The tall bluff towering over this cache has two names. It is named after Thomas January, one of the early settlers in this area. It is also known as Shot Tower Hill. I know January was in Galena but I have not found any proof there was ever a shot tower. Maybe it was wishful thinking that was never realized.
Many of the early paintings and views of Galena were from the top of this hill.
Another interesting feature of the bluff is the caves seen high above the street. When I was a kid we thought they were Indian caves and that they would contain old camp fires, bones, and arrow heads. Possibly they were abandoned lead mines. We knew there were lead mines farther back on the hill. Some of the older kids climbed up and checked them out. They are shallow caves with nothing in there. It is private property. Don’t even think of going up there.
I have given parking coordinates for this cache. There is a lot near my “No Pool like an Old Pool” cache. You can park once and get both caches.
Speaking of the Pool cache; be sure to read its listing and the story of the rats running wild when the old dump was closed in 1967. The rats ran right past this cache and down around the corner into town.