Ottawa History Guide

We're not an old city, but we have a rich heritage nonetheless. We started out as a rough and tumble lumbertown called Bytown became a headquarters for the federal government along the way, and we're now evolving into a moden, high-tech city.

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Local History Links

1857 - A Capital Choice
Ancient Ottawa
Archaeological and Historical Landmarks
Barrymore's: 1978-1988
Originally opened as the Imperial Theatre in 1914, the building we now know as Barrymore's lasted for nearly four decades as on of Ottawa's premier movie theatres. It closed in 1955, spent a number of years as a furniture warehouse, and then re-opened in the 1970s as concert hall, and then as a restaurant/discotheque.
British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa
Bytown or Bust: Pioneer families
A genealogical site run by Al Lewis containing information about pioneer families who settled in Ottawa starting in the early 1800's.
Bytown Museum
Central Canadian Exhibition History
Closed Canadian Parks: Britannia Park ... Victoria Park ... Rockcliffe Park
Colonel John By - Canadian Heritage Gallery
Commonwealth Historic Resource Management - Projects
Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa
Cumberland Township Historical Society
Eastern Ontario Ghost Towns
Here's an idea for a weekend getaway: explore Eastern Ontario's ghost towns. This site features photos and information about dozens of abandoned towns in Ontario and across Canada.
Encyclopedia of Ottawa Movie Theatres
Friends of the City of Ottawa Archives
Goulbourn Historical Society
Growing Up in Ottawa
A blog by Mark Daley: "I was born in Ottawa in 1969 at the Civic Hospital. My Family moved quite a bit while I was growing both within and outside of Ottawa – although I've always considered Ottawa to be Home. I went to St. Mark's Elementary School, St. Pat's Jr. High and Hillcrest High School. I now live and work in Toronto, On (moved in 1997). These are my fond memories and stories from growing up in Ottawa."
Heritage Ottawa
This site is full of interesting articles and facts. One of the best features is an archive of their newsletters, dating from 1974 to the present. Editor Gordon Cullinham remarks: "Don’t be surprised if you are visited by déjà vu from time to time; the battles are the same, the conditions are the same, and unhappily, the arsenal for engaging the wrecking crews is not much improved."
Historical Society of Ottawa
"...founded in 1898 as the Women's Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa. Its objective is to increase public knowledge of the history of Ottawa through its publications, meetings, tours, outreach programs and participation in local heritage events..."
Imperial Theatre (now Barrymore's)
Kanata Timeline History
This site highlights important personalities and events tells, telling the story of Kanata from 1977 to 2000.
Lansdowne Park History
Lebreton Flats and Chaudiere Area Photo Album
One Room Schoolhouses
From local author Joy Forbes, who recently published her book, "Perseverance, Pranks and Pride - Tales of the One-Room Schoolhouse". It is a collection of 75 stories from English- and French-speaking individuals who attended or taught in local one-room schoolhouses, capturing the fascinating history of our rural education system.
On To Ottawa Historical Society
Ottawa Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society
Ottawa Genealogical Society
If you're looking for ancestors with an Ottawa connection, this should be your first stop. It's an extremely worthwhile resource, with plenty of material and suggestions to get you started on your search for your great-great-great-great-grandparents.
Ottawa 150 (from CBC Ottawa)
To mark the city's 150th anniversary, CBC Ottawa presents information on the myriad of people and organizations from each time period of Ottawa's history.
Ottawa Citizen: 150th Anniversary of Ottawa
A collection of articles from the Citizen's continuing series marking Ottawa's birthday.
Ottawa History (brief)
Ottawa Mayors
Some mayoral trivia: Bytown's first mayor was John Scott (1847). Ottawa's first mayor was John Bower Lewis (1855). Ottawa has had three female mayors: Charlotte Whitton, Marion Dewar, and Jacquelin Holzman. (from Wikipedia)
Ottawa Railway History
OttawaStart Blog: History
Our Little Italy
A history of Preston Street (aka Corso Italia), the heart of Ottawa's Little Italy, and the home of many of Italian immigrants in Ottawa.
Parks Canada: Rideau Canal
Radio history...
Rideau Canal (1)
Rideau Canal (2)
The Story of the Glebe (alternate link)
Sparks Street - the Commercial and Banking Centre
Sparks Street Mall History
Stories You Told Me
Thomas Ahearn
Transit history...
Tulips in Ottawa (Tulip Festival)
Victoria Memorial Museum Building
Victoria School Museum
Watson's 2002 Guide to the Rideau
Westboro
Westboro Online Historical Database
Vanished Ottawa
A blog documenting "the vanished and the vanishing" in Ottawa, including buildings, landmarks, etc.