Visit Nashville Brown Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the music metropolis Nashville, Indiana! Country-Charm in the Ryman Auditorium and Bluebird Cafe. Variety in Parthenon and Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Eat BBQ at Jack's Bar-B-Que!
Honestly, if you think that Nashville is just a name that you hear from the country-song karaoke, then you have completely renounced the history of Nashville, Indiana: Founded in 1830, the town was in the heart of Washington Township, Brown County, and was long served as a hub for livestock and timber industry. I found the old land register in the basement of my grandmother – a real piece of dust, but it shows how the city mutated from a small border post to a self-contained gem.
I don't quite understand the hype about the rural idyll, but the way the old brick houses stand next to modern bungalows has something. When you arrive by car, take the State Road 46 – it swells through the hilly terrain and leads you directly to the center where you immediately feel the time here is a bit slower. And yes, the local bus network is a relic from the 70s, but a short Uber-Ride will take you anywhere without feeling like a Western movie.
A short walk along Main Street reveals the true heart of Nashville: small cafes that have more charm than Wi-Fi, and a few local artisans who present their goods with an eye-catcher. Right here is what I call the best Nashville sights – not the exaggerated tourist attractions, but the authentic corners that remind you of why you have traveled at all.
I must confess at the beginning that this Town Hall in Nashville is my personal favorite place – not because it is an architectural miracle (it is rather a sober brick box from the 1900s), but because it beats the heart of the little town I spend my weekends here. When you look at the building from outside, you immediately notice that there is more history here than in some big metropolis. I once tried to take a picture while a tractor blocked the road, and the result was a picture of me standing between hayballs and the town hall, while an old man leaps loudly over the “good old times”. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then everyone from the area will flow here to the weekly barbecue evening.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Public library, a charming brick building that houses more than just books – here there are regular readings, and the staff knows every regular guest by the name. I once borrowed a book about local history, just to find that the shelves tell more about the founding of Nashville than the Internet could ever. If you're lucky, you're sitting in the reading room next to a pensioner who tells you the story of the old railway viaduct, while outside a boy with a skateboard flashes over the parking lot.
Directly next to the library lies the Nashville Community Park. I admit I was never a big fan of parks, but this one has something that draws me back every time: a small lake, a playground that has more rusty chains than new equipment, and a baseball field that is transformed into an improvised concert venue by a group of teenagers on the weekend. I once made a picnic that was disturbed by a horde duck that apparently thought the bread from my basket was a feast. Practical: There are enough free parking spaces on the edge, but when you arrive by bike, you need to satisfy yourself with some sloping wooden battens that serve as a bicycle stand.
A few blocks on St. John the Baptist Churcha stone building from the 19th century Century used not only for worship, but also for local art exhibitions. I was there when a local artist presented his sculptures of recycled metal – a bit like an industrial museum, only that visitors sit in long robes. The church is a good example of how Nashville tries to jonglate tradition and modernity at the same time, and that without much lifting.
If you're looking for something that really beats the creative heart of Nashville, go to Brown County Art Guild. This is not a gallery in the classic sense, but a collection of local paintings, ceramics and handmade jewelry. I once discovered a portrait of myself that I had never ordered, but the artist insisted that it was “a perfect representation of my inner unrest”. The entrance is free, and parking is a little labyrinth – you have to find the way to a small backyard where an old van serves as a parking space.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the Nashville Farmers Marketthat take place every second Saturday in the summer. Here there are fresh vegetables, homemade jams and the one or the other stand that sells “authentic” apple cake – I don’t understand the hype around these cakes completely, but they are damn good when you combine them warm with a ball of vanilla ice cream. The market is a bit chaotic because the stands are tightly crowded, but that makes the charm. And yes, this is definitely one of the Nashville Sightsthat you should not miss if you want to experience the real life here.
Last but not least a short trip to Nashville Fire Department Museum. The museum is small, but it houses old firefighter equipment that look like they come directly from a Western film. I found an old hose there that still smelled a little after burned rubber – a scent that immediately reminds me of the summer evenings I sat with a few friends at the campfire and philosophized about life. The museum has a small parking lot behind the building, but it is often full because the fire brigade is taking her training trips.
The first place I have to put to the heart of every visitor is the Brown County State Park – a huge piece of unspoiled nature that lays around Nashville like a green carpet. I have climbed the Sunset Trail there, just to see that the panorama over the hills is almost as dramatic as the drama I thought of during dinner in the city. The parking lot at the main exit is usually a children's play, except for the hot summer weekends when the families like bees gather around the entrances; then parking becomes a small survival training. Those who like to wander here will find everything from cozy walks to challenging 10-mile-routes – all with well-marked signs that do not come like some other parks in cryptic symbols.
A short detour to the north leads you to the Yellowwood State Forest, where a quiet lake invites you to paddle. I remember a rainy afternoon when I was gliding over the water with an old canoe that I had found on the shore and suddenly was followed by a group of ducks – a moment that reminded me that nature is not always majestic, but sometimes just weird. Access to the lake is via a small, easy to find gravel path, and parking is almost always free there as long as you don't arrive at the weekend with your entire group of friends.
Only half an hour further south is Lake Monroe, the largest reservoir in Indiana. Here you can not only fish, but also sniff a bit of history, because the shore is spiced with old stone panels that remember the early settlers. I once made a picnic there, while an older gentleman, besides me, spoke loudly about the “good old times” – a conversation that betrayed more about the local mentality than any brochure. The beach area is well equipped, and parking is usually easy thanks to the generous lotes as long as you don't arrive at lunchtime at the weekend when the families with their children storm the water.
A small way to Bloomington is worthwhile when you enter the Indiana University campus area. The impressive Sample-Gates and the Eskenazi Museum of Art are not only photogenic backgrounds, but also a bit of intellectual encouragement after the rustic excursions. I met a student there who explained why the museum has an exhibition about local artists right now – a hint that the art scene is not just pulsating in Nashville. Parking on the campus is usually easy to find thanks to the public car parks, but at the beginning of the lecture it can become a bit fuller.
If you feel that you need more forest, take a look at the Hoosier National Forest, which is like a green belt around the region. The countless trails offer everything from easy walks to challenging mountain bike trails, and the best: The trails are rarely overrun, so that you can enjoy the twittering of the birds almost undisturbed. I tried the Hickory-Ridge-Trail there, just to see that the signs are clear, but the slopes are surprisingly steep – a small reminder that nature does not always work here according to your schedule. Parking on the trailheads is usually free, but on weekends it can be short waiting times if other outdoor enthusiasts have the same idea.
Whether you're looking for breathtaking views, quiet lakes or cultural highlights – the environment of Nashville, Washington Township, Brown, Indiana has more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. Each of these places has its own charm, and my slightly cynical, but passionate view makes exploring a small adventure. Next time you roll out your card, don't forget the Nashville Sights to fit into your route – they are the true salt in the soup of this area.
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