The First Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Historical marker location:

101 E Lafayette St, Ottawa, Illinois

( Marker is on Columbus Street (Illinois Route 71) just south of Lafayette Street, on the right when traveling south.)

Marker installed: 2007

The famous Route 66, one of the first highways in the U.S., passed through Illinois. The highway, which stretched from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, was a popular route for tourists and truckers and played an important role in American culture and history.