Discover Indiana County’s charming towns and historic destinations near scenic mountains. This region provides many activities and attractions, such as its Rails to Trails system, host of festivals each year and Old Order Amish community.
No need to be medical student to enjoy Indiana Medical History Museum! Stepping inside this museum is like taking a journey back in time.
1. Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum
The Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum in Elkhart combines history and the arts, featuring an impressive collection of superhero memorabilia such as Jim Carrey’s Riddler costume, Deadpool’s mask and Captain America’s shield.
Wellfield Botanic Gardens are not only beautiful to look at; they’re also an important source of hydropower and an incredible playground for hydrologists. Their fountains supply all drinking water to Elkhart from which is drawn, proving its immense hydrologic importance.
Indiana County offers the arts a vibrant presence through various venues and activities. IUP’s state-of-the-art Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex to local community theaters provide ample opportunity to indulge in artful pursuits.
2. Big Four Pedestrian Bridge
This iconic walking bridge has quickly become a favorite among both locals and visitors, serving to connect Louisville Waterfront Park to Jeffersonville, Indiana in a scenic way. Open 24 hours per day, millions visit every year!
This beautiful bridge was initially constructed as a railroad truss-style bridge in 1895 and modified in 1929, taking its name from its affiliation with Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (Big Four Railroad). When Jeffersonville created its Waterfront Master Plan in the 1990s, Big Four Bridge was converted to pedestrian use as part of this plan, connecting Kentucky Waterfront Park to Jeffersonville’s historic downtown district.
The bridge opened to the public in February 2013; Jeffersonville’s historic downtown ramp was then finished a year later in 2014. Now visitors can walk between Louisville, Kentucky and Historic Downtown Jeffersonville while taking in high-level views of the Ohio River – giving guests an amazing glimpse of both areas while enjoying a game of poker online on sites mentioned on https://centiment.io!
3. Eiteljorg Museum
The Eiteljorg Museum promotes an appreciation of Native American and Western culture through an assortment of rare objects, historic photos, interactive displays and more. Furthermore, contemporary Native artists can find support here through paintings, sculptures and more that have been collected here.
Established by Indianapolis businessman Harrison Eiteljorg, this museum showcases three distinct but interrelated collections. Western art takes you back to the Wild West with expansive landscapes, majestic beasts and ambitious settlers; Native American collections tell the stories of many different Native nations with paintings, sculptures and more.
The Indiana County Museum offers cultural events like its popular Indian Market and Festival as well as educational programs and guest lectures that support Native art, culture and more. Their museum store also carries some truly special gifts you won’t find elsewhere!
4. Indiana Medical History Museum
On the Central State Hospital for the Insane grounds lies this museum featuring its oldest surviving pathology building: The Old Pathology Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been preserved and used as an educational tool on scientific psychiatry research from late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The Museum offers classes and seminars on topics like health careers, the history of medicine, and brain science. Visitors may take tours through its building’s various departments such as its teaching amphitheater; laboratories for bacteriology, clinical chemistry, histology and photography; library; reception room and morgue/autopsy room.
Indiana County offers families with children an assortment of outdoor activities and festivities that can keep everyone occupied for days on end. Visitors can explore an expansive Rails to Trails system as well as numerous festivals throughout the year. Plus, this county is home to an internationally-acclaimed museum like Jimmy Stewart Museum as well as having an active community of Old Order Amish families!
5. Schimpff’s Confectionery
Candy lovers will delight in this historic soda shop that also houses a small candy museum. Dating back 120 years, it remains one of the oldest family-owned candy businesses still operating from its original location in America. Warren and Jill Schimpff are fourth generation owners who run this facility and will gladly give tours or explain how things work here.
Their store in Jeffersonville’s historic district features a 1950s soda fountain and lunchroom, along with old-fashioned candy jars and cases from another time. When they purchased it in 1990 as part of keeping it within the family, ten years later they renovated an adjacent building into a candy demonstration area and museum.
Jill says they enjoy keeping a family run business alive, as well as visiting other small businesses such as bakeries, drug stores, and theaters in their free time. The expansion project wasn’t without challenges though! Jill notes how maintaining family owned businesses is of great importance to them and says she looks forward to visiting similar enterprises such as bakeries, drug stores and theaters in their community.
6. Conner Prairie
Fishers is home to Conner Prairie, an internationally acclaimed outdoor museum dedicated to Indiana history. Spread across an 800-acre property, guests can explore indoor and outdoor experiences relating to Indiana’s past; including 1836 Prairietown with costumed interpreters recreating life from 1836; Lenape Indian Camp which educates visitors about Lenape Indian’s relationship with European settlers; Treetop Outpost’s immersive four-story treehouse experience and much more!
Other highlights of the park include William Conner House, where visitors can gain insight into the family who owned it; Makesmith Workshop where participants can learn to create candles, tomahawks and more; Animal Encounters where you can feed, pet and interact with animals; Hearthside Suppers during winter and Civil War Journey during summer provide enjoyable seasonal events and activities; as does Chautauqua which features speakers sharing informative yet rarely told tales from Indiana’s history.
7. Bluespring Caverns
Bluespring Caverns allows visitors to explore Indiana’s longest cave system. This karst and river type cave drains 15 miles2 of sinkhole plain and features stunning towering stalactites, stalagmites, waterfalls and one of the world’s largest deposits of Ice Age bones. Bluespring also houses many animals species like crayfish, salamanders and Northern Blind Cave Fish (Amblyopsis spelaea), an eyeless creature which thrives in darkness.
Tours of the caverns begin mid-March and continue through October; overnight excursions for organized groups are available from November through April. As well as exploring the underground river with a guide, guests can also hunt for gems in Myst’ry River Gemstone Mine and hike through Ruth and Emery Bolton Natural Area.
George and Eva Colglazier opened up their farm to cave explorers with only one rule in mind – fun! Today, Jim Richards runs the park as its manager and has seen its growth into an international tourist attraction that has welcomed millions of people over time.
8. Allison Mansion
If you watched the 1993 movie Hocus Pocus, chances are good that you saw Indiana’s most haunted house! Visitors claim they have experienced mysterious disappearances, books being rearrange in strange ways and disembodied voices – a testament to this historic house being haunted!
The expansive Indianapolis Museum of Art is an artistic marvel with captivating exhibits that are both stunning and educational. Explore each room or relax in the tranquil sculpture garden for hours on end.
Fountain Square in Indianapolis offers some exciting old-school duckpin bowling! A fun activity for any family vacation, it features eight traditional lanes and a large eatery – perfect to relive your youth or simply have a good time with friends! Additionally, the Indiana Medical History Museum houses fascinating exhibits with memorabilia such as autopsy tables and iron lungs; plus it serves as the home to both NBA’s Indiana Pacers and WNBA’s Indiana Fever basketball teams who bring over 1 Million visitors yearly!
9. Exotic Feline Rescue Center
Exotic Feline Rescue Center of Center Point is home to nearly 200 big cats that need help, including abuse, abandonment or unwantedness. As a non-profit that is nationally recognized as being at the forefront of big cat care and conservation. They accept felines that have been neglected or abandoned.
The EFRC educates the public on the dangers that animals such as lions, tigers, leopards and pumas face from illegal ownership in private homes, roadside zoos and circuses. Their facility houses lions, tigers, leopards, servals, pumas Canada Lynxes as well as an Asian Leopard Cat.
Tour guides give details about each feline that grace the grounds, often including heartbreaking tales about how it came into their care. There are multiple tours per day available along a country road or gravel lot near its entrance; parking can also be found nearby. EFRC is approximately 90 minutes west of Indianapolis.