Ottawa, Illinois

==Tourism==
[[File:Ottawa IL Washington Park Historic District Site of first Lincoln-Douglas debate.jpg|thumb|The site of the first [[Lincoln–Douglas debate]] in Washington Park]]
[[File:Ottawa Il Washington Park Historic District Lincoln-Douglas Statues1.jpg|thumb|Statues of Lincoln and Douglas]]
Ottawa has many historic homes and registered historic landmarks. Recent additions to Ottawa have included renovations to its historic mansion, the [[William Reddick (politician)|Reddick Mansion]], and artistic murals throughout the central business district. 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.  The [[Fox River (Illinois River tributary)|Fox River]], which flows through communities like [[Elgin, Illinois|Elgin]] and [[Aurora, Illinois|Aurora]], empties into the [[Illinois River|Illinois]] in downtown Ottawa. Ottawa is also home to one of the largest skydiving operations in the country, Skydive Chicago.<ref>[http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/i&m/east/starve/park.htm ''Starved Rock State Park'' (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927223102/http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/Parks/i%26m/east/starve/park.htm |date=2010-09-27 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.reddickmansion.com/directions2.html |title=''Reddick Mansion'' (The Reddick Mansion Association) |access-date=September 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124174926/http://www.reddickmansion.com/directions2.html |archive-date=January 24, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum honors Ottawa resident, [[William D. Boyce]], founder of the [[Boy Scouts of America]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum |url=https://pickusottawail.com/attractions/scouting-museum/ |publisher=Ottawa Visitors Center |access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref>

Jacob C. Zeller founded the Zeller Inn and Court Place Tavern in 1871, at 615 Columbus Street. The original Zeller Inn was demolished in 1982. The Zeller Inn tavern, originally known as the Court Place, still remains, now called Zeller Inn. The courtyard patio area on Columbus street is where the original Zeller Inn stood. The tavern contains the original mahogany bar built by the Sanders Bros in Ottawa, marble counters, tiled floors and walls, stained glass door and light fixtures. It also was known for its Gilded Age brilliance — tiled mahogany bar, carved gargoyles, pressed-tin ceiling and solid oak backbar. The mirror on the bar is the same since its establishment in 1871, which was brought over from the 1800s era European Worlds Fair. Zeller's initials, JCZ, are still visible in a tiled mosaic on the side of the bar and in the glass light domes that hang from the ceiling. This is one of the oldest taverns in Illinois, with original features which remain intact and displays the architectural details prominent in the late 1800s.