I first met Captains Janet & Paul about 5 years ago when they rode into Madison hoping to start a jet boat tour business on the Ohio River. Five years later, they have expanded their tours, added 2 new crew members (Captain Will & Deck Crew Steve) to the team, upgraded to a new bigger boat, delighted their customers and provided a totally unique experience on the Ohio & Kentucky Rivers. Rockin’ Thunder offers a one of a kind experience: the ONLY jet boat tours on the Ohio & Kentucky Rivers. Happy 5th Anniversary!
Captains Janet & Paul
Last week, I had the chance to join the team when they launched (for the first time) the new Hell’s Canyon Jet Boat (the only one in the Midwest) for the first test run on the Ohio River. It has individual comfy padded seats for 24 passengers (+ 2 crew), a roof for sun protection with removable panels for great views, a quiet engine and all kinds of new technology to give you the best ride possible. It was a fun day on the river and the new boat is ready to rock! Captain Paul says, “This is the first commercial passenger vehicle built to run between Madison IN and Frankfort KY in 100 years and it’s the only boat of its kind in Indiana or Kentucky.”
Brand New & Ready to Ride
If you want a totally unique experience, an unforgettable family adventure or a rockin’ good time, Rockin’ Thunder Jet Boat Rides are a “must do”. Check it out and book early!
Choose from 5 tours:
15 Mile Rockin’ Thrill Ride
Get splashed, scream, laugh, have fun but don’t get too scared – Rockin’ Thunder has thrilled riders from 8 (kids must be 40 inches tall) to 80+. From the minute the music starts, you’re in for the experience of a lifetime. Spins, fishtails, slides, it rocks! It’s kind of like a roller coaster ride on the water.
Thrill Ride!
Faster, Faster!
40 Mile Scenic Tour
Explore 2 of America’s historic rivers -the Ohio & Kentucky. From Madison you’ll cruise upriver to Carrollton KY where you’ll enter the Kentucky River and cruise to Lock 1, built in 1838. Here’s your chance to spot Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons and more. These rivers were very important to westward expansion and your captain will share their stories (think Daniel Boone, steamboats, Underground Railroad).
Enjoy the Ride
75 Mile Wednesday Lunch Excursion
Board in Madison and head downriver (toward Louisville) for a lunch stop at Captain’s Quarters Riverside Grill. See river wildlife, learn about the history and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Great Blue Heron
90 Mile Sunday Dinner Adventure
From Madison you’ll venture up the Kentucky River, lock through two 1838 dams (recently restored), catch a look at some Bald Eagles, learn about river history and most of all have a unique fun experience. For dinner, you’ll stop at Blue Wing Landing, an 1850s peach plantation.
Majestic!
155 Mile Kentucky River Adventure – The most popular choice!
This round trip, 2 day adventure takes you from Madison up the Ohio River, then up the Kentucky River to Frankfort KY. You’ll see scenic deep canyons, beautiful scenery, local wildlife, old growth forests, and lock through 4 historic locks built in 1838 and recently restored. Tour Buffalo Trace Bourbon Distillery, explore Frankfort and spend the night. Then head back downriver to Madison (watch for nesting Bald Eagles along the way!) This is a one of a kind adventure, only available with Rockin’ Thunder.
Locking Through
Heading Home
You’ll definitely want to stay for a couple of days to explore Madison, find everything you need to know at Visit Madison. For more outdoor adventure, checkout Clifty Falls State Park in Madison.
Lincoln Amphitheatre is a beautiful outdoor concert venue inside Lincoln State Park—picture perfect for families, couples, or friends looking for a night out in a picturesque setting. With the furthest seat in this fully-covered venue being only 90 feet from the stage, there’s, literally, not a bad seat in the house. You can see the stage from anywhere.
The Lincoln Amphitheatre’s 2017 performance series of nine concerts and six showings of Young Abe Lincoln (a stage show) opened in May with Live Bait: a Tribute to Jimmy Buffett. Hundreds of people were tapping to the beat and singing in their seats to classic hits, like “Margaritaville”, “Cheeseburger in Paradise”, and many more. There was even a Conga line, a limbo, and beach balls being tossed around the crowd.
You won’t break the bank with a visit to one of the concerts here. Tickets and concessions are reasonably priced. And there’s no waiting. These volunteers have the routine down to a science. No waiting in line for the restroom, either.
I’m a bit ashamed to admit I have never spent an extended amount of time in Vincennes. We spent a good part of a day there and could have spent even more time, so we will have to plan a return trip!
We started the day at the Red Skelton Museum. In all honestly, I wasn’t incredibly familiar with Red Skelton but learned so much during our visit:
Comedian, naturally, from Vincennes
Started with traveling groups and eventually ….
Landed a television show that aired for 20 years!
The museum is dedicated to showcasing his life and how he impacted the country with his humor and humanitarian efforts.
He created some beloved television characters that many grew up with and the museum did a wonderful job of showcasing this information in a fun, hands-on way which was especially helpful with my 8 year old daughter!
We then ventured to downtown Vincennes to eat at Pea-Fections.
A delicious, local establishment that dishes up a variety of dishes in a welcoming, charming atmosphere.
Per usual, I ate mine too quick and forgot to take a picture … but you get the idea from the other plates (including our mouthwatering dessert!).
I had heard of this before and knew its collection was quite large, but nothing prepared me for what we experienced.
The history in this place was amazing. Of course, the local elements were fascinating, but they even have some national artifacts that really make it fascinating … Dwight D. Eisenhower’s uniform!
Even the grounds feature artifacts, a mock bunker and a reenactment facility.
Over the next year or so this place will be transformed as they put some state grant money to use and move their collection to a larger facility (on site). It will be a whole new experience very soon … one you won’t want to miss.
Before we left Vincennes, I knew I wanted to visit the George Rogers Clark Memorial. The day couldn’t have been more beautiful to walk around the monument and visit.
George Rogers Clark was a remarkable leader in the Revolutionary War. He is best known for capturing Fort Sackville (on the site of the memorial) in February 1779. Visitors can learn more about the monument inside with the help of a short audio tour.
All in all a successful trip to Vincennes and one I’m so happy we made the time to do! If you want more information on all there is to do in Vincennes, be sure to Visit Knox County!
The history of Indianapolis and even much of Indiana is literally buried within the gates of Crown Hill Cemetery. For those Indiana history buffs wishing to pay their respects to famous (and sometimes infamous) Hoosiers, or to their own relatives, an afternoon trip to Crown Hill Cemetery is a must-do excursion during warmer months.
Crown Hill Cemetery
Founded in September of 1863, Crown Hill has served as the principal cemetery for the city of Indianapolis. Mayors, governors, artists, civil rights leaders, pioneers, veterans of every American conflict, poets, outlaws, preachers, and everyday men and women are buried here, some of whom have played instrumental roles in local, state, and national history.
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery is huge! With over 25 miles of paved roads, hundreds of species of plants, and with approximately 200,000 graves, the 550 acre cemetery offers a bucolic setting in the heart of Indy, where visitors can honor the men and women who have played significant roles in Hoosier history.
Developed in the decades after the Civil War, Crown Hill became an iconic lawn-park styled cemetery of the Victorian Era. Stemming from the rural-landscape cemetery movement in the middle 1800s, lawn-park styled cemeteries offered a city’s inhabitants a beautifully landscaped green space in which to bury their loved ones. Lawn-park cemeteries became extremely popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries after the establishment of Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati – designed by the landscape architect Adolph Strauch.
The view from ‘Strawberry Hill’ – James Whitcomb Riley’s Memorial
In 1863, private individuals in Indy formed the Association of Crown Hill and began buying property around the relatively large Strawberry Hill, which overlooked the city about three miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis. The association hired the urban landscape architect Frederick Chislett as first superintendent and to begin building a lawn-park styled cemetery similar to those appearing all over the United States.
Over the years, Chislett and his successors added the beautifully landscape design we see today, along with monuments, the gateway, waiting station, and mausoleums. In time, artists, sculptors, and architects added unique monuments and funerary architecture on the grounds.
19th Century Markers
Today, the cemetery offers visitors a magnificent space to pay respects to loved ones, famous Hoosiers, or just a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban life.
There are many famous Hoosiers buried here and certainly too many to adequately explore in this post, but for those needing some guidance, I took the liberty to highlight some of the more famous interments.
Lucy Ann Seaton
LUCY ANN SEATON (1831 – 1864) Lucy Ann was the first burial at Crown Hill Cemetery in 1864. She died of tuberculosis. The weeping willow tree engraved on her marker was common on tombstones of the time, symbolizing mourning and loss (weeping). In some cases, they also meant eternal life. Seaton’s marker is located in section 4.
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Eli Lilly Mausoeum
ELI LILLY (1838-1898) Eli Lilly was both a colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War and the founder of the Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical corporation that has become an Indianapolis mainstay. A native of Baltimore, Lilly moved with his family to Greencastle, where he attended Indiana Asbury University (DePauw). After graduating, he opened a drugstore in Greencastle and later a business in Greenfield. During the Civil War, Lilly became a colonel in an artillery unit for the Union Army and later a cavalry officer. After the war, he founded Eli Lilly and Company, which became a preeminent pharmaceutical corporation, with many successful patents. Lilly is also known for his extensive philanthropy.
ALBERTINA FORREST (1872-1904) Albertina Forrest was a sociology professor at Butler University (then college). Forrest died unexpectedly while vacationing in Florida. Her husband Jacob was so entirely grief stricken, that he commissioned the granite and bronze sculpture and monument in her honor from Rudolf Schwartz. Forrest’s monument is located in section 25.
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Booth Tarkington Mausoleum
BOOTH TARKINGTON (1869-1946) The famous Hoosier novelist Booth Tarkington is also buried at Crown Hill. He’s probably most famous for writing The Magnificent Ambersons and Alice Adams. He also served for one term in the Indiana House of Representatives in 1902. Tarkington is buried in section 13.
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James Whitcomb Riley Memorial
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY (1849-1916) Arguably Indiana’s most notable poet, James Whitcomb Riley is famous for writing numerous poems and short stories including Little Orphan Annie and The Raggedy Man. After an extensive career in newspaper writing, Riley toured the United States writing and reciting his work. He has had a lasting legacy on the Hoosier state, including a children’s hospital named in his honor. Riley is buried on the summit of Strawberry Hill, overlooking the city of Indianapolis.
James Whitcomb Riley’s Memorial on ‘Strawberry Hill’
In recognition of his legacy, coins are often placed on his burial marker, which are later donated to Riley Hospital.
JOHN DILLINGER (1903-1934) John Dillinger, arguably Crown Hill’s most infamous burial, is supposedly interred under four layers of concrete and steel at his family’s plot. Dillinger and his various gangs went on a bank robbing spree across the Midwest in 1933 and early 1934. He broke out of jail twice and was designated as Public Enemy Number One by the FBI. He was ambushed outside of the Biograph Theatre in Chicago on July 22, 1934 and was shot dead. Dillinger is buried with his family in section 44.
Several prominent local, state, and national politicians are buried at Crown Hill including one president and three vice presidents.
President Benjamin Harrison’s Marker
BENJAMIN HARRISON (1833-1901) Harrison was the 23rd American president and was the grandson of William Henry Harrison, ninth president and territorial governor of the state of Indiana from 1801-1812. President Harrison served in office from 1889-1893. Harrison is generally seen as serving with a great deal of integrity as president. After leaving office, he moved back to Indy and was a trustee for Purdue University and lectured across the United States.
CHARLES FAIRBANKS (1852-1918) Fairbanks served as vice-president for Teddy Roosevelt from 1905-1909. He was also a U.S. Senator for Indiana from 1897 – 1905. Active in Republican politics, Fairbanks practiced law before and after his political career. The city of Fairbanks, Alaska is named in his honor. He is buried in section 24.
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Thomas Hendrick’s Marker
THOMAS HENDRICKS (1819-1885) Hendricks served as vice-president for Grover Cleveland in 1885. He died in office, having only served a little over 8 months. Hendricks had a long political career before becoming vice president. He served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1848-1850, as a U.S. Congressman from Indiana’s 5th district from 1853-1855, as a Senator from 1863-1869, and as the 16th Governor of Indiana from 1873-1877. Hendricks is buried in section 29.
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Thomas Marshall’s Mausoleum
THOMAS MARSHALL (1854-1925) Serving as vice-president under Woodrow Wilson from 1913-1921, Marshall was a popular Indiana Governor from 1909-1913. An ardent progressive, Marshall quietly filled several ceremonial duties for President Wilson as he recovered from a stroke in 1919. After leaving office, Marshall practiced law and published several books. He is buried in a mausoleum between sections 12, 46, and 23.
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Oliver P. Morton’s Marker
OLIVER P. MORTON (1823-1877) Oliver Morton, Indiana’s 14th governor, was the famous Hoosier governor during the Civil War. An ardent supporter of President Lincoln, Morton heavily assisted in the Union effort by recruiting thousands of soldiers and being generally hostile to anyone sympathizing with the Confederate cause. Morton is buried in section 9.
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Crown Hill National Cemetery
CROWN HILL NATIONAL CEMETERY In 1866, the United States government dedicated a section of Crown Hill Cemetery as a U.S. National Cemetery. The United States has 147 National Cemeteries, designated as such for burials of American military veterans and are administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Some of the Civil War burials here were re-interments from the old Greenlawn Cemetery, which no longer exists.
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Dr. Richard Gatling’s Mausoleum
RICHARD GATLING (1818-1903) Richard Gatling’s marker lies across from the Crown Hill National Cemetery in section 3. Gatling was first an inventor and merchant in life, before becoming a doctor in 1850. In 1861, he developed the Gatling Gun, which was a forerunner to the modern machine gun.
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Jefferson C. Davis’ Marker
JEFFERSON C. DAVIS (1828-1879) Jefferson Columbus Davis (no, not that Jefferson Davis) served as a highly controversial corps commander under William Tecumseh Sherman in his March to the Sea during the Civil War. Davis, having achieved the ranks of colonel and Brevet Major General, shot and killed General William ‘Bull’ Nelson for an insult in 1862, but wasn’t charged with murder due to a dearth of Northern commanders at the time. Davis’ monument is topped with a draped obelisk. Obelisks were often used during the era to connect the deceased with a notion of nobility, while draped items (such as urns or obelisks) symbolized mourning. Davis is buried in section 29.
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Any proper trip to Crown Hill will take several hours to explore the fantastic sculptures, mausoleums, and funerary architecture throughout the cemetery.
Indiana AIDS Memorial
INDIANA AIDS MEMORIAL The Indiana Aids Memorial was dedicated in 2000 by the Indiana AIDS Fund, the Joseph. F. Miller Foundation, and Crown Hill Cemetery to honor those who suffered and are suffering from HIV and AIDS. The first permanent memorial of its kind in the United States, the Indiana AIDS Memorial features names of Hoosiers who died of the disease in the 1980s and 1990s. The memorial is located in section 89.
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Gothic Chapel
GOTHIC CHAPEL The Crown Hill Cemetery limestone Gothic Chapel was built in 1875. Originally known as the Gothic Vault, the structure was built to temporarily entomb those who could not have an immediate burial due to weather (i.e. frozen ground). The chapel is listed on the national Register of Historic Places and is located in section 9.
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34th Street Gate
34th STREET GATE Also on the National Register of Historic Places, the 34th Street Gate and Waiting Station stand as the grand entrance to the cemetery. Made of Bedford Limestone, the gate was completed by Adolph Scherer in 1885.
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Crown Hill Mausoleum
CROWN HILL MAUSOLEUM The 1951 Crown Hill Mausoleum sits on the cemetery’s north grounds and was built of Indiana Bedford Limestone. The mausoleum has several notable interments, including the Civil Rights activist Reverend Mozel Sanders.
Crown Hill Mausoleum’s Peace Chapel
The Mausoleum also features the Peace Chapel, with a beautifully ornate stained-glass window.
Crown Hill Cemetery
There is so much to explore at Crown Hill Cemetery. A proper visit will take several hours, if not a few days to take in all of the history, architecture, and landscape design found throughout the cemetery. The Crown Hill Cemetery handles interments, while the Crown Hill Heritage Foundation handles tours and events.
Nestled between Burnett Creek and Prophetstown State Park in Battle Ground, Indiana lies the Tippecanoe Battlefield Park. The 16-acre park commemorates the November 11, 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe, fought between American forces led by Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison and Tecumseh’s Shawnee-led Native American Confederation under the temporary guidance of the Prophet Tenskwatawa.
Tenskwatawa (the Prophet), Tecumseh, and Harrison
The site is a must-see spot for Hoosier history buffs of all ages and for those wishing to learn more about the state of Indiana’s early development.
Battle Field Monument at Tippecanoe Battle Field Park
Given the site’s significance in American history, the Tippecanoe Battlefield was reserved by the state of Indiana for special recognition as early as 1836. In 1908, Indiana erected the Battlefield Monument to commemorate the battle and to honor the Americans who died in the engagement.
Federal recognition as a National Historic Landmark
In fall of 1811, Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison led a force of approximately 1000 Indiana militiamen, Indiana Rangers, American Army Regulars, and Kentucky militiamen north from the territorial capital of Vincennes towards the “Prophet’s Town” encampment along the Tippecanoe and Wabash rivers near present day Lafayette, Indiana.
Historical Marker at the approximate place of Prophetstown
The Shawnee Chief Tecumseh’s brother, Tenskwatawa (the Prophet) had led a religious movement among Native American tribes living in the Old Northwest Territory in the decade prior to the battle. The movement advocated for a collaborative force to resist American settlement on Native lands – essentially a pan-Native American resistance movement.
Prophetstown Reinterpretation at Prophetstown State park
After establishing an encampment in Greenville, Ohio in the early 1800s – the Prophet and Tecumseh moved their followers to a new village site at the confluence of the Wabash and Tippecanoe rivers in 1808 – approximately at the site of present-day Prophetstown State Park.
Interpretive Sign at Tippecanoe Battle Field Park
Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa attracted thousands of Native Americans to their village and to assist in the cause of the Native confederates This alarmed territorial officials who sought the land for white settlement.
Tecumseh met with Harrison in August 1811 and attempted to reassure the governor of the peaceful intentions at Prophetstown. Tecumseh then traveled south to raise support from southern tribes, while governor Harrison left for state business in Kentucky.
Under Harrison’s absence, John Gibson served as acting-governor and under his watch, he learned that the Tecumseh was only biding time and that the confederation had hostile intentions.
Upon Harrison’s return, he led the aforementioned force north to confront the Native Americans at Prophetstown. As Tecumseh went south, he left his brother in charge of the village. The Americans arrived near Prophetstown and camped along Burnett Creek on November 6.
Tippecanoe Battle – battlefield.
In the pre-dawn hours of November 7, Native forces under Tenskwatawa attacked the American encampment. Fierce fighting erupted on the site and lasted for two hours. In the end, it is estimated that 70 Native American warriors lost their lives, with an additional 80 wounded. 63 American soldiers and militiamen died, with 126 wounded.
The battle resulted in the destruction of the Prophet’s coalition, the burning of Prophetstown, and Tenskwatawa’s Nativist movement lost much of its momentum. Prophetstown was partially rebuilt in 1812, but was destroyed during the Second Battle of Tippecanoe a year later.
Tippecanoe Battlefield Park commemorates these events. The site was used by William Henry Harrison in his successful 1840 presidential bid as a rallying place (he gave his first campaign speech here).
The museum is open 10 am – 5 pm every day except Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $2 for children under the age of 16.
The Tippecanoe Battlefield Park is open every day from sunrise to sunset and is free.
The TCHA also holds the Annual Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, which will be in its 50th year in 2017 (Saturday, September 30 – Sunday, October 1, 2017). The event commemorates the 300 year anniversary of the founding of Fort Ouiatenon – a French and Native American trading fort along the Wabash River.
The Ohio River Scenic Byway winding through southeast Indiana is one of the prettiest drives in the country. The Byway follows the river through thriving small towns full of history and beautiful 19th century architecture. If you’re a history buff, love great scenery and want a glimpse of another era, I’d suggest a road trip from Aurora to New Albany with stops at three historic mansions, all outstanding examples of life for the rich and famous in the 1800s.
This Italian Renaissance beauty sits on a hillside overlooking the Ohio River in downtown Aurora. The first thing you’ll notice is the impressive two-story front porch resembling the front of a steamboat. You’ll see many custom steamboat-style features reflecting owner Thomas Gaff’s involvement in the shipping industry. Hillforest was built for Thomas Gaff and his family who resided here from 1855 to 1891. I love the plaster work, faux painting, all the furnishings and décor that actually come from Gaff descendants and the view of the river. The second floor split staircase is my favorite.
Love this staircase!
Take a Tour – Hillforest is open for tours from April 1 through December 30 from 1-5pm (last tour begins at 4:30) The first floor is handicapped accessible (if you need a wheelchair ramp – call ahead) and there is a video tour of the second floor so you don’t miss anything!
$10 Adults & Students over 13; $4 Children 7-13; Free Children 6 and under
What a View!
ANN’S TIPS:
Hillforest has a robust calendar of events for the whole family. Here are just a few examples – An Evening of Design & Wine, Lingering Spirits Paranormal Investigation, Teddy Bear Tea Time and Home for the Holidays Historic Tour. Check out the full calendar!
Ladies’ Morning Room
If you have a group of 10 or more, you can make arrangements for Tea Time, a three-course tea served in the elegant parlor. My pinkie finger is standing straight out in anticipation!
Built in 1844 in the Greek Revival style for financier James Franklin Doughty Lanier, Lanier Mansion is known as Madison’s crown jewel. What surprises me about Lanier is the use of bold color and pattern: patterned wallpaper, patterned carpets, patterned window treatments…love it!
How many patterns can you count?
Lanier’s beautiful moldings, trims and impressive columns seem to tie all the patterns together.
Beautiful
Check out the curved doors (they are a perfect fit – unlike my modern doors) and the spiral staircase. You’ll be impressed. And notice the paint treatment on the first floor walls – there’s a reason for this (you’ll find out on your tour). Don’t forget the formal gardens and great view of the Ohio River.
Look up!*
Take a Tour – Lanier is open year round, every day except some holidays. Guided tours are on the hour (in the am 9, 10, 11 and 1, 2, 3, 4 in the pm).
$10 Adults; $8 Seniors 60+; $5 Children 3-17; Free Children under 3
ANN’S TIPS:
If it’s summer, check out Lanier’s Music at the Mansion series. It’s on the lawn so bring your lawn chairs, picnic and favorite beverage. It’s the second Saturday of every month now through September, 7-9pm.
Music at the Mansion*
In September & October, you’ll want to sign up for the Ghost Tours – a walking tour of 4 rumored to be haunted locations in Madison. The tour begins inside Lanier Mansion with a costumed guide. Reservations required. Call 812-273-0556.
Go where no tourist ever goes! Try the Behind the Scenes Tour on the second Saturday of every month, 4-5:30pm. Call ahead to reserve your spot.
SCOOP: I caught the wallpaperers finishing up the east wing kitchen and breakfast rooms. I hear they are getting ready to open them to the public in late August!
Built in 1867 in Second-Empire style for William Culbertson, renowned philanthropist and one of the wealthiest men in the state, Culbertson Mansion is a must see for decorative painters and art aficionados.
Amazing!
I was blown away at the decorative painting and plaster work; it is everywhere! I don’t think there is an unembellished surface at Culbertson (20,000 square feet with 25 rooms) – the walls, ceilings, floors, doors – all beautifully painted; faux wood graining, trompe l’oeil and decorative.
WOW!
This is a story of 2 wives, the reflection of their own styles during different time periods and amazing restoration. I have never seen anything like this! Take a Tour – Culbertson is open January-March, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (weekends by appointment) and April-Dec, Tues-Sat 9am-5pm and Sun 1pm-5pm. Last tour begins at 4pm. Closed some holidays.
$10 Adults; $8 Seniors 60+; $5 Children 3-17; Free Children under 3
ANN’S TIPS:
Murder & mayhem seem to be popular at Culbertson Mansion, they host several Murder Mysteries and Clue Parties throughout the year. The next Clue Party (costumes encouraged) is August 18, 2017 and reservations are required. Call 812-944-9600 to reserve your spot. Play detective at The Christmas Murder Mystery, December 8 & 9, 2017 and/or The Christmas Clue Party on December 16, 2017.
For you ghost busters, you really need to try Literally, A Haunted House on Fridays & Saturdays in October, starting at 7pm at the Culbertson Mansion Haunted Carriage House! And if you’re very brave, spend the night at Culbertson Mansion Ghost Watch: A spooky night at the mansion on November 4, 2017. Over 18 only and reservations required.
For the more timid among you, Culbertson offers a Christmas Open House, December 2-3, 2017.
Parke County is known for its covered bridges, 31 to be exact. To celebrate their unique collection of covered bridges, Parke County hosts a county-wide Covered Bridge Festival each year, always starting on the second Friday in October. This year, the festival will take place from October 12 through October 22 and features craft vendors, food, and historic tours. The festival is a must of anyone this fall who loves being outdoors when the leaves change! There are so many unique places to explore, it’s hard to get them all in during one visit.
Mansfield should win an award for having the most names throughout its history! When it was first platted, Mansfield was known as New Dublin, then Dickson Mills, followed by Strains Mills. In the 1850s, the name was changed again to Mansfield Mills. At one point, a developer considered changing the name again to Frontier City!
The Mansfield Roller Mill with the historic covered bridge in the background.
Arguably, the two most interesting and iconic structures in the village are the mill and covered bridge. The historic Mansfield Roller Mill was built in 1820 by James Kelsey and Francis Dickson as a grist mill. Grist, or flour mills, harnessed the power of flowing water to grind corn or wheat into flour. Specifically, Kelsey and Dickson channeled water from the Big Raccoon Creek Dam through a race to turn a water wheel, which turned the grist wheels (or rollers) to crush cereal crops into flour. Supposedly, the original wheels were made from stones deposited by the retreating glaciers, unearthed by nearby farmers as Parke County was being settled.
Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
The mill was purchased by the American B-movie actor Edward ‘Tex’ Terry in the 1970s. Terry hoped to turn the mill and the village of Mansfield into a working frontier town. The effort failed and he sold the mill. By the 1990s, the Dalton and Hutcheson families donated the mill to the Indiana DNR.
Mansfield Parke – Hilltop Farm
The village of Mansfield also hosts Saturday craft sales during the summer on the second and third Saturdays in June, July, and August. The entire village comes alive with craft shops, food vendors, and antique shops during the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival.
Mansfield Covered Bridge
Visitors can also visit the nearby Mansfield Covered Bridge. Parke County’s longest covered bridge at 279 feet, the MCB was originally built in 1867 by Joseph Daniels as a double burr arch double span truss bridge over the Big Raccoon Creek.
The view from the bridge!
The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and received some much needed repairs in the 1980s. Today, cars are allowed across the bridge, but in the view of this author, a leisurely stroll is a better way to take in the site.
The Historic Mansfield Roller Mill
Make sure to add the Parke County Covered Bridge festival to your travel plans this fall. A stop through Mansfield at any time of year is also a must for history buffs, bridge enthusiasts, and Hoosiers wanted to know a little more about their own history.
Recently, I was able to venture down to Southern Indiana – Harrison County. The main reason for my visit was visiting Squire Boone Caverns. Clearly this destination features caves, but the adventure continues above ground, making it an amazing place for family fun.
Most Southern Indiana folk visit here on an elementary field trip, but it is definitely worth a trip back! Not only do they have the cavern (named after Daniel Boone’s brother, Squire – who was quite accomplished himself!).
And zip lining (which includes the longest line in Indiana)!
My daughter loved our visit to Squire Boone Caverns and anytime I can combine education and fun, it is a win. Which is why our second stop was also a hit!
Harrison County Discover Center. This NEW attraction if full of the rich history of Harrison County along with fun, interactive exhibits for little ones.
One of my favorite rooms displayed the old county record bureau and photos on the wall that were motion activated.
Other sections included natural history and civil war history …
We even got to test our knowledge versus a 5th grader in the early 1900s (I passed, thankfully!).
As I mentioned earlier, we only hit two of the many stops in Harrison County and need to plan a return visit to see all there is to do. For more information on the above or to see other attractions and events in the area be sure to visit the Harrison County tourism site, because after all This Is Indiana.
It’s really quite hard to fully and accurately describe the uniqueness of Metamora, if you’ve never paid the community a visit. The historic village is a genuine, one-of-a-kind Hoosier destination with so many distinctive amenities, I’m not even sure exactly where to begin.
Metamora
Nestled in the Whitewater River valley in eastern Indiana, Metamora boasts numerous shops, museums, restaurants, antique stores, and a hiking/biking trail. While these attractions are enough to warrant a trip, this Franklin County village is home also to religious shrines, the United State’s only functioning wooden aqueduct, a working grist mill, a horse-drawn canal boat, and is serviced by a passenger railroad!
The old Farmer’s Bank – Metamora, Indiana
Metamora is also one of Indiana’s oldest communities, having been platted in 1838 by David Mount and William Holland. Named after a Native American character named ‘Metamora’ in the popular early 19th century play, Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags, the town of Metamora became a prominent trading and early industrial center along the Whitewater Canal during Indiana’s canal heyday in the 1830s and 1840s. The Whitewater Canal was built over an eleven year period from 1836 to 1847 and ran seventy-six miles from Lawrenceburg/Ohio River to Hagerstown in east-central Indiana.
Remnants of the Whitewater Canal run through Metamora
Canals were mostly man made waterways that connected with larger natural rivers and streams. Canals operated with a horse or horses that pulled flatboats filled with goods or people along an adjacent ‘towpath.’ Indiana at one point had hundreds of miles of canals. Along with the Whitewater Canal, the massive Wabash and Erie Canal ran from the Ohio border near Fort Wayne all the way to Evansville. A proposed Central Canal began construction in Indianapolis, but was never completed.
The Ben Franklin III
Eventually, the canal system in Indiana was replaced by railroads and roadways, with only a few vestiges left scattered about Indiana today. However, The Whitewater Canal in Metamora is the only functioning canal in Indiana and open to visitors! Although closed currently until the fall of 2017, visitors can travel on the Ben Franklin III the exact same way Hoosiers did almost 200 years ago! The canal and flatboat operation are run by the Indiana State Museum as part of the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site.
Whitewater Canal State Historic Site
The canal also has several unique structures that placed it on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 including the Metamora Roller Mill, several dams, locks, and America’s only wooden aqueduct – the Duck Creek Aqueduct.
The Duck Creek Aqueduct – America’s only wooden aqueduct still in operation.
After the viability and popularity of the canal waned, the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Railroad laid track and operated a train along the towpath next to the Whitewater Canal. The I&C, as it was abbreviated, created a subsidiary the White Water Valley Railroad (WWVRR) that operated the route between Cincinnati and Connersville beginning in 1867.
The WVRR operates trains along the old canal towpath.
The line rain for almost a hundred years, having passed through several companies before being solid to the non-profit tourist/heritage railroad Whitewater Valley Railroad (WVRR) in 1984.
Short 30 minute train ride from Metamora!
Based in nearby Connersville, the modern-day heritage WVRR offers fun train rides to passengers of all ages, including special event trains throughout the year. Between May 1 and October 31, the WVRR runs a train, The Valley Flyer, from Connersville to Metamora at 12:01PM sharp on Saturdays and Sundays.
WVRR conductor Francis Parker surveys the Whitewater River valley.
The The Valley Flyer leaves Metamora at 3:30PM for the return trip. Roundtrip tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children, one-way tickets are $16 and $9.
WVRR
Visitors to Metamora can also take a short train ride on most Saturdays and Sundays for $5 (this smaller train travels outside of town for a few miles and returns. The entire trip lasts about 30 minutes).
Canal House – one of the many historic structures in Metamora
The village itself is full of numerous historic structures including the aforementioned Grist and Roller Mill – now operated as the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site, the Banes House, the Canal Dry Goods Store, the Odd Fellows Lodge, the Blacklidge General Store, the Leaning Gallery, and several others. The Metamora Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
Metamora
Many of the historic structures are currently inhabited by restaurants, shops, museums, and antique stores. A few are actual residents, so visitors should be mindful of where they enter, even if the building is an historic structure.
The mill is operated by the Indiana State Museum as an official state of Indiana historic site. Visitors can actually see how the water-powered mill works and purchase grains produced by the 19th century machine! The Metamora Grist Mill is open April – November, Wednesdays through Sundays from 9AM to 5PM.
Impromptu shoot out and bank robbery ‘taking place’ in Metamora.
So if you are looking for a truly unique, Hoosier afternoon adventure, Metamora is definitely a place you should stop. Consider traveling along the entire Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway – one of the most beautiful places on earth, especially in fall as the leaves change.
If you’re looking for a hidden gem in Northwest Indiana or if you’re a history buff you may want to visit the Century of Progress Homes at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. These five homes were originally built for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, showing off the modern architectural design of the time. The homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and once a year there is a ranger-led tour of these historic homes.
Florida Tropical House – Century of Progress Home
The Homes… Armco-Ferro House – This affordable home was designed to be mass produced, using steel panels for walls and not using a traditional frame.
Cypress Log Cabin – The traditional-style log cabin was built to be a home in the mountains. The cypress logs have held up well against Indiana’s summers and winters.
Cypress Log Cabin. Photo courtesy of DunesNationalPark.org
Florida Tropical House – This bright pink home is one of the most noticeable in Beverly Shores. It was designed for southern Florida living and includes open terraces and combines the indoors and outdoors in the living spaces.
Wieboldt-Rostone House – Using an artificial stone mix called Rostone, this house was supposed to stand the test of time and never needing repairs. Unfortunately the stone only lasted until the 1950s.
Weiboldt Rostone House, photo courtesy of DunesNationalPark.org
House of Tomorrow – This home was dubbed as the “house of the future” and included it’s very own airplane hangar! Glass walls offer views from every angle. This was among the most popular homes in the exhibit. Other “wow” features were air-conditioning, dish washers and electronics to open kitchen and garage doors.
Armco-Ferro House – Century of Progress Home
A Little Bit of History…
The five homes were on display in the Home of Tomorrow Exhibit at the Chicago’s World Fair. Approximately 50 million people visited the Fair in Chicago. When it ended, the homes were brought by barge across Lake Michigan to Beverly Shores in Indiana. The intent was to sell more of these homes in the community of Beverly Shores.
The Depression hit and the resort community failed. Fast forward to 1966 when the National Park Service took over the area known as Beverly Shores. There was little incentive for the homeowners to maintain the properties and the homes fell into disrepair.
Fast forward again to the 21st Century when Indiana Landmarks leased the homes from the Park Service and then subleased them to their current residents. The three-way partnership has been quite successful as four of the five homes have been restored under the agreement.
Visit the homes…
The homes are located on Lake Front Drive in the community of Beverly Shores (Michigan City, Indiana). Homes can be viewed year-round from the road and tours are available one day a year in October by reservations. This year’s tour will take place on October 14 and tickets go on sale Sept 11. Learn more about the tours and purchase tickets at www.dunesnationalpark.org.
Be transported to the 1800s when the Thiebaud Farmsteadand Musee de Venoge, two of Switzerland County’s National Register sites, join forces on Saturday October 7, 10am-5pm & Sunday October 8, noon-5pm, for the annual Rural Heritage Tour. From domestic arts to period pastimes, the Rural Heritage Tour offers an up-close, personal and interactive experience with the early life, music and trades of the French-Swiss settlers who made Switzerland County, Indiana their home. Bring the whole family: the kids will enjoy interacting with costumed reenactors (especially the kids), playing period games, music and learning to dance.
Bring the Family!
Musee de Venoge at 4085 Hwy 129, one of the few remaining examples of French colonial architecture in Indiana*, will be busy with a variety of autumn tasks.
Sample the Fresh Pressed Cider
Big favorites are tasting cider fresh pressed from local apples, hearthside cheese making and baking pies/breads in the outdoor bake oven. And…you get to taste these goodies (I heard they are making deep fried doughnuts!) throughout the day as they’re being prepared.
A Busy Kitchen!
Delicious!
Period music lends merriment to the day.
Music Making – Literally!
Visitors will learn to make their own moth repellant from herbs from the Venoge kitchen garden. On Sunday, midday, take a tour of the property, learn about the history of the house and find out about future plans including the construction of a new barn.
The Thiebaud Farmstead, 5147 East State Road 56, an 1850s Greek revival home, is the center of family activities.
Thiebaud Farmstead
They’ll be engaged in daily tasks and enjoyments, including hearth cooking, quilting, spinning, sewing and laundry (you will gain a new appreciation for your washing machine).
Domestic Arts!
Laundry Day
Participate in children’s games of the time, toss a few horse (mule) shoes, learn about flatboat construction and more while enjoying the period music.
Demonstrations
A working forge and one of the only working hay press barns in Indiana (this is a big deal – patented in 1843 in Switzerland County, it’s 3 stories high and powered by mules/horses/oxen) will be demonstrating both days and rumor has it that the farmstead is firing up the smokehouse for the first time.
Working Hay Press
Hay Press Barn
“Forget-me-not” Cottage Dancers will be visiting both sites on Saturday, providing appropriate dance for the two time periods (Venoge c. 1820, Thiebaud c. 1860). Wear your dancing shoes! Period musicians will be performing both days at both sites.
Kick Up Your Heels!
This is a fun (and educational) fall event for all ages. You really do have the opportunity to get up close, interact with the reenactors/demonstrators and enjoy a new experience.
Rural Heritage Tour
Both sites are easy to find, the Thiebaud Farmstead is just a couple of miles west of Vevay on SR 56 and Musee de Venoge is roughly a mile west of Vevay on SR 129. A map is available at each site to direct you to the other. $2 admission each site, children under 12 FREE
BONUS EVENT:
The Thiebaud Farmstead and Musee de Venoge celebrate a Country Christmas on Saturday, December 9, 10am-4pm. Costumed reenactors, tours, demonstrations, period music, stories and refreshments.
Settled in 1817, the village of Oldenburg in Franklin County, Indiana is one of the oldest communities in the state. In that year, William George traveled from Pennsylvania by-way-of Cincinnati and staked a land claim along the East Harvey Branch creek.
Oldenburg’s Maibaum (Maypole)
Twenty years later in the 1830s, large numbers of southern Germans began pouring into Cincinnati before migrating to new communities across Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. One of those places in Indiana was George’s small community along the East Harvey Branch creek.
The street names are in English and German!
As more Germans settled in this area, they designated their little hamlet ‘Neu Oldenburg’ in honor of Oldenburg, Germany. Throughout the middle and late 19th century, Neu Oldenburg (later just Oldenburg in 1869) became an enclave for German immigrants.
Historical markers help to interpret the town’s history.
The new villagers retained their language, architecture, religion, and cultural traditions from the old country. These characteristics were passed down through the years and give the village today its ‘old world’ German character.
The Holy Family Church (left) and the Old Stone Church (right)
For architecture and history buffs, the town is known for its religious structures, particularly the concentration of steeples found on the churches and convents. This unique architecture has earned Oldenburg the nickname “The Village of Spires,” because of the spires and towers found at the Convent and Academy of the Immaculate Conception, the Convent Chapel, the Old Stone Church, and the Holy Family Church.
Father Franz Joseph Rudolph – ‘Founder’ of Neu Oldenburg
Many of the villagers consider Father Franz Joseph Rudolph as the official ‘founder of the village of spires.” A native of Alsace, Father Rudolph immigrated to the United States and eventually settled in Oldenburg as pastor. He built the famous Old Stone Church in 1862 and was instrumental in bringing the Sisters of St. Francis to town in 1851.
Oldenburg’s government offices on the left – one of the many historic buildings in the village.
Given the architectural and historical significance of many buildings, the Oldenburg Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The district consists of 115 homes, with 106 contributing buildings, 2 contributing sites, and 6 contributing structures.
Streetscape
The oldest building is the Fischer Tavern, which was built in 1850. Most of the historic structures, about 80 were built before 1900!
Good Day!
Villagers are keenly aware of their German heritage, ancestry, and history. Visitors, perhaps wanting a taste of the old country, but without the twelve hour flight to Europe, won’t be disappointed if they make a trip to Oldenburg, Indiana.
Home of Freudenfest.
The village hosts a big German-theme festival each year in July called the Oldenburg Freudenfest (Friend Festival). German cuisine, games, entertainment, and yes…biere… are all available in abundance at the annual event.
The Schwestern
Visitors, however, can and should make a trip to the Village of Spires during any time of the year. Along with the destinations for Roman Catholic visitors, the town boasts several restaurants and shopping centers including the Kutschenhaus (Carriage House Antiques), the Schwestern Gallery of Arts, and the Golden Turtle Trading Company.
This fall is a perfect time to travel to beautiful southern Indiana as the leaves change and grab a pint (or two) at the old German village of Oldenburg.
The United States Mint will release the 40th quarter in the America the Beautiful collection. Indiana’s new quarter features George Rogers Clark and his men crossing the flooded Wabash. Clark’s daring surprise capture of the British Fort Sackville is considered one of the greatest feats of the American Revolutionary War.
A ceremony marking the coin’s release will be held at the Riverfront Pavilion in Vincennes on Tuesday, November 14th at 10am with a coin exchange immediately following. The capture successfully limited British control of the region and was instrumental in the subsequent establishment of the Northwest Territory and American expansion west of the Appalachians. This is the second quarter celebrating Indiana released by the US Mint in recent years.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park features a massive granite memorial which commemorates the conquest of the Old Northwest Territory. It is the largest national monument outside of Washington, D.C. The Memorial is located on the site of the former British Fort Sackville which was captured by Colonel George Rogers Clark and his army of 170 frontiersmen and Frenchmen. The moment of the fort’s surrender on February 25, 1779 marks the birth of the United States north of the Ohio River. The park’s Visitor Center is handicap-accessible and features exhibits, a gift shop and a 30 minute movie presentation. The monument is not handicap accessible.
In a beautiful old river town in southern Indiana, there is a haunted mansion with a great deal of history. And because it is a beautiful bed and breakfast, it makes for a spooky (and awesome) place to stay!
One of the oldest regions in all of Indiana is along the Ohio River from Lawrenceburg to Tell City. In the days before paved highways, railroads, and airlines – people transported themselves and their goods on a myriad of waterways that connected Indiana to the larger North American continent. In the early years of the Indiana territory and statehood, Euro-American settlers established trading posts, ports, and commercial produce markets along the Ohio River. Farmers and later industrialists sent their goods down the Ohio River at these port-cities, with final destinations of Memphis and New Orleans. At New Orleans, the goods were sent to the rest of the world.
The Ohio River from Vevay, Indiana
In Indiana, several communities established themselves as smaller centers of shipping and transportation along the Ohio River in and around the Cincinnati and Louisville areas including: Lawrenceburg, Aurora, Patriot, Vevay, Madison, Jeffersonville, New Albany, Cannelton, and Tell City.
Downtown Vevay
Many of these smaller communities were often settled by Virginians, Scots-Irish, Germans, and African-Americans. In what is now Switzerland County, Swiss immigrants established the shipping village of New Switzerland in 1802. The Swiss immigrants chose this area because it allowed them to easily terrace the steep hillsides of the Ohio River Valley to grow grapes. In time, the vineyards were so prolific that settlers dubbed New Switzerland, The Vineyard. Along with wine, Switzerland County became an early center for the production of beer, brandy, and whiskey.
Rendering of early Vevay
In 1813, New Switzerland was officially platted and renamed Vevay (pronounced VEE-VEE for the non-Hoosier), in honor of Vevey, Switzerland (a post office with the name Vevay had existed near present day Vevay since 1810).
In the years surrounding Indiana’s induction as the 19th state of the union, settlers poured into the southern part of the state across the Ohio River. Many of them were farmers and after establishing a homestead, they began sending their surplus produce down to ports along the Ohio River. From the 1850s until the early 20th century, Vevay – like many of its neighbors – became a significant port city relying on commercial river transportation of goods and people.
The original Schenck house in Vevay, near the river.
Many families and individual merchants grew extremely wealthy. One such early shipping magnate was Ulysses Schenck. Schenck was a farmer-turned-merchant who began sending hay down the Ohio River to ports along the Mississippi River and beyond. Schenck took advantage of new technologies in overland travel (railroad) and hay processing (Mormon Beater Hay Press) and cornered the hay market in Switzerland County. Schenck established the Cincinnati-New Orleans Express Line steamboat company and shipped an enormous quantity of hay…so much so that he’s known locally as the Hay King.
The Benjamin Schenck Mansion Bed and Breakfast
Needless to say, Schenck became extremely wealthy. One of his sons, Benjamin Franklin Schenck, inherited both local prominence, but also his family’s wealth.
The Benjamin Schenck Mansion Bed and Breakfast
In 1874, this younger Schenck began construction on a palatial mansion that overlooked Vevay on a northern hill. Built in both Italianate and Second Empire architectural styles, the 8,000 square foot mansion rises four stories above Vevay and is nestled halfway up a forested slope. Schenck died before the mansion was complete, but his children and widow lived briefly in the home for a few years before moving.
The Benjamin Schenck Mansion Bed and Breakfast
The history isn’t entirely complete, but it appears as though the mansion sat mostly empty in the early decades of the 20th century before the family donated the home to the Indiana Baptist Convention in 1923. The mansion was given back to the family in 1928 and then sold to the Wiseman family in 1945.
The Benjamin Schenck Mansion Bed and Breakfast
For twenty years, the mansion was a home for the Wisemans and a clubhouse for the Switzerland County Saddle Club. In the later half of the 20th century, the property was sold a few more times before finally being bought, and most importantly, properly restored by Jerry and Lisa Fisher.
The Benjamin Schenck Mansion is the perfect weekend getaway…at any time of year…for a quiet reprieve in one of Indiana’s oldest small towns. The mansion is a destination in and of itself for those interested in history, architecture, and just peace and quiet. The mansion’s guest rooms are enormous, but visitors can also spread out around the place for a quiet drink and a good book.
Speaking of ghosts...the Benjamin Schenck Mansion is supposedly one of the most haunted places in all of Indiana. Legend has it that the mansion was built on the ruins of an older structure that was lost in a fire that not only consumed it, but a couple that was trapped inside.
The Benjamin Schenck Mansion Bed and Breakfast
The living guests apparently note the ‘presence’ of 6-7 ‘other’ guests (perhaps non-living) and single male visitors are often awoken at night by ghostly kisses. Stories of lights mysteriously flickering and unsourced sounds throughout the mansion are persistent…or in the words of Michele Thompson, Schenck’s innkeeper, “There are things that just…happen.”
Tucked away in Indianapolis’ west side sits the Indiana Medical History Museum – an historical monument to late-Victorian era medical history. For history buffs of all ages, the Indiana Medical History Museum provides an excellent way to learn more about the history of medical science, pathology, and psychology.
Physicians experimented with early drugs to help victims suffering from mental illness.
The Indiana Medical History Museum resides in the ‘Old Pathology Building’ on the former grounds of the Central State Hospital. The Central State Hospital (known originally as the Indiana Hospital for the Insane) was a residential treatment facility for Hoosiers with severe mental illness. Opening in 1848, the hospital grew substantially over the latter-half of the 19th century and eventually covered over 160 acres.
The Old Pathology Building
In 1896, progressively-minded, scientifically grounded research physicians opened the Pathology Department Building (what we now call the Old Pathology Building) in order to conduct research into psychological diseases and to teach.
Original books found in the IMHM Library.
The word ‘insane’ fell out of use to describe patients with severe mental illness and accordingly, the Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane shortened the name to Central State Hospital in 1926. However, the hospital remained a central location for Hoosiers needing constant care for mental illness all the way through the early 1990s.
Aerial photo of the Central State grounds, most of the buildings are now gone.
Most of the old structures were torn down in the decades following the Second World War, with the exception of the Old Pathology Building (Pathology Department Building), which reopened as the Indiana Medical History Museum in 1969. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and is the oldest intact, free standing pathological laboratory in the United States. The museum has been open to the public since 1984.
Teaching amphitheater.
The Old Pathology Building housed several labs, a teaching amphitheater, a library, records room, and a photography room designed for the creation of slides and samples. Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane was run by George Edenharter from 1893 until 1923. Edenharter hired the architect Adolph Scherrer to design the Pathology Department Building.
Autopsy room at the IMHM.
Today, visitors are led through the two-story museum on a guided tour that features not only artifacts from the era, but detailed accounts of what took place at the facility. The museum’s central mission today is to “present the rich medical history of Indiana by preserving the Old Pathology Building, collecting medical artifacts, and providing exhibits, publications and programs.”
IMHM
The museum offers hourly tours (for individuals and groups of 2-6) Thursdays through Saturdays, 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Tours begin on the hour.For groups of 7 or more, the museum offers group tours and tours by appointment on Wednesdays from 10:00AM – 4:00PM.
The museum does take a winter break around the holidays and is only open on Saturdays, or by appointments between December 9, 2017 and January 19, 2018.
All tours start exactly on the hour and last approximately 60 minutes, with the last tour starting at 3:00PM.
The cost of entry is: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $5 for college students, $3 for all other students, and $5.50 for Boy Scouts.
Thank goodness my third grade daughter received the assignment of writing about the life of President Benjamin Harrison. Why? Because it gave us the excuse to go visit his home that is located just 15 minutes south of us in Indianapolis!
I’ve driven by the house many times (sometimes several times in one week), but have never stopped in and I’m not sure why. Not only do the tour guides fill you with information on Harrison’s entire life, but they even offer events throughout the year.
Our purpose this go around was to take the tour and learn a bit more about the life of this local president. The tour lasts a little over an hour and you get the opportunity to see what life was like for the 23rd President of the United States.
I’m always in awe of the beauty of homes in the mid 1800s and this was no exception. I especially liked the staircase …
Photo Credit: Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Photo Credit: Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
President Harrison had an extensive office and oh, the books. I can’t imagine reading half of what he had in his possession.
The top floor of the home rotates exhibits and has some historic pieces from President Harrison’s first attorney offices.
Photo Credit: Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
But, my favorite was learning the history:
His relationship with the local firefighters (which explains some decor in his house!)
His second wife, Mary Dimmick Harrison, was a niece of his first wife and their granddaughter is still living!
Benjamin Harrison with Mary Dimmick Harrison. Photo Credit: Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
So, if you find yourself in Indy looking for some local history, be sure to check out the Benjamin Harrison Historical Site. For other information on activities and events in the area, you’ll want to check out Visit Indy.
Traveling around the state on a regular basis allows me to venture into areas that often I don’t know much about. New Albany is one of those areas. Located just northwest over the Ohio River from Louisville, New Albany is a gem that I wish I had explored sooner.
First, Culbertson Mansion. This historic home is one of the Indiana State Museum’s eleven historic sites around the state. In the late 1800s it was home to William Culbertson – once the richest man in Indiana. That makes sense when you learn that at the time it was built (1867) it cost $120,000.
Culbertson not only spared no expense in the building of his home, but he spared no expense in caring for others including funding a widow’s home and founding an orphan’s home.
Walking through his mansion, you can experience a bit of what made him who he was.
Photo credit: Tim Miller for Culbertson Mansion
My next stop in New Albany was Hull and High Water – a seafood restaurant right on the Ohio River.
I ordered the fried cod and curly fries. Not a bite was left! (Also shown, the cod … which also was eaten in its entirety!).
After lunch I was able to hit a couple local shopping spots. Dada Boutique’s goal is for you to be the best you can be … not to be just like everyone else. That is proven by the choices they make in what to carry … both in clothing and self care.
Think unique clothing, home items and gifts with a local twist. Perfect for gift ideas!
Sadly, I was rushed at the end to get to a meeting and didn’t get to visit the other many shops I noticed. That leaves you to explore some and me to plan another visit.
Dress and Dwell
If you would like more information on the area, be sure to Go So IN (as they say). You’ll find there just aren’t enough hours in the day!
Although we are no longer students, my boyfriend, Erik, and I had the opportunity to take our own little spring break weekend trip to French Lick and West Baden. While I grew up not far from here, the resort restoration wasn’t completed until after I had moved away for college, and thus I had never had the chance to get the full resort experience.
We arrived to town Friday evening and headed downtown to eat at one of the local French Lick restaurants. Following dinner we lounged in the West Baden Springs Hotel atrium and enjoyed a drink.
On Saturday, my mom, sister and her three children came to visit and enjoy the spring break activities going on at the resort. We headed down to the horse stables where we met a cute little pony named Pepsi. We also saw chickens and goats, and played on a covered wagon-styled play-set.
For those who want even more animal fun, you can travel just down the road to Wilstem Ranch where you can experience elephants and giraffes up close and personal. New this spring, they have added a kangaroo encounter. Wilstem Ranch also offers zip lining, horseback riding and ATV tours for the thrill-seekers.
The kids wanted to take advantage of the indoor pool. We enjoyed the pool beneath the Spa at West Baden, which was quiet and allowed us to keep a close eye on the kids. However, over at the French Lick hotel pool, there was a DJ pool party as part of the spring break activities.
Saturday evening, Erik and I got to enjoy a nice date night. I took him on a tour around the French Lick Springs Hotel and showed him Pluto, the natural spring that started this all.
The beautiful lobby of French Lick Springs Hotel
We went on to have dinner at 1875 Steakhouse, and I must say it was delicious. They start you off with a small glass of tomato juice, which was invented at French Lick Springs Hotel. We both enjoyed a steak and shared a side of garlic mashed potatoes. We admitted to cutting our steak in smaller and smaller bites in an effort to make it last longer. As our dinner wrapped up, our server brought me a single red rose, which was given to each of the female diners at the conclusion of their meal.
I could eat this meal every day
We headed to the casino after dinner even though neither of us are particularly fanatic about playing games. We decided to spend $1 on penny slots and bounced around until we ran out, which provided us with nearly an hour of entertainment, then ended the evening with a nice trolley ride between the two resorts.
On Sunday morning I was able to take a lovely tour around the resort, golf courses and town while on a run.
Donald Ross Golf Course and Hagen’s Club HouseFrench Lick Scenic Railway offers luxury train excursions through the hills of Southern Indiana.
To explore trip ideas like this and more, be sure to Visit Indiana.
Granted statehood in 1816, Indiana’s history dates back well over 200 years. Throwback Thursday celebrates Indiana’s historic destinations with discounts at 31 locations around the Hoosier State on May 10. From sites of historic significance to antiques and historic downtown shopping districts there are lots of reasons to learn about history this Visit Indiana Week. See all 31 Throwback Thursday Discounts below.
Angel Mounds State Historic Site, Evansville
On May 10, plan your Throwback Thursday with a day trip, back in time, to one (or more!) of the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites’ locations and save $2 on your admission.
Amish Acres
Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort, Nappanee $5 off PastPort Package. Experience Indiana’s only professional repertory musical theatre, guided house & farm tours, farm wagon ride tour, buggy ride around the farm’s pond, two documentary films explaining the whys and ways of the Amish, shopping in quaint shops and delicious food prepared by the Amish bakery and kitchen staff including the famous Threshers Dinner in the Restaurant Barn.
Brown County Antique Mall, Nashville Stop in for 10% off your purchase of over $20 when paying with cash or check, This offer excludes any items marked “Firm”. The Brown County Antique Mall has been operating for more than forty-five years. Our building is filled with 7,000 square feet of antiques, art, jewelry, collectibles, and artifacts! We also have an art gallery that displays and sells early Brown County, Indiana, and American paintings.
Camp Atterbury
Camp Atterbury Museum, Franklin Visit Camp Atterbury Museum and, across the street, visit the outdoor museum to see a monument and get your photo with military tanks, helicopters and other military hardware. The Prisoner of War Chapel is another interesting site to view and is about three miles away. Free Year Round!
Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette Civic Theatre presents One Size Fits All Improv Comedy Troupe on Thursday May 10th at 7:00 pm at The Monon Depot Theatre in downtown Lafayette, Indiana! Come join us for a night of fun and laughs as One Size Fits All performs their special brand of family friendly humor! Tickets are a special, Pay What You Can at the door! Seating will be general admission and is limited so come early to grab a seat! Doors open at 6:30 at 320 N. 5th Street! Bring the entire family for an affordable night of fun!
Coppes Commons
Coppes Commons, Nappanee Special guided tours on May 10th, at 10 am and 2 pm will introduce you to the longest-continuously-operating cabinet maker in the country and bring to life the birthplace of one of Indiana’s most prominent Hoosier Cabinet manufacturers. You’ll also receive expert information on various pieces in our Hoosier Cabinet Museum and a free gift handcrafted by our resident artisans!
Corydon Capitol State Historic Site
Corydon Capitol State Historic Site, Corydon
On May 10, plan your Throwback Thursday with a day trip, back in time, to one (or more!) of the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites’ locations and save $2 on your admission.
Culbertson Mansion
Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site, New Albany
On May 10, plan your Throwback Thursday with a day trip, back in time, to one (or more!) of the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites’ locations and save $2 on your admission.
The Emerald Pencil, Nashville On Throwback Thursday of Visit Indiana Week (May 10) The Emerald Pencil in Nashville will offer a one day “sale” all vintage and antique items in the shop will be 50% off.
Indiana Historical Society
Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, Indianapolis Enjoy free admission on Throwback Thursday. Get your blue on in Indianapolis Colts: The Exhibit at the History Center. Visit our You Are There exhibits and travel back in time to Indiana during the Civil War and World War II. Take a journey in Destination Indiana, learn how we preserve our historical photos and documents, and take in the sounds in the Cole Porter Room. Step on board History on Wheels and take in the Auto Indiana exhibit that is hitting the road soon for its second season.
Fort Wayne History Center
Fort Wayne History Center Explore more than 28,000 artifacts at the Fort Wayne History Center with the Buy One Get One Admission on Sunday, May 6 and Thursday, May 10, 2018.
Fountain Alley BodyCare, Historic Downtown Madison 10% off All Body Care Products at this shop in Historic Downtown Madison. Come and cut your own handmade soap in Historic Madison, Indiana. We handcraft over 45 types of Soap and other Bath and Body Care. With something for everyone, from Charcoal and Lava to Ivy Comfort, Sunny Daze to Patchouli we have a soap for you. It’s Aromatherapeutic, essential oil, all Natural, bio-degradable, herbal, old fashioned handmade and local made.
Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site
Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site, Rome City
On May 10, plan your Throwback Thursday with a day trip, back in time, to one (or more!) of the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites’ locations and save $2 on your admission.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, Vincennes The park features a massive granite memorial which commemorates the conquest of the Old Northwest Territory. It is the largest national monument outside of Washington, D.C. The Memorial is located on the site of the former British Fort Sackville which was captured by Colonel George Rogers Clark and his army of 170 frontiersmen and Frenchmen. The moment of the fort’s surrender on February 25, 1779 marks the birth of the United States north of the Ohio River. Free admission year round!
Haan Museum Museum of Indiana Art
Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art, Lafayette The Haan Museum features an extraordinary collection of Indiana art including paintings, ceramics, bronze and stone sculptures, and an array of American furniture and antiques all housed within a mansion that served as the Connecticut Building from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Guests are also invited to stroll through our Sculpture Garden and explore our Nature trail. *Buy One Get One Free Admission good for Monday, May 7, 2018 and Thrusday, May 10, 2018.
Indiana State Capitol Tours
Indiana State Capitol Tours, Indianapolis Since 1888, the Indiana Capitol has stood proudly as one of the nation’s most impressive government buildings. Free admission and tours year round!
Landmarks Emporium at French Lick Resort, French Lick Stop by Indiana Landmarks Emporium at French Lick Springs Hotel or West Baden Springs Hotel to enjoy a 20% discount on emporium merchandise. Mention Throwback Thursday at the register to receive the discount. While there take a guided historical walking tour of French Lick Springs Hotel or West Baden Springs Hotel. Be captivated by the elaborate and colorful histories of both of these enchanting hotels. Offer available on May 6 – 12, 2018.
Lanier Mansion State Historic Site
Lanier Mansion State Historic Site, Madison
On May 10, plan your Throwback Thursday with a day trip, back in time, to one (or more!) of the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites’ locations and save $2 on your admission.
Limberlost State Historic Site, Geneva
On May 10, plan your Throwback Thursday with a day trip, back in time, to one (or more!) of the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites’ locations and save $2 on your admission.
Lincoln Pioneer Village
Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum, Rockport Buy one admission, get one free to the Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum in Rockport, Indiana, for Throwback Thursday during Visit Indiana Week. Take a relaxing look back into history with 13 Lincoln-era replica cabins in memorial to Abraham Lincoln’s years spent in Spencer County. Explore such cabins as the Pioneer Schoolhouse, the Lincoln Homestead Cabin, and the Old Pigeon Baptist Church.
Monastery Immaculate Conception
Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand Known as the “Castle on the Hill,” the Monastery, founded in 1867, is home to one of the nation’s largest group of Benedictine women. The distinctive, Romanesque dome rises majestically over the town of Ferdinand, standing at 87 feet from the floor and 32 and a half feet in diameter. Free Year Round!
New Harmony State Historic Site
New Harmony State Historic Site, New Harmony
On May 10, plan your Throwback Thursday with a day trip, back in time, to one (or more!) of the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites’ locations and save $2 on your admission.
Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad Saint Meinrad Archabbey offers a peaceful and spiritual retreat with beautiful grounds and the opportunity for prayer with Benedictine monks. Founded in 1854, Saint Meinrad is one of only two archabbeys in the U.S. and one of 11 in the world. Free admission year round.
Shipshewana Area Historical Society Stop in the Shipshewana Area Historical Society for free and learn about the history that makes up this unique town.
Story Inn
Story Inn, Nashville 25% off lodging Monday-Thursday at the Historic Story Inn. Whether you select the intimate charm of an Inn room, the rustic elegance of a spacious Garrison Cabin room, or uniquely historic ambience of a village cottage, the Story Inn’s accommodations offer a haven of carefree comfort. From clawfoot tubs, to private garden balconies, your accommodations reflect a meticulous attention to preserve the unique quality of this historic setting.
T.C. Steele State Historic Site
T.C. Steele State Historic Site, Nashville
On May 10, plan your Throwback Thursday with a day trip, back in time, to one (or more!) of the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites’ locations and save $2 on your admission.
Topeka Area Historical Society, Topeka Stop in the Topeka Area Historical Society Depot for free on Thursday, May 10 from 10am – 2pm. Take advantage of the chance to learn about the unique history for the small Indiana town.
USS LST-325
USS LST 325 Ship Memorial, Evansville Receive BOGO free admission (equal or lesser value) when you mention Visit Indiana Week on May 10th. Called the ship that won the war by Churchill, the LSTs were essential in sea-to-land invasions and many were built in Evansville, Indiana. The LST 325 is 328 ft. long, 50 ft. wide and 1,625 tons of steel power. This floating piece of history was on site in Normandy on D-Day. She is also the “Last of the Class,” meaning she is the only operational LST in existence.
Vincennes State Historic Sites
Vincennes State Historic Site, Vincennes
On May 10, plan your Throwback Thursday with a day trip, back in time, to one (or more!) of the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites’ locations and save $2 on your admission.
Whitewater Canal State Historic Site
Whitewater Canal State Historic Site, Metamora
On May 10, plan your Throwback Thursday with a day trip, back in time, to one (or more!) of the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites’ locations and save $2 on your admission.
State Parks Sunday kicks off a week of discounts around the Hoosier State for Visit Indiana Week on May 6. Travelers will be able to see discounts and/or free admission at 200+ properties during Visit Indiana Week! May 7 is Museum Monday with discounted or free entry at 27 museums around the state. Tastings Tuesday will see discounts at 34 Indiana wineries, breweries, cideries and meaderies on May 8. Wild Wednesday features discounts at 11 animal and wilderness experiences on May 9. Throwback Thursday celebrates Indiana’s historical destinations with discounts at 31 locations around the Hoosier State on May 10. Bring the appetite on Foodie Friday, as 28 Indiana eateries will offer discounts on May 11. And close out the week with Sports and Outdoor Saturday, featuring 21 discounts on sporting events, history or activities on May 12.
May 7 is Museum Monday with discounted or free entry at 27 museums around the state. From art to cars to the stars and much more, there are lots of reasons to get out and visit an Indiana museum for discounted or free admission during Visit Indiana Week.
Four Day Ray Brewing
Tastings Tuesday will see discounts at 35 Indiana wineries, breweries, cideries and meaderies on May 8. A fast-growing industry in the Hoosier State, Indiana establishments annually bring home national awards for their wines, brews and spirits. With discounts at 35 locations, Tastings Tuesday is a great day to get out and sample local beverages.
Washington Park Zoo
Wild Wednesday features discounts at 12 animal and wilderness experiences on May 9. From zoos to sanctuaries to farms to the wilderness, Indiana is an amazing place to get an up close experience with the animals who share our earth! Discounts include the opportunity to visit a historic farm, touch an elephant or even cuddle a kitty!
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
Throwback Thursday celebrates Indiana’s historical destinations with discounts at 31 locations around the Hoosier State on May 10. Founded in 1816, the State of Indiana’s history dates back even further than that.
Bistro 933
Bring your appetite on Foodie Friday, as 28 Indiana eateries will offer discounts on May 11 in celebration of Visit Indiana Week. From Artisan marshmallows, chocolates, olive oils and sausages to fine dining, barbecue, 50s diners and even ice cream, Foodie Friday will be a culinary celebration of the Hoosier State that everyone can enjoy.
Edge Adventures
From hiking to spelunking to paddling, from baseball to bowling to hoops, Sports and Outdoor Saturday has something for everyone. Have an adventure to close out Visit Indiana Week with Sports and Outdoor Saturday, featuring 21 discounts on sporting events, history or activities on May 12.
