Everyone from presidents to celebrities has stayed at this historic Illinois hotel, which remains open today after surviving financial struggles and the test of time.

A Historic Landmark in Galena

Sitting proudly in downtown Galena, Illinois , the DeSoto House Hotel holds the title of the oldest continuously operating hotel in the state. When it first opened its doors in the 1850s, it quickly earned a reputation as the “Largest Hotel in the West.”

Over the decades, the DeSoto House has seen it all: economic ups and downs, ownership changes, and even wartime challenges. Still, it continues to stand strong as one of the most iconic buildings in the Land of Lincoln.

Presidential Visits and Civil War Connections

Abraham Lincoln himself once visited the hotel, addressing a crowd fro

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