Visit Somerset Wabash Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the natural wonders of Brown County State Park in Somerset, Indiana. Relaxation in the forest, hikes and cultural experiences guaranteed! (Note: The park is also known for its autumn colors.)
Honestly, if you're wondering why I'm even talking about Somerset, it's his inconspicuous story that fascinates me anyway. 1852, when the railway finally cut through the then still wild land, the town was created in Waltz Township, Kosciusko County – a name that sounds more like English estate than Indiana-Plains. The founders called it to Somerset in England because they probably wanted to bring a little British flair to the Middle West. Today the village has hardly a few hundred inhabitants, but that’s exactly what makes the charm: no crowded tourist swarms, for that a real feeling of “here someone who knows the road before the GPS maps it.”
I don't quite understand the hype around the big metropolises, but the small places like Somerset have their own “sights” that you only discover when you bend the road and not just follow the highway. The old railway station, a relic from the founding period, is still standing, and the local café serves the best coffee I've ever drank in a place with less than 500 people – no joke. Those who arrive by car can come across US‐30; the next major city, Wabash, is just about 15 miles south and offers a practical fuel station if you empty the tank. The small airport in North Webster is not a hub, but it is enough for a short trip if you prefer to fly the plane yourself. And yes, if you're looking for "Somerset Sights", you won't find long queues here, but a piece of Indiana that hasn't turned out to be the digital noise yet.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Somerset is not some hip Rooftop bar – it is that Somerset Community Park, a piece of green that has more character than some neighborhood in Chicago. There, where the old oaks almost cover the sky, I made a picnic with my mate on a lousy summer afternoon, and we asked ourselves why no more tourists snoop around here. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the local baseball team has its game and the parents with their kids occupy the whole parking space.
A short walk further leads you to Somerset Town Hall, a cartiful brick building from the early 1900s, which still beats the heart of the municipality. I once caught the mayor at the weekly council meeting – a real spectacle when he tries to defend the budget for street lighting, while the residents are talking loudly about the new garbage collection. The building itself is not particularly magnificent, but the history that cracks in the corridors is almost tangible.
If you're looking for a little more soul, look at the St John the Baptist Catholic Church on. The church is not a monument from the 1800s, but its simple but well preserved brick design from the 1950s has something tranquil. I remember listening to the organ game once during a Sunday fair – no joke, that was almost as good as a live concert, only without the crowd.
A bit away from the usual hustle and bustle Somerset Historical Museumhoused in a converted classroom of the old primary school building. There are old school books, photos of parades from the 1930s and a few dusty tools that show how hard the people used to work here. I found an old map where Somerset was still marked as a “Somerset Station” – a small indication that this place was once an important hub.
For those who like to eat a bit while sucking up the real Small-Town feeling, this is Diner on Main A must. The sign above the door has been unchanged for decades, and the waitress knows every regular guest by the name. I got the best breakfast currito of my life there – even though the menu offers hardly more than eggs, bacon and pancakes. No snuck, just good food and a smile that says more than any rating on TripAdvisor.
A short detour to Somerset Library is worth looking for some rest. The library is small, but the shelves are full of local newspapers from the 1920s that you find nowhere else. I discovered an old specimen of the “Somerset Gazette” that reported on the construction of the first power line – a real treasure for history lovers.
And yes, I don't quite understand the hype about the great amusement parks in Indiana, but the Somerset Attractions here have their own charm, which looks much more authentic. Next time you drive through Waltz Township, stop breathing in the air that smells like hay and fresh asphalt, and let yourself be surprised by the small but fine corners that I have put together here for you.
The first stop of my little Odyssey leads me directly to Wabash County Historical Museum in the neighboring city of Wabash – a place I am underestimating again and again because it does not advertise with bright neon lights. There, old land machines, yellowed photographs and a few dusty diaries are stacking themselves, revealing more about the true life here than any Instagram story. I spent an afternoon there while an older gentleman in the background quietly over the "Golden Years" of the 19th. a century swarms; that was almost a live podcast, just without a microphone.
A short detour to the north brings you to Mississinewa Lake State Park. The lake is huge, the water is clear enough to see the reflections of the surrounding trees – and yes, that is actually a popular destination for anglers looking not only for pike, but for a piece of rest. I have set up a small tent there, because parking at the main camp sites is always a small drama on Saturdays, but a hidden pitch behind the trees was a real lucky handle.
Back in the city, but not in the museum, the Wabash River Heritage Trail along the river. The path is well maintained, partly asphalted, partly with gravel, and always offers angles where you could almost forget the water – until a fisherman suddenly tears the silence with his fishing rod. I have straightened the trail on a windy afternoon, feeling that nature here speaks a bit louder than the city.
A short trip to the centre of Wabash leads you to Wabash County Courthouse. The building is an impressive example of Romanesque architecture from 1881, complete with a tower that is almost as high as my expectations of local politics. I stood there while a court appointment took place, and noticed that the acoustics inside was almost as good as in a concert hall – a little comfort when you get angry with the endless bureaucracy nights.
The river itself, the Wabash River, is of course not to be forgotten. I rented a canoe here several times, because parking on the public boat dock is usually easy, except on the hot summer days when the families with picnic baskets flood the shore. The river not only offers fishing, but also a bit of wild water feeling if you are a bit adventurous.
A little further east, near Lagro, lies the relic of Wabash & Erie Canal – an old lock that today serves more as a photo motif. I took a few photos there while a local historian explained that the water once transported ships from Chicago to Ohio. The place is quiet, the shield somewhat weathered, but the feeling of standing in a piece of history is unmistakable.
And finally, if you're in the area in the summer, you should Wabash County Fairgrounds not overlooked. The annual County Fair is a colorful mess of rides, local artisans and a lot of corn pistons that you can hardly believe they are not from a movie. I visited 2022 there, and parking was a small battlefield – but this is part of the charm, right?
All in all, the surroundings of Somerset offer a colourful mix of history, nature and a bit of local peculiarity that can amaze every traveler – even the most cynical. So, Somerset Attractions seek, should not only stay in the place itself, but explore the surrounding highlights that make up the true heart of Wabash County.
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