The Oldest Hotel In Illinois Is Also One Of The Most Haunted Places You’ll Ever Sleep
By Melissa Mahoney|Published October 11, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
The oldest continuously operating hotel in the Prairie State happens to be located in the charming, historic town of Galena. The DeSoto House Hotel first opened its doors on April 9, 1855, at a time when the town was a major hub for trading and mining. Over the years, guests have reported strange events that can only be described as ghostly or paranormal. If you don’t mind spending the night at a hotel that’s reportedly haunted, then read on and plan your getaway to the DeSoto House Hotel.
Over 175 years ago, the DeSoto House Hotel was built with 225 guest rooms, a massive dining hall that could accommodate up to 300 people, ladies' parlors, and a gentleman's reading room. With lavish furnishings, decor, and amenities, the hotel became a notable place for social and political gatherings.
While the DeSoto House Hotel was the premiere place to stay in Galena at the time, it was not immune to misfortune. In 1859, a fire broke out and destroyed a dozen rooms on each floor of the hotel. Then in 1869, a steam boiler exploded in the basement. The hotel was closed the following year.
Today the hotel has 55 Victorian-style rooms, all of which are named after notable people who visited Galena over the years. Names include presidents like Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln.
There is also a four-story atrium used for dining as well as the Nine Generals' Restaurant, Green Street Tavern, banquet and conference rooms, a ballroom, and specialty shops. While the hotel offers plenty in the way of comfort and amenities, there have been numerous reports of ghostly sightings throughout the years.
The third floor is said to experience the most activity in the hotel. Among the paranormal phenomena, guests have heard disembodied voices as well as noises and footsteps. Cigar smoke can sometimes be detected and orbs of light have been seen. It is reported that Room 333 is the most haunted room in the hotel.
But just because there's plenty of paranormal activity on the third floor doesn't mean the rest of the hotel is immune to spectral occurrences.
Since the 1800s, there have been sightings of the "Lady in Black" who is dressed in black period attire. She has been seen coming down a staircase before vanishing into a wall.
Inside the Generals' Restaurant, you may notice a plaque marking a doorway that was discovered in the wall at the exact spot "The Lady in Black" disappears into. This doorway was hidden in the wall since the 1880s, only to be discovered in 2011 when a repair to the wall had to be made.
Would you dare spend the night at a haunted hotel? If you’ve stayed at a haunted hotel in the past and had a paranormal experience, please share the experience in the comments. For more information and to book your stay, visit the DeSoto House Hotel website and Facebook page.
Another supposedly haunted hotel you may consider staying is Hotel Baker located in St. Charles, Illinois.
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