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The Innkeepers

Hi! We are Cherish and Bob, the NEW owners and innkeepers of the Avery On Prospect Hill Guest House.

The Inn has been in operation for 35 years, and we are the 6th owners. Owning and running a Bed and Breakfast/Inn has been a goal of ours for some time, and we are proud to be living our dream!

We purchased the Inn at the end of August 2020, and hit the ground running, with our first guests and a fully booked Inn for Labor Day. We are so excited to be in the lovely town of Galena, and we hope to share some of that feeling with our guests!

Cherish comes from a small town in Michigan, and Bob hails from Northwest Indiana. We both come from hardworking small town roots, and we both love the small town life!

Cherish worked for years for a bed and breakfast in North Carolina, and Bob comes from a long career in hospitality and customer service. We hope our extended experience in caring for guests shows in how we care for you here at the Avery.

Bob is your chef for breakfast, and he comes with a lifelong love for cooking and serving gatherings.

We sincerely hope to make your stay comfortable and cozy. Enter our Inn as strangers, but do please leave as friends… and come again soon!

Contact Us

Avery On Prospect Hill

Back porchThe Avery House is a Pre-Civil War home, built in 1848. George S. Avery was born in 1835. He married Elizabeth Little, born 1839, on June 7, 1863. The couple had 6 children, William Cuyler, George Wynn, Agnes Rae, Florence Elizabeth, Alexandra, and Marie Ione. In April 1861, he enlisted in the Civil War. Three years later, in 1864, Avery was promoted to Major.

After the Civil war, Major Avery engaged in farming until 1876 when he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Jo Daviess County. He also held the position of Postmaster for the City of Galena for 8 years. In 1881, Major Avery purchased the home, as the 5th owner of the property, and lived there until his death in 1923. In 1884, Major Avery raised the roof of the house and turned the dormers into bedrooms.  In 1891, Avery was the Grand Marshall for the parade dedicating Grant Park.

The home became the Avery Guest House in 1986 and has been owned and operated by many others besides us; we are the 5th owners of the Avery Guest House Business.

Galena, Illinois

Galena, Illinois is a beautiful little town steeped in history. Tucked in to the southeast tip of the Upper Mississippi Valley, our lovely hometown is home to almost 3,500 residents. This amazing region of Illinois is filled with rolling hills, high bluffs, and of course rich farmland. Peppered throughout with recreational reserves, state parks, and historic landmarks, Galena and the surrounding area provide endless opportunities to explore, learn, and see the natural history of the region. Downtown Galena is another attraction, with a wide variety of cafes, restaurants, and shopping. From Black Diamond skiing to shopping with the kids to fine dining, Galena really does offer it all!

For a comprehensive directory of all of Galena's attractions, check out www.VisitGalena.org.  And if you're a history buff, discover the hidden past that makes historic Galena, IL so special at www.GalenaHistory.org.