Perched on a hilltop on the southern edge of Galena is the US Marine Hospital.  Though it is near to town, few know of it - and even fewer know its strange and wonderful history.

It is now possible to read that history - and tour the building inside and out - online.  There are two websites dedicate to the hospital: USMarineHospital.org and theParkerOFGalena.com.   The first will give you Dr. Daryl Watson's comprehensive story of the Marine Hospital from the 1840's, when Galena first sought to be its location, right up to modern day - and that is where the second site takes over.

The engineer responsible for the construction of the US Marine Hospital (and the US Custom House and Post Office, simultaneously) was Ely Parker, full-blooded Seneca who was sent to Galena from Washington for those purposes.  Ely Parker would become one of Galena's nine Civil War Generals, and penned the terms of surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.

Thus the new owner's of the US Marine Hospital have plans for a retreat known as "The Parker" after Ely Parker.  Should they succeed, the long forgotten building will be new again - and known to all, far and wide!