The Ottawa Historical & Scouting Heritage Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of boy scouts, girl scouts, campfire and the Ottawa, Illinois area.
Hours: Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Tuesday and Wednesday and holidays)
Cost: $3 for adults, $2 for youth (group rates available upon request)
The Ottawa Historical Scouting Museum is a great place to start your visit to Ottawa. Learn about the Boy Scouts of America, the Illinois-Michigan Canal and much more of Ottawa’s colorful history.
Ottawa, Illinois is the home and final resting place of one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America, W.D.Boyce. This museum houses the famed collections of the Lone Scout Memory Lodge. It also has the most extensive collection of Robert Baden-Powell memorabilia (English Scouting), in the United States.
Another portion of the museum features collections of antiques relating to Ottawa’s historic past. A carriage manufactured by the Gay Buggy Company, pianos from the Weaver Piano Factory, an organ from the Western Cottage Organ are just a few of the exhibits. Hiking trails and Geocaching trails for both young and old are also featured here. And don’t forget to check out the gift shop.
If you are interested in renting a room for birthdays, showers or general meetings, look no further. The museum has just the space you need.
