Well before Illinois became a state, Native American tribes (the Sac and Fox) living in the area mined galena ore (lead sulfide), the source of lead. Pioneer settlers also exploited the area’s lead resources, eventually displacing the Native Americans who first mined here. In the 1820s, galena ore became the focus of the first major “mineral rush” in the United States. By the end of the 1820s, the city of Galena rivaled Chicago in size. https://story.illinoisstatemuseum.org/content/galena-ore
Many old mines can still be found all over SW Wisconsin and the northwest corner of Illinois.
Well before Illinois became a state, Native American tribes (the Sac and Fox) living in the area mined galena ore (lead sulfide), the source of lead. Pioneer settlers also exploited the area’s lead resources, eventually displacing the Native Americans who first mined here. In the 1820s, galena ore became the focus of the first major “mineral rush” in the United States. By the end of the 1820s, the city of Galena rivaled Chicago in size. https://story.illinoisstatemuseum.org/content/galena-ore
Many old mines can still be found all over SW Wisconsin and the northwest corner of Illinois.
Thanks for the info!
Many miners immigrated here from Cornwall to work the lead mines.