The Galena-Chicago trail was a stagecoach

Stagecoach

A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...

 route located in northern Illinois

Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

 that ran from the mid-to-late 1830s

1830s

- Wars :* The First Opium War between the United Kingdom and the Qing Empire of China started in 1839. It would end three years later with the signing of the Treaty of Nanking on 29 August 1842.- Internal conflicts :* French Revolution of 1830...

 until 1854. As indicated by its name, the route linked Chicago, located in the northeast of the state, with Galena

Galena, Illinois

Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...

 which was located in the northwest. The Chicago-Galena trail includes the "Stagecoach Trail

Stagecoach Trail

Stagecoach Trail is a historic route through northern Jo Daviess County and western Stephenson County, in the northwest of Illinois. The trail was a part of the larger Galena–Chicago trail that crossed the entire state....

" that runs between Galena and Lena, Illinois

Lena, Illinois

Lena is a village in Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,912 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1853, a railroad survey by B. Dornblazer determined a course through present-day Lena, IL. Samuel F. Dodds, who owned of land in the area, purchased an additional tract of on...

.

History

The line traced its beginnings to as early as 1835 as a series of smaller trails, all operated by distinct stagecoach owners. A single trail linking Chicago to Galena was formally established in 1839 by John Frink and Martin Walker, who later established Frink, Walker & Company in 1840. Frink & Walker expanded their pre-existing trail from Chicago to Galena, putting a competing Chicago-Freeport

Freeport, Illinois

Freeport is a city in and the county seat of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 26,443 at the 2000 census. The mayor of Freeport is George W...

 stagecoach line run by J.D. Winters out of business. Frink & Walker ran two daily coaches that carried mail, passengers and small parcels from Chicago to Galena.

Stagecoach Stops

• Chicago, Illinois
• Genoa, Illinois
  Genoa, Illinois
  Genoa is a city in the north-east corner of DeKalb County, Illinois in the United States. It is located on the historic Galena-Chicago stagecoach route. At the 2010 census the city had a population of 5,193, up from 4,169 at the 2000 census.-History:...
  
   (approximately the midpoint of the trail)
• Lena, Illinois
  Lena, Illinois
  Lena is a village in Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,912 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1853, a railroad survey by B. Dornblazer determined a course through present-day Lena, IL. Samuel F. Dodds, who owned of land in the area, purchased an additional tract of on...
  
  
• Nora, Illinois
  Nora, Illinois
  Nora is a village in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. The population was 121 at the 2010 census, up from 118 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nora is located at ....
  
  
• Warren, Illinois
  Warren, Illinois
  Warren is a village in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,428 at the 2010 census, down from 1,496 at the 2000 census.Warren holds several festivals throughout the year...
  
  
• Apple River, Illinois
  Apple River, Illinois
  Apple River is a village in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. The population was 366 at the 2010 census, down from 379 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Apple River is located at ....
  
  
• Scales Mound, Illinois
  Scales Mound, Illinois
  Scales Mound is a village in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. The population was 376 at the 2010 census, down from 401 at the 2000 census.-History:...
  
  
• Galena, Illinois
  Galena, Illinois
  Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...