Ottawa, Illinois

I was on my way to Delmont, South Dakota with my friend Eric, when the transmission on my truck went. Lucky for us it happened in Ottawa, Illinois. I say lucky because we were forced to stay there for three days, while the necessary repairs were made, and we were delighted to discover that Ottawa and the surrounding area is filled with plenty to see and do.

Ottawa is known as the scenic gateway to Starved Rock State Park, the most popular state park in Illinois, with some 2 million visitors per year.

Starved Rock State Park offers miles of hiking trails, canoe and boat rentals, boat rides, a lodge, a campground and a visitor's center.

The Belle of the Rock, an authentic paddle wheel boat can be boarded in Starved Rock State Park and takes visitors on a 1 hour river cruise.

We decided to visit Matthiessen State Park on RT 178, in Utica, IL. We saw amazingly beautiful bluffs while hiking the 5 miles of marked trails, along the Vermillion River. We also went down into the canyon and hiked on stepping stones in the Vermillion.

There are so many rivers that converge in this area. The Fox River, which flows through communities like Elgin and Aurora empty into the Illinois in downtown Ottawa.

Ottawa is famous as an important part of the development of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, which terminates in LaSalle, Illinois, 12 miles to the west.

This canal linked the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan and Chicago in the 19th century.

The Illinois Waterway visitor center hosts the Army Corps of Engineers, on RT 1 N 27 in Ottawa, We participated in a tour of an operating lock and dam. The current canal system still carries grain, fuel and manufactured goods though the mid-west.

Ottawa is also known for being the site of the first of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858 during which Stephen A. Douglas, leader of the Democratic Party, openly accused Abraham Lincoln of forming a secret bipartisan group of Congressmen to bring about the abolition of slavery. It was also a major stop on the underground railroad.

LaSalle also a great place for Civil War history buffs. We found lots of information on President Abraham Lincoln.

The LaSalle County Museum, in Utica houses a buggy that Abraham Lincoln rode in. The museum itself is housed in an original canal house, built in 1848. I would like to thank the employees here for being so friendly and for allowing me to take pictures.

Eric and I found so many places of historic interest, state parks and restaurants.

We also discovered the area offers winery tours and is big into arts and entertainment. We could have easily stayed three weeks instead of the three days we were there.

I plan to take Elle back there in October, when the streets of Utica will be closed for the Burgoo Festival held the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. Burgoo is an early settlers stew, cooked over a wood fire. The festival also offers a craft fair and flea market.