Visit Greensburg Decatur Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the small town of Greensburg in Indiana and visit the Historic New Courthouse, an impressive example of neo-Gothic architecture. Do not miss the annual Festival of Lights!
Honestly, when I hear the word “Greensburg Sights”, I think first of all about the dusty history of this little jewel in the heart of Washington Township, Decatur County – founded in 1822, shortly after the Indiana expansion, and since then the administrative center of the area. I don't understand the hype about metropolises, but here every street has a bit of character, and this is not just the old brick building of the County Courthouse, which has been watching over the cityscape for over 150 years. I usually come by car over US‐421, because the connection to I‐74 is practical, and if I like to have a long distance, I jump into the Greyhound bus to Indianapolis – this is not exactly a luxury, but it works.
A short trip to the city centre shows that local shops have more personality than some chains in big cities; the small café on Main Street serves a coffee that is almost as strong as my opinion on tourist traps. And yes, I did not forget the “Greensburg Sights” thing: The old railway shed, now an art project, is a parade example of how to keep history not only, but give it a new purpose. So if you're looking for a place that doesn't try to dazzle you with glitter, but with honest, slightly cynical authenticity, you're right here.
I have to confess that the first thing that comes to my mind when I am Palace Theatre think that is an old cinema room that has more charm than some hipster café in Berlin – and that wants to mean something. The building from the 1930s stands in the middle of the historic core of Greensburg and has not completely abandoned the barring leather seats, although the popcorn now smells like industrial corn. I saw an indie film there the other day, and while the projection wobbled a bit, the audience was so excited that I almost forgot that the projector room still heats with an old coal thread. Parking? Mostly no problem as long as you do not arrive on Friday night after the “Greensburg Filmfest” – then the small parking space field in front of the theatre becomes a battlefield.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Decatur County Courthousean imposing brick building that looks like someone stole it from a film set. The dome is a real eye-catcher, and the interior is equipped with marble columns that tell more about the history of the city than any museum. I once observed a trial there – no joke, that was more exciting than any reality show, because the lawyers seem to have real arguments here. If you ask yourself if you can enter the building: Yes, that is public, but bring some patience, because the security control sometimes takes longer than the actual procedure.
Directly next to the court building Greensburg Carnegie Library, a place I like to name as the “Herzschlag-Zentrum” of the city. The library is not only a place to read, but also a meeting place for local book clubs and occasional art exhibitions. I once experienced a Poetry-Sl Slam where a pensioner from the neighborhood had a poem about his cat – that was better than any Netflix special. Parking is a bit tricky here, because the road is only one-track, but a short walk from the main road is enough to reach the building.
If you're looking for something green, then the Greensburg City Park That's right. The park has a small lake, a few old benches and a playground that is used more by the children of the city than the local swimming pool. I made a picnic there in the summer, while an older gentleman told me that he has been fishing here since his youth – and that, although fishing here is officially only allowed with an authorization that you get at the town hall. Parking is convenient: a large parking lot behind the playground, but on weekends it can be filled because the families unpack the barbecue.
A little away from the center lies Decatur County Historical Society Museumhoused in a renovated old school building. There you will find exhibitions about the pioneering period, old tools and even an original murderer who allegedly once pulled the postal carriage. I have experienced a guided tour with an enthusiastic historian who knew more about local history than any guide. The museum is free, but the donation box at the entrance is always well filled – people here like to give when they realize that their city has a bit of pride.
Another jewel I don't want to conceal is that St. Michael’s Catholic Church. The church from the late 19. The century has a beautiful bell game, which is ringing at 10 o'clock on Sundays and awakening the whole neighborhood. I was once at a fair where the municipality shared a traditional Hoagie bread – that was a culinary highlight that I will never forget. Parking is a bit tight here, because the road in front of the church offers hardly space for cars, but a short walk from the main road is not a problem.
And because I don't just want to tell the usual suspects, I still have to Lick Creek Trail mentioning that sounds through the rural green of Washington Township. The path is not particularly spectacular, but it leads you through fields, over small bridges and occasionally offers a view of the old mill, which is still photographed by tourists. I once watched a sunset there while an older couple had their dogs run – that was almost poetic if you don't take it too seriously. The trail is freely accessible, and parking is at the beginning of the path where a small car park stands for a few cars.
If you now think that I only list my favorite places here, then you're right – that's what a slightly cynical but passionate local does. And if you ask yourself what else you can see in Greensburg, just look at the Greensburg Attractions that you find online – but believe me, nothing beats the real experience when you stroll through the streets and discover the small peculiarities of the city.
The first stop of my little odyssey inevitably leads me to the **Lincoln State Park**, where I first asked myself if Abraham Lincoln was really a fan of camping – I mean, who already puts a tent in the middle of the forest just to sniff a bit of history? The park is just about ten miles north of Greensburg, so no reason to overload the car. I parked at the main parking lot, which is usually free, except for the long weekends when families fill the air with barbecue odour. The trail to Lincoln Memorial is short, but the view over the hill country is really great, and the small museum there has more original documents than any school library. No joke, this is a place where you can almost feel the story while you stumble over the pebbles.
A short detour to the south brings me to the **Shakamak State Park**, a place I always underestimate because it doesn’t look as “instagrammable” as the big national parks. Nevertheless, the lake is crystal clear, and fishing there is a patience sample test that I completely failed in the first attempt – I caught more flies than fish. The car park is an open field, so no stress, but on Saturday afternoons the drive-in and out can become a small ballet of horns and annoying pedestrians. I made a picnic with self-baked brownies there, and the noise of the water was the only thing that distracted my thoughts from the next working week.
If you’re already on the theme of “water”, you can’t leave the **West Baden Springs Hotel**, which looks almost like a castle from another century. I went there because a friend said the roof was a “coupling miracle”, and I thought it was a good excuse to enjoy a little luxury without spending a fortune. Parking is a bit tricky – the hotel has a small farm that is quickly full when the concerts start. I had to run a few blocks, but it was worth it: the lobby with its huge glass dome makes you almost forget that you are in Indiana and not in Venice. The bar service was friendly, and I tried a cocktail that supposedly tastes like ‘original elegance’ – that was probably a marketing gag, but it was actually good.
A bit further east, almost like a small side-shift on the idea that Indiana has only corn fields, lies the **Indiana Railway Museum** in French Lick. I was there because I was looking for a little nostalgia, and the museum actually has some old steam locomotives that still work. Parking is an open field behind the museum, which is rarely full unless there is a special event. I made a short ride with one of the restored cars – the ratters of the wheels and the whistling of the locomotive immediately catapulted me back to 1950. The guide told me that the route used to transport coal, and I had to laugh because I thought it was a perfect place to hide a bit of “black work”.
Back close to Greensburg, but not in the city centre, is the **Decatur County Fairgrounds**, which becomes the pulsating heart of the region every year in August. I tried a giant wheel there for the first time that had more momentum than I expected – that was a short adrenalinkick before I returned to the shaded corner with a cool lemonade stand. Parking is practical: a huge parking lot, which is almost exclusively reserved for visitors to the fair, so no stress, as long as you do not arrive on Friday night when the exhibitors build their stands. The atmosphere is a mix of land air and popcorn smell, and I met some locals who told me that the annual pig sleep is a real crowd magnet – I don't understand the hype completely, but the whole thing has a certain charm.
Last but not least a small but fine detour to the **Old Decatur County Jail**, which today serves as a museum. The building is a real relic from the 19. Century, and parking right in front of the entrance is usually free, unless a school class makes a trip. I opened the cracking wooden door and stumbled into a small room full of old handcuffs and dusty files – that was a bit creepy, but at the same time fascinating, because you can feel the darker chapters of local history. The curator, an older gentleman with a dry humour, told me that the prison once had more visitors than the local cinema, because people were simply curious who was detained here.
Whether you are looking for nature, history or a bit of shrill nostalgia – the environment of Greensburg offers more than just field paths and crop fields. From the vast forests of Lincoln State Park to the glistening waters of Shakamak to the magnificent halls of the West Baden Springs Hotel and the squeaking wheels of the Indiana Railway Museum – there is something to discover for every taste. And if you combine all this with a visit to Decatur County Fairgrounds or Old Decatur County Jail, you have a real all-round experience that Greensburg Attractions into a new light.
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