My wife knew they were there, but these ruins were in a part of Ottawa I don’t frequent often. Calling them ruins isn’t technically correct wither. More like public art.

The columns are technically ruins, having come from Ottawa’s Carnegie Library, built in 1906. When the library was demolished in the 1970s the columns were preserved as ruins in a park a considerable distance from their downtown location.

The “new” library, which is now more than 50 years old, is slated to be replaced this year. I don’t know if they will knock down the office building it is part of, but if they do I guarantee that no-one will bother preserving it. Functional, but no character.

The fountain was created to look like a ruin by a French sculptor and exhibited in Paris before it was purchased by an Ottawa industrialist for his estate. the family donated it to the municipality in 1961, and it has been in the park known as The |Rockeries ever since.

if you want ot be literal, these are not only not ruins but not hidden – but they are sights most tourists don’t see. Probably most Ottawa residents don’t know about them either.

You are welcome.