Ottawa is a city rich in history going back to the 1820s. It was the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate, and even a famous Civil War general was from Ottawa. The city has an enormous heritage in its churches, schools, and neighborhoods and has created impressive strength in its business and industry over the years. Ottawa also has contributed more than its share of service in the defense of the nation. The I&M Canal, Reddick Mansion, the appellate court, the LaSalle County Courthouse, the Tent Colony, the nearby shipyard and glass factories, the rivers, and the area state parks all have been important and unique parts that comprise Ottawa.

The Illinois & Michigan Canal, completed in 1848 and closed in 1933, was built to provide shipping access from Lake Michigan to the Illinois River and beyond, and is now a National Heritage Corridor. The maps and photographs -- both modern and historical -- and essays explore the history of the human presence in and around this important resource.