Galena lies on a speculated route between the territory of the bəsx̌əx̌əx̌əlč band of the Skykomish people, based in modern-day Index, and the Sauk to the north.

[4] Voting returns from the Galena and Monte Cristo precincts were at the center of a minor controversy during the contentious 1894 county seat election between Snohomish and Everett.

[6] After a 1980 storm, a quarter-mile length of the ridge between Galena and Mineral City collapsed, washing out the road.

[8] In 2006, severe flooding washed Index-Galena Road out, and access to Galena was limited to a 40-mile detour which closed seasonally.

The area immediately local to Galena contains silver-lead ore, with a smaller amount of chalcopyrite, which contains gold.