Walking Tour

Ottumwa, Iowa is located in southeastern Iowa in the Des Moines River Valley. The city of Ottumwa developed in the 1840's near where several Fox and Sac Indian villages were located. The city itself climbs in and out of the river valley, providing scenic vistas and hill-hugging streets.

Our walking tour of Ottumwa begins in Central Park, located at the foot of North Court Street, between Third and Fourth Streets. Central Park was the heart of the city as originally platted in 1843.

The business district of a typical midwestern community is anchored around a town square with green space and a public building - such as a courthouse or municipal building. In Ottumwa, however, business and commercial development followed the Des Moines River's diagonal path through the city. Over time, Central Park gradually evolved into the center of public buildings.

1. Wapello County Courthouse (1893)
2. Wapello County Jail (1911)
3. Lester Jay Funeral Home (1929)
4. St. Mary's Catholic Church (1930)
5. Federal Building (1912)
6. Ottumwa Public Library (1901)
7. Hotel Ottumwa (1916)
8. Ottumwa YWCA (1924)
9. Granite Horse Trough (1906)
10. First National Bank (1915)
11. Lillburn Building (1876)
12. Benson Building (1930)
13. Ottumwa Courier (1921)
14. Benson Block (1924)