West Street Sculpture Park
Galena, Illinois, is one of our favorite places on earth (as well it should be, since it is our hometown), offering small-town charm, a stunning landscape, and of course, our very own Farmers Guest House, one of the most beautiful B&Bs in the state. It is also the home to a park that we are pretty sure is unlike any other in the nation, the West Street Sculpture Park, which combines the lush and verdant Illinois landscape with the unique and powerful sculptures created by our favorite local artist, John Martinson. Today, we will shine our spotlight on the wonders of this small town park, offering something else to make you wish your adventures in Galena were happening right now, instead of off in the not-so-distant future.
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Located at 620 S W Street, Open Daily from 10 AM until 6 PM, Free Admission
Vacationing can be expensive, and even though a Galena vacation and stay in Farmers Guest House is definitely more affordable than other vacation destinations, it is still nice to be able to have fun and not spend any money. The park is the brainchild of local artist John Martinson, who one day in 1986 saw the two acres of lush landscape and thought to himself, “Hmm, that land would make the perfect backdrop for my artwork!” Now, we aren’t sure that is exactly how it happened, but the facts are that the West Street Sculpture Park has been an offshoot of the artist’s studio for nearly four years and has become so popular that it even has its own spot on Atlas Obscura, a website known for displaying unique travel destinations all over the world!
Eco-Friendly and Impactful
Every artist has their favorite medium, and Mr. Martinson’s just happens to be scrap metal, ensuring that the beautiful sculptures and structures you see throughout West Street Sculpture Park are doing their part to save the world as well. There are over 30 pieces strewn throughout the park, and unlike the artwork you may have viewed in other studios, many of the masterpieces found here are designed to be used as jungle gyms as well, ensuring that you can bring along your tiny travelers. The fun they have scrambling all over the colorful structures could lead them to their own love of art, without them realizing that you are educating them while they have fun.
Meet the Artist
Even better, visitors often tell stories about how they were able to meet the friendly artist of the West Street Sculpture Park, remarking on how nice he is and how willing he was to talk about the process of creating beauty from what other people consider trash. A day in the park has never been this magical, and as you stroll along the paths, admiring his creativity while your children run wild, the only thing that could make this day better is returning home to Farmers Guest House. Reserve your favorite suite today!