Statues of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas preside over a fountain in Ottowa, Illinois’s Washington Square Park.
Photo by: JabSVBS13/Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 4.0
Washington Square Park in Ottawa, Illinois, was the site of the first debate between U.S. Senate candidates Abraham Lincoln and incumbent Stephen Douglas in 1858. Today there are statues of Lincoln and Douglas as well as a commemorative plaque detailing the debate in its historical context. The park also has a scenic fountain, features blooming flowers depending on the season and is surrounded by several historical buildings.
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The Great American Rail-Trail promises an all-new American experience. Through 12 states and the District of Columbia, the trail will directly serve nearly 50 million people within 50 miles of the route. Across the nation—and the world—only the limits of imagination will limit its use.
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