Ottawa (Images of America) - Softcover

Ottawa was founded in 1864. Located in the Marais des Cygnes River Valley, the area's rich soil and lush grass made it well suited for growing crops and pasturing livestock. The community's first cultural center was Ottawa University, which was chartered in 1865 and built on land exchanged by the Ottawa Indians for the promise of an education for their children. Two railroads later arrived, the Lawrence, Leavenworth & Galveston in 1868 and the Missouri Pacific in 1880, spurring industrial development. Images of America: Ottawa highlights early settlers, prominent industries, noteworthy institutions, and devastating natural disasters. Using vintage photographs, this history features local memories and milestones, capturing everything from the famous Ottawa Chautauqua Assemblies, held annually from 1883 to 1914 in Forest Park, to the emerging distribution centers that have shaped the area today.

Deborah Barker has directed the Franklin County Historical Society for 25 years. A fifth-generation Kansan and a 38-year resident of Ottawa, Barker has helped compile two books on local history and written a third, The Feast of Franklin County. She has also written driving tours, brochures, and exhibit scripts and helped plan and create the society s website. The photographs in this collection were selected from the 23,000 stored in the archives of the Franklin County Historical Society.