What makes Findlay sights so special is the quiet determination of a small town, which has hardly been detached from its basic structure since the 1860s. Founded when the railway line from Chicago to St. Louis put a short stop here, the town wore the name of the early railway instructor John Findlay and has never really developed the urge for shine and glamour ever since – and this is their charm. Nestled in the vast Todds Point Township, which stretches over soft fields and a few old barns, Findlay is located in the heart of Shelby County, where corn and soybeans dominate the landscape and the weather is just as moody as the locals.
I remember driving from Springfield over the dusty route to I-57 by train, then taking the exit to US‐51 and suddenly being greeted by a sign that sounded more for farmers than after a tourist magnet. Nevertheless, as soon as you cross the city border, you can feel the quiet sum of a community that is proud of its history – from the first postal carriage to today's small grocery business, which is still passed on from generation to generation.
For those looking for the authentic country life, Findlay offers not only a few nice cafes, but also the opportunity to feel the true heart of Shelby County. And yes, I don’t always understand the hype about “Findlay Sights”, but the honest hospitality here is really great – no joke.
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The first place I'm always taxing is that Lake Shelbyville State Park, which extends only half an hour drive north of Findlay – a huge piece of water that offers more than just a pretty photo motif. I once tried to start a canoe there, only to establish that the boat landing is a small battlefield on weekends; otherwise parking is a Klacks, and the trails lead you through dense beech forests that have almost too much color in autumn to be true. The lake itself is a magnet for anglers, and I have seen more than once a huge rush that was almost as big as my ego when I finally caught it.
A short trip to Shelbyville brings you to Shelby County Historical Museum, where the history of the region lives in dusty showcases and cracking wooden floors. I have to admit that I don't understand the hype about old tractors, but the original 1900s combine harvesters in addition to the handwritten journals of the pioneers have something calming – almost as if you were going to scroll through an old family album, just that every entry is underpainted with a sticky chair. The museum is located directly on the main square, so parking is practically always a free space, as long as you do not collapse with the school classes on Saturday morning.
Just a few blocks on, this is impressive Shelby County Courthouse, a brick building from 19. Century that has seen more court dramas than any Netflix series. I once observed a trial where the judge spoke more about the weather in Kansas than about the case – a real proof that life here sometimes ticks slower, but is more authentic. The courtyard is a popular meeting place for seniors who play chess there, and parking is almost always a Klack thanks to the surrounding sidewalk columns.
If you are looking for a reason to leave the house in the summer, look at the Shelby County Fairgrounds where the annual County Fair event takes place. I once climbed a giant wheel there, which snorkeled more than an old ship, enjoying the scent cloud of burnt almonds and freshly grilled maize – an olfactory festival that immediately reminds you of childhood, although you are now over 30. The parking spaces fill quickly, especially when the cattle shows start, so better come early, otherwise you land in the field next to the corn.
A little further east lies the Wolf Creek State Parka hidden jewel for hikers who do not want to follow the masses. I discovered a path that leads directly to a small waterfall that is barely found on Google Maps – a real secret tip for those who like to wander off the beaten path. Parking is an open field here that you simply find at the edge of the entrance, and the sound of the brook is the only sound you hear, apart from the occasional calls of the wild geese.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the old Shelbyville Depot, a restored railway station, which today serves as a small railway museum. I once saw an old steam locomotive model train that was so in love with detail that I was almost trying to buy it – a real bargain hunter dream, considering that the museum is free and the staff always chats a bit too much about the “golden times of the rail”. Parking is practically right in front of the building so you don't even have to get out of the car to enjoy the historic flair.
Whether you're looking for nature, history or a bit of scurry charm – Findlay's surroundings offer more than enough fabric for an unforgettable trip. And if you're looking for a compact overview, these are Findlay Attractions exactly what you need to plan your itinerary and at the same time make a little local flair.
This guide invites you to make with me a small but surprisingly self-contained trip through Findlay, Todds Point Township, Shelby – yes, right here, where the GPS sometimes reports “no signal” because the village is so small that even the satellites keep short.
I like to start with Finding United Methodist Church because the building has more stories to tell than some large cathedral. The red bricks and the pointed bell tower roof almost seem like a relic from another time, and this is not exaggerated: The church was built in 1885 and has since survived more weddings, funerals and occasional karaoke evenings than I can count. At the last visit, I sneaked into the back corner to admire the old organ work – a clobular piece that smells more like rusty metal than heavenly sound, but that's what makes the charm. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the weekly community meeting will take place and everyone will park their car there as if it were a festival camping site.
A short walk leads you to Find out more, the imposing Silo Column Moon, which watches over the fields like a silent giant. I don’t understand the hype about this “industrial icon” completely, but the sound of the old conveyor belts, which is sometimes still to be heard, has something calming. Last year, I took a photo that now hangs in my living room – not because it is particularly aesthetic, but because it is the only picture that gives me the feeling of being truly “in the Middle West”.
If you're looking for a place where you can stretch your feet and grab some fresh air, then it's Findings Community Park That's right. The park is small, but it has a playground, a picnic table and a tiny pond where ducks sometimes swim past as if they crossed the whole country just to land here. I once organized an improvised barbecue with some locals; the result was a slightly burnt hot dog and a conversation about the best corn flask recipes in the region – no joke, that was the highlight of the evening.
A little away from the hustle Finding Schoolhouse Museum, a former classroom that now serves as a mini museum. The walls are decorated with old class lists, table scratches and a collection of pencils from the 1920s. I discovered a dusty school board where the words “Mathematics – 3×4=12” were still to be read – a proof that some things never change. The museum is not exactly a tourist magnet, but if you are interested in the school history of the Middle West, this is a real find.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Todds Point Township Hall. The building is an inconspicuous brick shed, but the Search for: hosts – an event that has emerged more from the need than it would be a planned highlight. I remember the first time I was there: there were corn flasks, a small flea market and a band that tried to play country hits on an old guitar that had more strings than a spider net. The atmosphere was so authentic that I almost felt like landing in a movie from the 1950s.
For those who want to think a little about the history of the place, there is Find out more. It is not exactly a cemetery for tourists, but the old gravestones tell about families who have lived here for generations. I found a particularly artistically crafted tomb that shows a picture of a cow – an indication that agriculture is not just a profession, but a lifestyle. A walk between the rows of stones is almost meditative, and the quiet rustling of the leaves in the wind looks like a quiet comment on the transience.
If you're asking yourself what else to see in Findlay, let me tell you: Findlay Attractions are not to be found in a shiny guide, but in the small moments you experience between the main attractions – the friendly smile of the shop owner in the only grocery store, the ringing of the church bell, the distant ratters of a tractor in the field. This is the true heart of Findlay, and I hope you felt a bit of this heartbeat while reading.
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