Discover downtown Ottawa

Coming to a new community for college can be difficult to adjust to. Getting to know the Ottawa community is not difficult to do. Even though Ottawa is small, it comes with an abundance of character. Our downtown Main Street businesses are housed in buildings that have been around since there were dirt roads and people rode on horseback in the late 1800s. The downtown of Ottawa is considered to be between first and fifth streets on Main Street. It offers a variety of entertainment opportunities, restaurants, and places to shop. If you are searching for something to do on a Friday night or have a hot date and want to stay in town, how about grabbing pizza at Pizza Time, seeing a movie at the Crystal Plaza Theater, and getting coffee at the Potter’s Wheel? All within a block of each other near the intersection of third and Main St., these establishments have good standings in the community and have different atmospheres that add to the small town charm. If shopping is your expertise or pastime, try Country Living or Prairie Rose Gifts for home décor, candles and trinkets. You could also head a few blocks north to Market Antiques for unique items and stop for a sandwich or ice cream at their café. When looking to fix your exhaust or get an oil change, look to 1st & Main for James Automotive and Expert Tire. For all your waxing, tanning and hair cutting needs, Main Street Attraction Salon and Rex’s Barbershop are not hard to find. The Franklin County Courthouse is a focal point in the downtown area. On the lawn of the Courthouse you will find two statues carved out of tree stumps. The sculpture on the north side of the lawn is of George P. Washburn, a resident of Ottawa in the early 19th century, he was one of the most well known architects of his time. He was the creator of many signature buildings in Ottawa including the Courthouse. The other statue on the south side of the lawn is of John Tecumseh “Tauy” Jones who was a founder of Ottawa University in late 1800s. All of these businesses and landmarks make our town distinctive. The community is proud of the town we have and citizens would love to see the OU students out-and-about in Ottawa.