Later, Sandburg attended Lombard College in Galesburg, before launching his writing career as a journalist.
Sandburg was awarded multiple Pulitzer Prizes, for his poems as well as his biography of Abraham Lincoln. Much of his work focuses on Illinois, from small prairie towns to Chicago. A trip to his birthplace in Galesburg is a great reason to check out some of his best-loved poems!
Site of the Fifth Lincoln-Douglas Debate
President William McKinley speaking on the anniversary of the fifth Lincoln-Douglass debate in Galesburg, Illinois in 1899.
On October 7, 1858, a crowd of 15,000 gathered at Knox College in Galesburg, IL. They had come to hear Abraham Lincoln debate Stephen Douglas for the fifth time. The series of debates between the two men had a profound impact on the direction of American history and thought. Today, many high school and college students who join their school’s debate team are taught to follow the Lincoln-Douglas debate format.
During this key debate, Lincoln argued for abolitionist policies in new states. He insisted that black people were entitled to human rights and that slavery was morally wrong. The Galesburg debate helped to popularize Lincoln and his ideas and contributed to his success in the presidential election of 1860.
Galesburg had a long history of abolitionist influence, even before the Lincoln-Douglas debate. Its first inhabitants were opposed to slavery, and its residents formed a prominent anti-slavery society. It was even known as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Birthplace of the Ferris Wheel’s Inventor
George Washington Gale Ferris designed this Ferris Wheel. Picture taken 1893.
Key Railroad Town
Fulton County Narrow Gauge at Galesburg, Illinois in October 1900. Engine -2 (2-6-0) built by Brooks Local works
Galesburg has a long history of connections to the railroad industry. Galesburg residents of the 1800s advocated for rail connections between Chicago, IL and Quincy, IL. Soon, the town became home to key rail yards and train depots. The famous Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway eventually built tracks that connected Galesburg with Chicago, and they operated a depot in the town for much of the 20th century. Galesburg continues to be a important railroad town. Visit the Galesburg Railroad Museum!
Origin of the Marx Brothers’ Nicknames
The Gaiety Theater in Galesburg, IL opened on the corner of Cherry and Simmons Streets in 1906, and it offered vaudeville shows and movies. Though the theater is no longer standing, it was a favorite spot for comedy routines and musical numbers in the early 20th century. The story goes that the famous Marx Brothers (known by the nicknames Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Gummo, and Zeppo) had been performing at the theater for three days when they took a break for a poker game between shows. During this game, Art Fisher, a well-known comedian of the day, bestowed the famous nicknames on the brothers. History has mostly forgotten their real names, but the Marx Brothers’ stage names are still familiar in many American households. Their movies are nearly 100 years old now, but their mostly visual humor is still fun to watch!
Galesburg, IL Today
Knox College Galesburg, IL
Galesburg’s Historic District is a great spot to visit for a taste of the town’s past. This national historic site includes the Knox County Courthouse, the Knox County Jail, Carl Sandburg College, and Knox College. It also includes many other buildings with a rich past. Galesburg offers small-town Midwestern charm, but it’s easy to commute between Galesburg and the state’s larger cities, like Chicago and Peoria.
Harmony Baptist Church (given this name in 1961) has been serving Galesburg since 1956. It remains a vital hub for Biblical Christian preaching and fellowship in the town today. The next time you’re in town, Harmony Baptist Church would love to welcome you for a visit!
