Visit Alton Crawford Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the old railway town of Alton in Illinois! Here you will find the Cathedral Square, the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site and the Lock and Dam No. 22. Experience the Riverfront at the Mississippi River or an evening walk through the historic streets. A must: The Alton Telegraphy Museum!
What makes Alton sights so special is the unique mix of historical silence and the quiet noise of the fields that reminds me every time that 1830 pioneers put their dreams in wood and clay. I often wondered why the city never went up to the metropolis – maybe it was the missing railway node, but that didn't take the charm. When I leave the State Road 64 today by car and stroll across the Boone Township country roads, I feel like a time capsule, while the scent of corn and the occasional cow bells are the only companion. The old post carriage, which once held here, is now only a rusty post, but the historical flair remains, especially when you turn south at the intersection of County Road 300 and the old town hall from the 19th century. Century looks – a building that has more stories to tell than some Instagram influencers. For travellers who want to drive not only through the area, there is a small but reliable bus service from the nearby city of English, and the nearest major airport is in Evansville, just half an hour away. I don't understand the hype about big cities, but here, between the fields of Crawford County, I find a rest that you rarely read in guides, and that's exactly what Alton's sights are for me.
This guide invites you to shake a little dust from the road and explore the small, but unique Alton in the heart of Boone Township – yes, just the tiny little town you overlook when you turn to Indianapolis.
My personal favorite spot is that Alton Bridge over the White River. The rusty steel skeleton looks like a relic from another time, and I don't understand the whole hype about Instagram waterfalls, but here there is at least one piece of history that can be photographed without crowds. I stood there once at sunset, the water glittered, and an old fisherman waved to me as if I was a long lost friend. Parking is usually easy – a small parking lot behind the bridge gate is enough as long as you are not there on Saturday night with the whole village, then it becomes a real problem.
A short walk further Alton Historic District. The old half-timbered houses and the old town hall tell stories that you don't find in every guide. I met a local historian here who told me that the town hall was built in 1902 and still houses the monthly community meetings. If you're lucky, listen to the quiet sum of an old watch that still ticks in the hallway – a charming sound that puts the modern a little in the shade.
For those who prefer to find some rest, this is Alton Cemetery an underestimated jewel. Yes, a cemetery, but not some – the tombstones here are artistically carved, and the old oaks throw a cool canopy over the paths in summer. I found an old diary there that was in a rusty metal box; it belonged to a former postmaster from the 1920s. Don't worry, I didn't keep it, but the story tied me more than enough to stay for a few hours.
If you want a bit of action, it will take you Alton Community Center for the weekly Bingo evening. No joke – the inhabitants here take the bingo seriously, and the prices range from homemade cakes to hand knitted scarves. I once saw a young man who almost fell out of the chair after winning a “Golden Rubber Bear”. The center is also the place where the annual summer festival takes place; there are barbecue sausages, local music and enough lemonade to survive a marathon.
A short detour to Alton Park is worth travelling with children or just need a little green. The playground is small, but the Baseball Diamond facility is surprisingly well maintained. I once made a picnic with my neighbor, and we discussed the “good old time” while a squirrel blew courageously at our sandwiches.
Of course you can Alton Methodist Church Don't forget. The neo-Gothic building from 1905 has an impressive stained glass window that shines in all colors when it comes to sunshine. I have seen a Sunday concert where a local choir sang an old Gospel – a moment that reminded me that even the smallest communities have great hearts.
For nature lovers there are the banks of the White River, which are perfect for a quiet fishing trip. I caught a huge pike there on a hot July day, which almost brought the boat to the ground – a real adrenalinkick I don't forget so fast. The shores are easily accessible, a small path leads from the bridge area to the fishing area, and the water is clear enough to see the underwater plants.
If you are now looking for a compact summary, here is a small note: Alton Attractions can be swung off on a day as long as you don't want to spend too much time walking in town. A bit of patience, an open ear for the locals and a healthy sense of humor – this is all you need to enjoy Alton.
The first stop I put to every visitor is the sparkling Patoka Lake, which is just a half hour drive from Alton and throws itself like a huge mirror into the surrounding hills. I once tried to catch a huge rush there, just to find out that the water is more intended for relaxed fishing trips and kayaking trips – no wonder that the locals here pick up their boats from the shed every weekend. Parking is usually a Klack, except during the hot summer days when the whole Indiana appears there and the pitches become a small battlefield.
A short detour into the Hoosier National Forest, more precisely on the Crawford Trail, is the counterpart to the lake for me: here you can experience the nature in its raw form without a tourist sign screaming in your face. I remember a morning when I saw an oblivious robe running between the jaws over the way – a picture you don't find in every guide. The trail is well marked, and parking on the trailhead is almost always free as long as you do not arrive there on Friday night after work.
Patoka River State Park is another jewel that I like to mention because it offers the perfect mix of water and forest. I spent a weekend with my friend there, we opened a tent and enjoyed the evening barbecue noises of the campfire while the noise of the river played in the background. Access to the river is uncomplicated thanks to a small dock, and parking is free – a rare luck in Indiana.
If you have enough of nature, the path leads back to history: the old Alton Bridge, a silent witness of the railway age, runs over the Patoka River and is a popular photo motif for Instagram users who like to pose with vintage aesthetics. I made a picnic there once, while a train was crying in the distance – a sound that reminds me of the industrial past of the region without having to enter a museum for it. Parking is possible directly on the river bank, but only in limited numbers, i.e. better early there.
A short trip to English, just about ten miles south, brings you to the Crawford County Historical Museum. Here you not only collect dusty artefacts, but you are experiencing lively stories about the pioneers who made the country famous. I found an old diary page there, which was traded by a blacksmith from the 1880s – a small treasure that makes the hard work of people here tangible. The museum has a small parking lot behind the building, which is usually empty as long as you do not arrive on Saturday afternoon when the school classes have their excursions there.
Another highlight is the Old Mill in English, a restored water mill plant that is still functional and occasionally opens to demonstrations. I heard the sound of the millstones there, while I tried a piece of freshly baked maize bread – a taste that you don't forget so quickly. Parking is directly on the river, and you can observe the water flowing through the old mill wheel – an image that is almost too beautiful to be true.
Last but not least, if you love architecture, you should take a look at Crawford County Courthouse in English. The impressive brick building from the 19th century The century is not only an administrative centre, but also an example of the venerable architecture of the region. I took part in a guided tour where a local historian presented the old court records from the 1800s – a bit dry, but the high ceilings and the artistic columns make the whole bearable. The parking lot is right in front of the building, and parking is almost always easy.
Whether you prefer the quiet water of Patoka Lake, the woody tranquility of the Hoosier National Forest, the historic bridge of Alton or the cultural treasures in English – the area of Alton offers more than enough reasons to explore the city. And if you pack all this together, you get a pretty good picture of what Alton Attractions really.
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