When explorer Louis Jolliet glided down the Illinois River to its junction with the Fox, he likely did not imagine the bustling city that would spring up along the banks of the rivers. The winding commercial waterway that was to create Ottawa – The Illinois and Michigan Canal – was but a glimmer in his eye then, a vision to ease the treacherous water passage. Like Jolliet, the construction workers and canallers who made the canal possible have drifted into the mists of time, but their legacy has been adapted and has flourished. The Canal State Trail remains one of the premier recreational opportunities in Northern Illinois.

Nor could Jolliet envision the hardworking visionaries who would inhabit this City on the Rivers. From here, a big-game hunter/newspaper publisher by the name of W.D. Boyce would launch an outstanding youth movement known as Boy Scouts. An immigrant farmer named William Reddick -- who as a youth stole hours alongside the blast-furnace to study -- would build an elegant mansion where he would host a U.S. senator, Stephen Douglas. Sen. Douglas would engage in a fiery war of words, a career-breaking debate, against a tall, gaunt political newcomer named Abraham Lincoln in Washington Square. You can stroll along the star-shaped pathways of that square where now flowers bloom, a fountain flows and the two famous debaters are immortalized in bronze.

Two self-guided tours help you to map out your journey through Ottawa’s heritage and provide you with fascinating glimpses into how Ottawa grew and who made Ottawa great.

Your cell phone becomes your time-travel machine on the Brush with History Cell Phone Tour of seven murals. As you study the vivid outdoor murals, you can listen to the strike of pickax on stone as men struggle to build the canal. Hear the thundering hooves of a buffalo stampede or the throb of percussion as the band strikes up a parade through downtown Ottawa.

The Ottawa Heritage Tour is a must-have companion for your journey through Ottawa, whether you choose to take it by foot or by car. In the pages of the Heritage Tour, you’ll meet the people who put Ottawa’s name on the map and be able to explore the imposing architecture that defines our skyline and residential neighborhoods.

But you’re not finished yet! Ottawa’s secrets are never buried, just stored in the research library operated by the La Salle County Genealogy Guild. This spacious library houses birth and death records, family and village histories, and more! Volunteers are on hand with answers to questions and directions for sorting through all the material available.

Ottawa has many stories to tell. Come enjoy them all!

There are currently 7 Attraction listing(s) available.

Heritage Tour - An Illustrated Guide Pick up a copy of this illustrated guide to "the places, faces and ornamentation of Ottawa" and get ready for a magical history tour! Learn about the people who made Ottawa great and who built Ottawa's breathtaking and imposing skyline.

Illinois & Michigan Canal This multi-purpose trail offers visitors scenic hiking and bicycling, combined with the opportunity to experience Ottawa's natural beauty. Walk or bike the tow path, where horses pulled passenger boats from 1848 until 1852 and mules pulled the heaby freight required to build Chicago and northern Illinois....Visit Website

LaSalle County Genealogy Guild 115 West Glover Street | Ottawa, IL, 61350 | 815-433-5261 | The guild has a membership of 1,000 worldwide. People come from all parts of the globe to study their genealogy in the guild's library.

Mural Cellular Phone Tour Ottawa's Old Town District | Ottawa, IL, 61350 | 866-MURALS-1 | The wonderful murals located in Ottawa's Old Town District can now come to life through your cellular phone. Simply dial 866-MURALS-1 (866-687-2571) and follow the prompts to listen to a narration of the mural you are standing in front of!...Visit Website

Ottawa Scouting Musuem 1100 Canal Street | Ottawa, IL, 61350 | 815-431-9353 | Promoting and preserving the traditions of scouting, this museum features many scouting items as well as three year-round outdoor hikingtrails....Visit Website

Reddick Mansion 100 W Lafayette St | Ottawa, IL, 61350 | (815) 433-6100 | Built before the Civil War, this ornate 22 room 50 foot tall Italianate mansion was constructed by leading philanthropist and state senator William Reddick.

Washington Square Park Between Lafayette and Jackson Street and LaSalle | Ottawa, IL, 61350 | | In the center of the park a memorial commemorates the location of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate on August 21, 1858, with heoric sized bronze statues complete with a reflecting pool.