Just over the border from the United States, and only 123 miles from Montreal, lies Ottawa, the federal capital of Canada. Situated along the south bank of the Ottawa river, it was originally founded, in 1826, as Bytown. Ten thousand years ago, after the Champlain Sea drained away, the valley became habitable. The First Nation Algonquins called the area “Odawa”, meaning “to trade,” because three major rivers converged here, making it an important center for trade and travel. Etienne Brule, in 1610, was the first European to travel the Ottawa river. Three years later, Samuel de Champlain followed Brule’s route and wrote extensively about his experiences with the Algonquins. In 1800, a New Englander named Philemon Wright established the first settlement on the north side of the river and pioneered the Ottawa Valley timber trade. Twenty-six years later, the settlement became known as “Bytown” (named after a military engineer by the name of Colonel John By who had designed and built the Rideau Canal through the area). By 1855, Bytown was renamed Ottawa and incorporated as a city. In 1857, Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital of the Province of Canada.
Connecting Ottawa to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River, the 125 mile long Rideau Canal was originally built (in 1832) as a military precaution in case of war with the United States. It’s primary use today is for pleasure boating.