Visit Crawfordsville Montgomery Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the small town of Crawfordsville in Indiana and experience the historic Montgomery County Courthouse, which is considered one of the most beautiful historical buildings of the state. Walk in the beautiful Ropp-Hatfield Park or visit the Museum of Psychkoworks, a fascinating center for parapsychology.
To be honest, when I hear the word “Crawfordsville Sights”, I think first of all about the dusty history of this little spot in the heart of Indiana, not about the usual tourist-Clean. Founded in 1823, the city has its name from William H. Crawford, a former foreign minister, and is conveniently located in the Washington Township of Montgomery County. The first settlers came here because the country was flat and cheap – a perfect place for people who had no desire for mountains.
I usually travel by train to Indianapolis and then take Highway 136, because the car is almost a ritual here: you have to cross the endless corn fields to finally see the cityscape that reminds of a museum for old wooden houses rather than a modern center. As soon as I park in the city centre, I feel like a time traveler who accidentally landed in a 19-century film.
For me, the charm lies not in the overrated cafés, but in the quiet corners where history is still noticeable – for example, the old court building, which today serves as a library. And yes, I don't quite understand the hype about the annual autumn festival, but the small artisan stands are really great and give the whole a hint of authenticity.
So if you’re looking for “Crawfordsville Sights”, be prepared to inhale a bit of dust, but for that you’ll get a portion of honest midwestern heartliness that you’ll hardly find.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Crawfordsville General Lew Wallace Study & Museum is – yes, exactly the type that Ben has written and a bit with the story of Ben While he's playing around in a small, almost kitty house in downtown. I don't understand the hype about the whole history thing, but the house has a garden that looks almost like a mini-medium sea in spring, and the museum itself is so small that you can never run. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the local historian group will stop its monthly “we-are-all-out-of-the-time” round.
A short walk on (I mean, you can do this in 5 minutes if you don't just hang around with an ice cream in your hand) Wabash College. It's not just a college, it's a bit like a lively museum of bricks and venerable oaks that whisper a bit louder every time you walk past them. I once experienced a student jazz jam that was so loud that I thought the building would collapse – but that was just the acoustics. The library has a huge window that works almost like a sun oven in the summer, so best bring a sunglasses with you if you want to read a book there. And yes, parking is a bit of a labyrinth because college has its own rules, but a bit of patience and a few circles around the main campus route usually solve the problem.
If you have enough of academic bucks, look at this Crawfordsville Historic Courthouse on. The building is a real piece of jewelry from the time when judges still ran around with cylinder and mustache – at least in the photos. I have observed a dispute between two neighbours there, who argued about who has the best pumpkin recipe. It wasn't a courtroom, it was a comedy club. Practical: Parking behind the courthouse is usually free as long as you don't have a concert there on Friday night – then the whole becomes a small mess of cars, people and a lot of popcorn.
A bit further down the street, hidden between a few old shops, this is Art Museum at Wabash College. I was there on a rainy Tuesday, and the museum was almost empty – perfect to look at the artworks in peace without anyone talking loudly about the latest Instagram filter update. The collection is small, but it has some really interesting pieces, including a painting that was supposedly painted by a former student who later became a famous sculptor. I almost felt like an art critic there until I realized I had no idea of art. Parking is a bit tricky here because the museum has no own parking space; I just parked in the secondary school and then walked in.
A short detour to Crawfordsville Train Depot – yes, the old railway station building, which now serves as a community center – is a must if you want to have the feeling of living in another time without really having to try. I visited a local flea market event where an old man exhibited his collection of 1970 jukeboxes. That was kind of the highlight of the day because I never thought a train depot could have so much charm. Parking is a bit like a puzzle here: There are a few free places on the edge, but if you're too late, you'll have to fight with the locals for a place – this is part of the experience.
And because I'm not allowed to forget that you don't just want to hang around in there, I'm recommending you a trip to the Rotary Park. The park is not just a national park, but it has a small lake, a few benches and a playground that looks more like after the 90s nostalgia than modern design. I once made a picnic with a few friends and we made fun of feeling like “Hipster adventurers” while we just ate hot dogs from the grill. The parking lot is an open field behind the car park, so no surprises – you can just park your car there and then jump into the nature.
If you now think that this is too much, let me tell you: Crawfordsville sights are not just the biggest attractions in the world, but they have this unique charm that will make you come back again and again – or at least talk about how you “almost” saw everything while drinking your coffee at the main square in a small café and watching life.
I went on the way to explore the area around Crawfordsville the other day, and I have to confess: what I found there is a bit like a well kept secret recipe – only that most locals prefer to keep it for themselves.
The first stop was Turkey Run State Park. Who comes here naturally expects the typical “small canyons and giant rocks”, and that’s what it is – but the real highlight is the feeling of standing in the middle of a natural-instagram filter without anyone bringing a selfie stone. I tried the “Sugar Creek Trail”, a short but steep path that leads you through narrow rocks that are so narrow that you almost feel you could touch the wall. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't arrive on Saturday night – then the parking field turns into a small battlefield of SUVs and family vans.
A short detour to the north brought me to Shades State Park. Here the rest is almost tangible, and this is exactly what I was looking for after I almost felt attacked by a swarm mosquito in the Turkey Run. The “Ridge Trail” sounds over moss-covered rocks, and I almost felt like I landed in an old Western film – only that the cowboys were replaced here by hikers in neon-Wanderhosen. The park is less crowded, so you can almost get undisturbed about the brook's noise, which reminds you that you are not in an amusement park, but in the real wild.
A bit further south, but still within 30 miles, lies the Wabash River with her infamous Lick Creek Trail. I borrowed a canoe – yes, that's a bit touristy, but I have to admit that the water was crystal clear and the banks lined with wild trees. The trail itself is a narrow path that gives you the feeling that you would wander through a painting that someone has painted too eagerly. Practical: The docks are usually well maintained, but if you arrive there after a long working day, you will have to count on a few learners who will catch your last place.
A small detour after Greencastle (about 20 miles south) led me to DePauw University. The campus architecture is a mix of Victorian charm and modern art, and the Miller Center for performing arts is a real secret tip for everyone who likes to create a little culture without entering an expensive opera house. I accidentally discovered a student reading there, which was better than some professional performance – and that without admission.
Continue east, almost 30 miles away, lies Danville. The city has the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, which is surprisingly well curated. I was there because I thought it was just a small local museum, but the exhibition about the history of the region really tied me up – especially the old photographs of railways that drove through the prairie. The museum is easy to find, and parking is almost always a children's game as long as you are not there on the first Saturday of a month when the whole town holds a flea market.
Last but not least, Crawford Covered Bridge Forget that looks a little like a relic from another time. The bridge, built in 1876, spans over the nearby Little Raccoon Creek and is a popular photo pot for couples who want to pick up their Instagram profile. I spent a few minutes there to just hear the sound of the wood – a sound that reminds me that not everything in this area is dominated by neon lights and fast food. Parking is practically right in front of the bridge, but be warned: On sunny weekends it can be filled quickly because everyone wants a photo of the “authentic” Indiana.
So, next time you think about what you want to experience in the vicinity of Crawfordsville, take a look at these places – they offer a mix of nature, history and a bit of culture that you don't find every day. And yes, these are definitely some of the best Crawfordsville Attractionsthat you can discover outside the city.
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