LaSalle County is home to some fascinating historical sites, tours and museums to explore!
Here are five other hiking destinations you should be sure to visit on your trip.
Weber House and Garden:
Streator’s Ted Weber, formerly a nationally syndicated radio interviewer, began renovating his historic childhood home in 1983. The house now sports beautifully decorated rooms, each one reflecting a different period of design, and a meticulously manicured English-style garden. This unique blend of architecture, horticulture, interior design and broadcast history is open for tour seven days a week, April – October.
3 Baker Street • STREATOR 815-672-8327 • weberhouseandgarden.com
Hegeler Carus Mansion:
Designed by W. W. Boyington, the famed Chicago Water Tower architect, LaSalle’s Hegeler Carus Mansion has remained virtually unaltered since it’s completion in 1876. This 16,000-sq. foot mansion features 56 rooms spread across 7 levels. The interior is just as inspiring as the exterior, with its intricate parquet floors and hand-painted ceilings. This National Landmark is open for tours Wed. – Sun, year-round.
1307 7th Street • LASALLE 815-224-6543 • hegelercarus.org
Reddick Mansion:
The Reddick Mansion, a wonderfully unique landmark, stands at the corners of Columbus and Lafayette streets in Ottawa, overlooking the Lincoln Douglas Debate Site. This 150+ year old, 22-room, Italianate mansion has been meticulously restored to the 19th century, after decades of being used as the town’s public library. Now, the mansion is opened year-round for tours, Fri. – Mon.
100 West Lafayette Street • OTTAWA 815-433-6100 • reddickmansion.org
I&M Canal Boat and Lock 16 Visitors Center:
Take a journey back in time aboard the I&M Canal’s “Volunteer,” a mule-pulled 1840’s replica canal boat. Period dressed guides regale audiences with tales of the canal, as your boat takes a one-mile trip up to the Little Vermillion aqueduct and back. Be sure to drop by the Lock 16 visitors center after your trip, for more history of the canal and to grab a bite to eat in their wonderful café.
754 1st Street • LASALLE 815-223-1851• iandmcanal.org
LaSalle County Historical Society:
You’ll find the LaSalle County Historical Society campus located in beautiful downtown Utica, right along the banks of the I&M canal. It offers fascinating exhibits and activities on a diverse variety of topics, from living history demonstrations in their Blacksmiths Shop to brand new exhibits inside the Heritage Center.
101 East Canal Street • UTICA 815-667-4861• lasallecountyhistoricalsociety.org
Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum:
Head to The Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum to learn all about the history of the boy scouts, girl scouts and the town of Ottawa. You’ll find more than a century’s worth of scouting artifacts and the largest collection of English scouting memorabilia in the United States, as well as rare artifacts from the famed Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
1100 Canal Street • OTTAWA 815-431-9353 • reddickmansion.org
