2026 Spring and Summer Programs, Events, and Exhibits

Historic Downtown Ottawa Walking Tours Saturdays, June 13 through July 25, 10:15 a.m.  Tours start at the Old Depot Museum, 135 W Tecumseh St, Ottawa, KS Tickets: $15 per person. Available in advance: https://square.link/u/Zw7IZxDE The city of Ottawa’s story centers on the river that runs through its heart. This summer’s downtown Ottawa Walking tour explores how the Marais des Cygnes River has historically shaped life in Franklin County, from where we live and work to how we travel. We’ll get to know Ottawa’s people and architecture and the legacy of…

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October 16: The Farewell Tour: The Death Industry Downtown Ottawa Walking Tour

Victorian-era downtown buildings. Building on far left includes a large sign that reads COFFINS & CASKETS.

The Farewell Tour: The Death Industry Downtown Ottawa Walking Tour Thursday, October 16, 2025, 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Tours begin at Haley Park, 201 S Main, Ottawa, Kansas   Death is part of life in any town, and death industry services–undertakers, coffin makers, stone carvers, and concrete vault casters–have been an important part of Ottawa’s downtown since the town was founded. The Franklin County Historical Society’s August Third Thursdays Walking Tour will explore the history of Ottawa’s downtown death-related businesses in buildings along Main Street. Tours are free,…

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