Visit Van Buren Grant Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the old town of Van Buren in Indiana! Here you will find the historical parish church of St. Francis Xavier and the Museum of Local History. Recreational value is the park along the Wabash River and the old houses in the historic district.
If you're looking for Van Buren's sights, let me give you a little story: Founded in 1836 and named after President Martin Van Buren, the town in the heart of Van Buren Township, Grant County, has the charm of a long past era, but still hasn't come out of fashion. Honestly, the sober population of about 1 000 people almost looks like a hidden lab for retro voice, and that's what you can feel immediately when you look at the old brick houses along Main Street.
I came by car over US‐35, which leads directly to the heart of the city, and a short trip to State Road 13 brings you to the outskirts of the city, where the historic railway museum – no joke, that is really a small treasure for train fans – is housed in a rebuilt depot. Right next to the station is the Van Buren Public Library, a cozy place where you can inhale a piece of local identity between dusty volumes.
A walk through the Van Buren Historic District is the highlight for me: The restored facades tell stories of blacksmiths who used to have more metal than words, and families who have lived here for generations. And if you happen to stumble over the annual Van Buren Fall Festival in the summer, be warned – this is not an exaggerated tourist spectacle, but an honest, slightly slanted fun with local bands and a pie stand that tastes better than any hipster creation.
A small note for the arrival: The nearest major airport is in Marion, and from there it is a short 15-minute drive over the I‐69, which is practically past the county border. So you'll get that tranquil Van Buren without much lifting, and that's exactly what I appreciate most about that spot.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Van Buren is not some hip Rooftop bar – it is the old Town Hall, which is located in the heart of the city. The building from the 1880s has more charm than a whole quarter of Instagram filters, and if you're lucky, you'll just catch the monthly “History-Talk-Abend” meeting where the locals chat about the foundation of the city, while they're nagging in their devastated leather chairs. Parking is usually easy, except on the first Friday of the month when the town hall organizes a pop-up art festival and mutates the road to an improvised car park for vans.
A short walk further Van Buren Public Library, a small but fine refugium for all who believe that books are more than Instagram stories. I once found an old yearbook that documents the history of the city from 1850 to 1970 – a real find for nostalgic. The library has a cozy reading chair piece, which I personally call the best place to escape the noise of the main street, and the staff is so friendly that they even offer you a coffee from their small kitchen if you have not had enough caffeine after the 10-hour marathon in the home office.
If you want to catch some fresh air, the next goal will inevitably lead you to Van Buren Community Park. There is a playground, a few baseball-diamonds and a small lake that is populated in the summer by ducks who stare at you with a glance, as if they knew that you were actually planning a picnic with a sandwich and a can of Cola. I once experienced a spontaneous street musician’s duet – a banal guitarist and a hobby bassist who played “Sweet Home Indiana”. That was really great, and parking is almost always a children's game, as long as you don't arrive on Saturday night after the local football game.
A bit away from the hustle and bustle, but definitely a must for anyone interested in the forgotten chapters of the city history, is the small museum of the Van Buren Historical Society. It is located in the former school building from the 1920s, which now serves as an exhibition space. There are old school books, an original school bus and a handmade model of the city built by a retired carpenter from the 1970s. I found an old camera there that was still working – a real treasure for retro photographers. The museum has no fixed opening hours, but the volunteers open the doors whenever they are not helping out at the village festival.
A short detour leads you to Van Buren Cemetery, a quiet place that tells more stories than one would suspect at first glance. The gravestones range from simple, weathered markings to artistically crafted monuments made of marble. I once met a descendant of one of the founder families who told me about the old family recipes that still live in the kitchens of the city. The area is well maintained, and parking is free right next to the main entrance – a rare bonus in an area where you can always look for a coin machine.
For those who prefer to see a little green on the golf course, there are Van Buren Golf Club, a small 9-hole square that has more charm than an entire resort. The fairways aren't perfect, but this makes the stimulus – here you can really feel that you can learn the game while breathing in the fresh air. I once met a local mayor who told me that the clubhouse was an old barn building that was rebuilt to meet the “good old times”. Parking is directly at the clubhouse, and check-in is a short stroke followed by a friendly “welcome in paradise”.
And yes, if you ask yourself what you get to see in Van Buren at all, just look at the Van Buren Attractions that I have listed here – that is enough to fill a weekend that is neither overloaded nor boring. I mean, honestly, the city doesn't have the glamour of Chicago, but there are honest people here, a bit of history and enough small corners to turn off the phone and just enjoy it.
The first place I have to recommend is the Mississinewa reservoir, which extends only a short drive east of Van Buren – a glittering spot that looks almost like an oversized bathtub sticker in the summer. I spent a weekend with my old kayak, and the water was so clear that I almost thought I could see to the bottom, although the lowest reached almost 30 meters. Easy parking there is on the main entrance, but on Saturday night, when the anglers appear in crowds, this can be a real patience game. For those who do not want to paddle, there are a few fishing spots on the ridges, and the barbeque on the shore is almost a local custom – I have eaten the best corn bread of my life, prepared by an older gentleman named Earl, who claimed that the recipe has been unchanged since 1952.
A short trip to Marion, the county capital, leads you to Grant County Courthouse – an imposing brick building dating back to 1905, which with its copper dome almost looks like a lost castle from a Disney movie. I once made a courtroom tour with a very enthusiastic historian who knew more about the old court records than about the weather. Parking behind the town hall is usually a Klacks as long as you don't have a meeting there at noon – then the field becomes a small battlefield of parked cars and stressed commuters.
Only a few blocks further lies the Gas Boom Museum, which traces the history of oil and gas explosions in the early 20th. Century told. I have to admit, I was skeptical because I thought it was just a dusty warehouse full of old pumps, but the interactive exhibits – especially a rebuilt 1900 office where you can use an old telegraph – have surprised me completely. The museum is free, and the staff almost always lets you go with a smile and a bag of popcorn if you still have questions after the tour.
Looking for a little more urban flair, stroll through Marion’s Historic Downtown. The street is lined with restored brick buildings, which today house cafes, antique shops and a few oblique art galleries. I drank a small but fine cappuccino in a café called “The Rusty Spoon”, which is housed in a former wrench workshop building – the ambience is so authentic that you hear almost the sound of metal cirres in the background. Parking is available in the rear alleys, but be warned: On Friday afternoons the road turns into a small festival, and finding a free space can become a patience test.
Another highlight I don't want to mention is the Grant County Fairgrounds, which is hosting various events all year round – from cattle shows to old-time car exhibitions. I was there in autumn when the annual harvesting festival took place; the air smelled of caramel and freshly baked apple cake, and the children ran around the carousels, while the adults exchanged on the latest agricultural innovations. The grounds have a large open parking area, which is ideal for a spontaneous picnic, and parking is practically directly at the main entrance, as long as you do not arrive during the main event.
For those who need a little adrenaline, a detour to Kokomo is worth about 30 miles east to visit Kokomo Speedway. The route is small, but the atmosphere is huge – the moaning of the engines, the circle of tires and the occasional cheering of the fans create an incomparable experience. I saw a race where a local driver almost missed the finish line because he was too busy celebrating the victory. Parking is free at the Speedway itself, but at racing weekends, the places fill up quickly, so prefer to come early.
Whether you're looking for quiet nature experiences, historical architecture or a bit of speed – the surroundings of Van Buren have more to offer than you would suspect at first glance. My personal favorite places show that the region is full of surprising treasures that can delight any modern traveler. And next time you plan your route, don't forget the Van Buren Attractions Add to your list – they are definitely worth it.
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