The Ottawa Historical & Scouting Heritage Museum has come out with their second documentary of the A Tale of Two Bluffs project. This film is John Hossack: No Apologies. We spoke with the documentary’s director, Dan Hennenfent, to learn more about this exciting new glimpse into Ottawa’s history. He got us started with some background information on the project.

“This movie is entitled John Hossack: No Apologies. And it covers three things, really. It covers the politics of slavery and the Underground Railroad. That’s number one. Number two, it covers the life and activity of John Hossack, in particular in operating the Underground Railroad. And thirdly, it also tells, to some degree, about the lives of other people of this county and region, and their activity in the Underground Railroad. So the focus is on Hossack, but it’s more than a one-man show,” Dan said. 

Ottawa is home to some rich history, which goes even further in depth than some might expect. John Hossack’s story is a vital one, not just to the city, but the nation as a whole. Ottawa was a ‘stop’ on the Underground Railroad, and famous figures of the time such as Frederick Douglass had made a visit to the city. Curious about how to learn more about this part of Ottawa’s history? Dan told us about the museum’s documentary showings and plans on a Q&A with the creators.

“Beginning [Tuesday] night and every night until Sunday night, it’ll be open to the public. As well as two matinees over the weekend, 2 o’clock on Saturday and Sunday. Within that context, sure, we will stay and answer questions as long as anyone wants to stay and ask. There will be at least two other screenings beyond that,”

The additional screenings are set for next month and November 2026, so stay tuned for more information on those. You can catch a viewing of John Hossack: No Apologies at the Ottawa Historical & Scouting Heritage Museum from 7/7 – 7/12, starting at 6 pm. You can also attend the matinees as Dan said, this Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm.

Next, we asked Dan why he feels it is important to share this story, both from a local history perspective and in a more general context.

“Right now, a couple points come to mind. One is, Ottawa has such a rich history of influencing the whole nation, actually. When we think about the debate. We think about things like William Wallace at the Battle of Shiloh, who turned the tide you might say, or at least held the Confederates off long enough for reinforcements, which changed that battle. We think about John Caton, who basically is responsible for the first telegraph company in Illinois. We think about John Hossack, whose speech at the sentencing hearing, because he was found guilty of violating the Fugitive Slave Act, his speech, which lasted probably nearly 30 minutes, was recorded verbatim by shorthand. Of course, we didn’t have the fancy little electronic gadgets. And then published throughout the country. And his speech, I think, did so much to help turn the tide against slavery and towards abolition of it. Of course, that was just prior to the Civil War, so it came at an amazing time,” he said.

“So, why is it important? Ottawa has such a deep bed of historical significance throughout the country. And I think it’s important that we, who live in Ottawa and the area, don’t forget that. We need to have an appreciation. If I can tack on to that, after someone watches this film, which is 59 minutes, call it an hour, I want them to have a ‘So, what?’ moment. ‘So, what did I learn from that? What can I take into my daily life from something that happened 160 years ago? So what? Why is that important?’ And I think this film asks a few of those questions about what happened historically is still going on today,” Dan said.

History has been made in Ottawa, and it continues to be recognized in our modern era. If the Ottawa Historical & Scouting Heritage Museum’s documentaries interest you, beyond attending a screening, you can also check out their exhibits on John Hossack and General W.H.L. Wallace. There are currently plans for a traveling Underground Railroad display exhibit to come to the Scouting Museum, so be on the lookout for more!

As our interview came to a close, we asked Dan what he hopes for the future in regards to these documentaries.

“I think it’d be fair to say we eventually hope to get both of these films on public television. Because, I think it speaks to an audience outside of LaSalle County certainly, the stories that are told. So, it’s our ambition to have a more widespread publication of both films. Public TV, certainly schools, we’d love for the schools to pick it up. Encourage people to come and partake and learn, get engaged with the Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum, and celebrate Ottawa’s history.”

From now until July 12th, you can attend a screening of the Ottawa Historical & Scouting Heritage Museum’s newest documentary, John Hossack: No Apologies. Viewings are at 6pm each night, with matinees at 2 pm on July 11th and 12th. Be on the lookout for more from us on the Scouting Museum’s documentaries and their glimpses into Ottawa’s colorful history.