Location: Ottawa
Top Things to do in Ottawa
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5 Budget-friendly Things to do in Ottawa That You Shouldn't Miss
Ottawa is a city located at the confluence of the navigable Illinois River and Fox River in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The Illinois River is a conduit for river barges and connects Lake Michigan at Chicago, to the Mississippi River, and North America's 25,000 mile river system. The population estimate was 18,562 as of 2013. It is the county seat of LaSalle County and it is part of the Ottawa-Peru, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Restaurants in Ottawa
1. Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By interceptpubs - Columbus, United States
We stopped in Ottawa mainly because it was the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate. This museum has a small display on that event, including a dress won by a woman who was there, but the museum has a whole lot more to offer. There are actually two galleries - the first covers the history of the Ottawa area. We were surprised to learn that Ottawa has a surprisingly rich manufacturing past with a number of unusual products having been made here. In 1922, the Radium Dial Company took over an old high school building in Ottawa and began hiring young women to paint clock dials with luminous paint. At the height of production, over 4,000 clock dials per day were being turned out by a work force of around 1,000. Unfortunately, the luminous paint used a combination of phosphorus and the radioactive element radium. Before long, many of the women started coming down with unusual, debilitating symptoms ultimately traced to radiation sickness. The plant closed in the mid-1930s, but the damage had sadly already been done. Reading the tragic story presented in the exhibit of the most famous of the women who worked here, Catherine Wolfe Donahue, and her quest for compensation is truly heart wrenching. Other manufacturing enterprises with much less dire consequences are also covered: Ghent Motor Company (a World War I era auto manufacturer), Gay Buggy Company (one of their carriages is on display), Porter Manufacturing and King and Hamilton (farm equipment makers), Peltier Marble Company (glass toy marbles that is), Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass (a pioneer sheet glass maker for automobiles, etc.), Weaver Piano Company, and Western Cottage Organ. As noted already, exhibits for each typically include examples of what they manufactured, as well as photos, advertisements, product catalogs, and other artifacts. There are also photos of some of the local mansions, and information on important historic figures from the area, such as Civil War general W. H. L. Wallace who practiced law in Ottawa in the mid 1800s. He also belonged to the Illinois militia with brief service during the Mexican War at the Battle of Buena Vista and much more extensive service during the Civil War where he led troops at the Battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, dying from wounds suffered during the latter. General Grant described him as one of the Union's greatest generals. Another famous Ottawa resident, William Boyce, a Chicago newspaper publisher who bought a 38 acre estate in Ottawa in 1903, is featured even more prominently in the museum. After buying his mansion here, he spent most of his time in the city, only returning to Chicago for business when necessary. He had a love of the outdoors that he apparently also loved to share. After meeting Robert Baden-Powell in London in 1909, he founded the American scouting organization, the Boy Scouts of America, in 1910. A great deal of exhibit space is devoted to Boyce with many items on display, including furniture from his mansion. This naturally leads to the museum's second gallery which focuses on scouting history specifically. This is perhaps the largest exhibit of scouting artifacts, ephemera, etc. that one will ever see, including a large amount of Baden-Powell material from a private collection that the museum now holds. We spent about an hour here and really enjoyed all of the exhibits - the presentation and depth is really quite good for a local museum.
2. Illinois Waterway Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 95 reviews
DUE TO THE COVID 19 situation, the Visitor Center building is closed. The viewing areas that overlook the river are open to the public during business hours. Recreate responsibly and respect CDC guidelines for mask wearing and social distancing. A relaxing place to watch towboats and barges lock through. From the visitor center outdoor observation area, guests can watch bald eagles and mergansers in the winter and pelicans, great blue heron, cormorants and many other birds in the spring, summer, and fall. This site is the only visitor center devoted to telling the stories of the Illinois Waterway and its importance to transportation. Group on-site programs, outreach programs and boat safety classes available. Free boat inspections also available. Call our Park Rangers for more information or to schedule a program, boat inspection or to register for an upcoming boat safety class. Navigation charts, field guides and other recreation-related items are available at our gift store.
Reviewed By dianelL3422LU
Great learning experience for kids and families. February 2020 delighted to see a bald eagle today! Across from waterway is the State Park with hiking travels and the lodge.
3. Reddick Mansion and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By Hanoverton1 - Hanoverton, United States
While visiting family in the area we stopped to tour the mansion and gardens. The docent that lead our tour was informative and knowledgeable about the mansion and the area. It was a pleasure to tour this well kept facility. The furnishings were well kept also. We would go back to visit again.
4. Washington Square Park
5. Buffalo Rock State Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By RobertW2h483MD - Park Ridge, United States
Buffalo Rock is actually a former island of the Illinois River. It is a mostly level plateau with all sides as cliffs down to the river level. The edges give great vistas of the Illinois river and the countryside, but for small children they are dangerous and generally do not have fences (or warning signs). There are two bison or "buffalo" (named Holly and Pebbles) that can be seen in a fenced enclosure northwest of the parking lot closest to the information center. Bison were called "Buffalo" by the early settlers as they looked similar to Buffalo found in Europe. Bison used to be abundant in the prairie lands of Northern Illinois until they were exterminated by white settlers. The two bison here to remind us of the herds once found here when Buffalo Rock was named by settlers. You can walk a trail to see five "Effigy Tumuli" (raised earthen images somewhat like the effigy mounds found in many places in the Midwest that were constructed long ago by Native Americans). The effigies here were sculpted by bulldozers directed by artist Michael Heizer in 1983.
