Victorian Mansion

We have been to Galena each year for 3 years, and each time we have stayed at a B and B. Victorian Mansion was by far our favorite place we have stayed. The mansion is absolutely beautiful, and the rooms are very clean. The entire mansion, including the rooms are full of history, as that is what Galena is all about! Our hosts, Innkeepers Charlie and Rita, were extremely friendly, and always made sure we had everything we needed. Not to mention the delicious breakfasts each morning, that came with a wonderful story of history on the mansion and Galena. We can’t wait to return next year!

Very disappointing experience trying to schedule a last minute reservation for the weekend. You cannot book online but when you leave a message about availability, they call you back at the end of the day. Once I learned what they had available rooms, I asked if I could call back in the morning and he said yes, but NOT until after 9am. So I called at 10 and Rita (a pretty unenthusiastic woman) answered and said «well… we don’t have anything available now.» As a business owner, I certainly understand that last minute things don’t always go as planned, but YIKES who would call back with THAT kind of response???

My boyfriend and I decided to take a trip to Galena for the holidays. After doing a lot of research, we landed on the Victorian Mansion because of the pictures and reviews… we could not have picked a better place to stay!
First thing you have to remember is that Charlie and Rita actually live at the B&B which is why it is kept in such pristine condition. If you’re planning on arriving late at night (we came at 8pm), make sure you give them a heads up a few days before so they’re available for you upon arrival. We were greeted with a witty sarcasm from Charlie and knew it was going to be a fun stay!
We stayed it the Estey Room with a huge King bed, large whirlpool tub, and electric fireplace. It was the best B&B room I’ve ever stayed in!
They are very accommodating throughout your stay and entertaining during breakfast. The breakfasts are delicious! We had stuffed french toast, an egg casserole, and my favorite — eggs benedict. They are full of delightful suggestions from hidden gems to eat at, historical houses to see, things to do, and pubs to grab a drink at. We had a blast during our 4 days in Galena thanks to them!
Biggest plus — the Victorian Mansion is for 14 and over because of the history of the house and all the things that can be broken (it’s amazing how preserved the house has been kept). The only people staying here were adult couples so it was quiet! We played chess and billiards with them and made some great friends during the stay.
We are already planning our trip back to Galena and will definitely be staying in the Victorian Mansion again! Thanks to Rita and Charlie for everything!

We stayed here many years ago and loved it. Unfortunately when we went back recently things had changed. The most obvious disappointment for us was the rudeness of the female innkeeper (Rita). She was very pushy and seemed to be bothered that she had to take care of guests. Seemed to be lots of rules for guests. The other disappointment was the landscaping around the inn – lots of dead plants and a lot of weeds. I know that may seem like a little thing but it makes the B&B look a bit run down. It has the potential to be an outstanding place but customer service needs to improve. On the positive side we liked the interior of the house and we really liked our room which was unattached to the main house. The breakfast meals each morning we stayed there were average (food was OK, coffee was not great) – have certainly had better meals at other B&B’s.

This was the first bed and breakfast we have been to… and it has a special place in our lives. Me and my wife spent — both our 2^nd dating anniversary and about a year later… the start of our honeymoon here!
Rita and Charlie are such gracious hosts. The mansion itself has a great feel of an era before. Great location with a beautiful garden… especially in fall season (which is when we have been there). Galena itself has a charm of a historical town with warm and friendly people all around… and this bed and breakfast makes the stay all the more enjoyable.