Galena — Grant's Hidden Journal
Uncover the secrets in General Ulysses S. Grant's forgotten journal, hidden in Galena's historic sites. Decipher coded entries revealing a wartime conspiracy that could rewrite history—solve the mystery before it's lost forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1865, Civil War hero Ulysses S
Galena — Grant's Hidden Journal
You are a State Archivist, urgently dispatched by Elihu B.
Washburne in Galena, 1865, to locate Ulysses S. Grant's personal writings as he prepares to
Immerse yourself in 19th-century Galena, following in the footsteps of General Grant and the figures who shaped Illinois.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest for the journal begins at Grant Park, a green space along the Galena River, perfect for outdoor activities. This park, located within the Galena Historical District, is your first immersion into the city's past. Here, you identify the initial clues, hidden near monuments dedicated to local figures. The route then leads you to the Galena Public Library, a Greek-style building whose architecture reflects Galena's civic ambition in the 19th century. Its proximity to Grant Park and its location within the Historical District make it an architectural landmark and a prime spot for history-based trivia.
Continuing your 1.42-mile (2.28 km) itinerary through the Galena Historical District, you reach the Corwith Building on Main Street. This historic brick edifice, ideal for outdoor activities, is a typical example of Galena's commercial architecture. The local insights you uncover here will bring you closer to General Grant's movements. The walk then takes you to the Old Market House, a 19th-century historic building, located in the heart of downtown Galena. This place, once a center of commerce and gatherings, offers a glimpse into daily life of the era and may hold a key to deciphering Grant's intentions.
The path naturally leads you to the Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site, the former residence of President Ulysses S. Grant. Built between 1858 and 1860, this site is a pivotal point in Galena's history, as Grant lived here from 1860 to 1865. You explore the very rooms where he forged his destiny before the Civil War, searching for traces of his presence and thoughts. Nearby, the DeSoto House Hotel, opened in 1855 on Main Street, also hosted Grant. This hotel, a central point of the Historical District, is a privileged witness to the meetings and decisions that shaped the political and military life of Illinois and the United States.
Your investigation takes you to the Galena History Museum, housed in a mansion built in 1858. This museum displays artifacts related to Ulysses S. Grant and local Galena history, providing valuable context for your mission. The museum's collections might reveal details about the relationship between Grant and Elihu B. Washburne, or the events preceding Grant's departure. Each exhibit, each document is a potential source of information. You continue your walking journey, an exploration that combines narrative immersion with the discovery of Galena, Illinois' heritage.
Upon completing this thematic circuit in the Galena Historical District, you will have not only walked 1.5 km through history-laden streets but also assembled fragments of Galena's past. Every site visited, from Grant Park to the Ulysses S. Grant Home, including the Galena Public Library and the Corwith Building, has contributed to shedding light on the personality and legacy of Ulysses S. Grant. You leave with a deeper understanding of this Illinois town and the men who inhabited it, the secrets of Grant's journal revealed by your insight and the aid of augmented reality.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Time Travel
Immerse yourself in the 19th century, in a town frozen in its Victorian golden age.
Military Strategy
Unravel the beginnings of strategic thinking from one of America's greatest generals.
Historic Architecture
Explore the streets and buildings that inspired and housed Ulysses S. Grant.
The ideas that forged a nation.
Uncover Ulysses S. Grant's secret vision before he left for the Civil War.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Immerse yourself in 19th-century Galena, following in the footsteps of General Grant and the figures who shaped Illinois.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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