Galena was formed in 1877 shortly after the discovery of lead in the area. Lead mining brought prosperity to the region and the community’s population reached 30,000 in the early 1900s. Also, fueling the City’s growth was the establishment of Route 66 in 1926. The “mother road” continues to bring visitors to the community today. Travelers have a variety of shops and restaurants to choose from and a number of attractions to enjoy from the International Harvester boom truck that was the inspiration for the character “Mater” in Disney’s Cars to Schermerhorn Park and the Southeast Kansas Nature Center.
