Visit Converse Miami Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Converse, Indiana: Visit the famous Chuck Taylor workshop! Experience the home of the legendary sneakers and discover the rural charm of the place.
Converse attractions attract me every time I drive after the little town in Converse Township, Blackford County. Honestly, the city doesn't have a glittering skyline, but its charm lies in the story, which lies like an old photo album over the main road. Founded in 1850 as a railway hub, Converse grew thanks to the Indiana Central Railroad – a bit like a forgotten secondary character in a Western, which suddenly takes over the lead, just to disappear back in the background. I don't understand the hype about big metropolises, but here you can feel the real, uncomfortable noise of the past reflected in the old brick houses and the slightly weathered town hall. If you come from Indianapolis by car, take the I‐69 to exit 210, then a short stroller over the County Road 500 takes you to the heart of Converse – no joke, the GPS sometimes shows only fields, but that makes the first impression quite authentic. I love to take a short walk after parking and browse through the small shops that have more personality than some hipster cafés in larger cities. And yes, if you ask yourself if there is anything to see here: Converse sights are just what you need to throttle the pace and taste life a bit slower.
I have to confess that the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Converse, Public library is – a small but surprisingly charming building from the early 20th Century that has more character than some great metropolis. I once borrowed a book about local myths, only to find that the librarians know more about the history of the place than any guide. Parking is usually a Klack, except on Saturday night, the small parking lot in front of the town hall suddenly becomes a battlefield.
Right next to the town hall is the landmark that every visitor wants to photograph: the old water tower of Converse. I don't quite understand the hype about such rusty steel colosses, but he has something calming – a silent witness of the time that watches over the main road. If you're lucky, you'll see the light shimmering through the small windows in the evening, and that's almost romantic without it being cheesy.
A short walk leads you to Community Parkwhere I had a spontaneous picnic with a few locals on a lukewarm summer night. The park is not huge, but the baseball and football fields are well maintained, and the small playground building has a grill that always burns when someone calls “no worries, I do it”. There are no long snakes for toilets here, and the only “problem” is that the dogs sometimes look at the picnic blankets as a new playground.
If you are interested in history – and you should, because you are here – then that is Historical Museum in the old school building a must. I found an old class list that dates back to 1905, and that reminded me that there were really generations of people living here. The museum is small, but the exhibitions are hand-picked, and the staff is so enthusiastic that they even tell you the story of the first school bus that ever drove here.
Another highlight that I cannot overlook is the rebuilt Train Depot. He is now a mini museum and at the same time a café serving the best apple cake in the region – no joke, the cake is actually better than what I am used to in larger cities. The train station itself still has the original rails, and if you listen carefully, you can hear the remote ratter of a passing train from the neighborhood, although there are hardly any trains left.
And then there is Farmers Market, which takes place every Saturday from May to October on the main square. I tried fresh corn flasks there for the first time, which came directly from the field, and that was a real highlight. The market is not only a place to shop, but a social event where you quickly notice that the residents of Converse are a bit strange but cordial. So if you're looking for an authentic piece of Midwest, they're Converse attractions the right thing – a mix of history, everyday life and a pinch of unexpected charm.
Finally, I have to say that every time I leave the little town, I feel like leaving a little more of myself – maybe a piece of cake, maybe a few photos of the water tower, but above all a few stories I can tell my friends later, if they ask why I drove here at all.
The scent of freshly mowed hay is in the air when you leave the dusty country roads around Converse and suddenly feel like discovering the true Indiana.
A short trip to Peru, only about ten minutes south, leads to Hoosier Heritage Village. There are original preserved buildings from the 19th century Centuries that tell more than any brochure – from the old blacksmith, in which I accidentally burned almost my hand to the venerable school, in which I called as a child according to “mouse” because I could not say the word “mouse”. Parking is almost always a children's game as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the field behind the museum becomes a battlefield for the last free places.
Next south, almost on the edge of the city center, waiting Miami County Historical Museum. I don't quite understand the hype for dusty exhibitions, but the collection of old agricultural machinery has really fascinated me – especially the rusty tractor model that is supposed to come from a local farmer who never sold it because he was "to sentimental". The museum is located directly on the main road, so you can simply park in the car and spit right in without looking for a free space.
A little further west, the Wabash and Erie Canal Trail through the fields, a popular path for cyclists and walkers. I once made a morning run there, while a tractor slowly passed, and thought: “Here you could spend almost the whole life.” The trail is well signposted, and parking at the entrance is usually free – apart from the rare weekends, when local farmers leave their tractors there to cross the field.
If you're looking for a place where you can catch some fresh air and some water, Huber Lake Park the answer. The lake is not huge, but fishing is surprisingly productive – I actually caught a cash that I later released because I didn't want a cash for dinner. The parking lot is large enough to hold a few cars, and the bathroom is clean, which is not always natural in rural areas.
A little further east, almost on the edge of the city, lies the imposing Miami County Courthouse. The red brick building looks like a relic from a different time, and I once observed a trial that seemed more like a play – the judge wore glasses that looked more like sunglasses, and the lawyers discussed louder than in a boxing ring. Parking is right in front of the building, but you have to be there early, otherwise you are surrounded by the commuters.
An absolute must for those who want to experience the real “County feeling” is a visit to the Miami County Fairgrounds. During the annual fair, the site turns into a colorful mess of rides, local food stands and a lot of people who believe that life consists only of sugar cane and carousel rides. I once ate a piece of corn flask that was so dry that I almost had to redefine the word “crispy”. Parking is in abundance as long as you do not arrive on Friday night, then the whole area becomes a parking microcosm.
Finally, if you want to experience the true heart of Converse, you should not forget that the environment has more to offer than just fields and old barns. The mix of history, nature and a bit of scuric charm makes the region a place you shouldn't just go over. And that's exactly what they are Converse attractions, which I would put to the heart of every traveler – with an eye-catcher and a portion of healthy scepticism.
Whether you're looking for a fan of rustic museums, endless cycle paths or just a good piece of corn piston – Converse's surroundings have something to offer for everyone that goes far beyond the usual country life.
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