Visit Richmond Wayne Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the old railway town of Richmond in the state of Indiana. Experience the Westcott House Museum or Whitewater Gorge Park. Eat traditional Southern food in one of the many restaurants.
If you're looking for Richmond landmarks, you have to understand that this city is more than a few old brick houses on Highway 40. Founded in 1819, Richmond quickly grew up to a small industrial centre thanks to its location on the Ohio River and the railway – a bit like an unhappy child who suddenly comes to high school and tries to look cool. The story is still felt at every corner, especially when you pass the old factory buildings in the city centre, which today serve more as photo motifs for Instagram-Aficionados.
I usually drive over the I‐70 by car, because bus traffic here is more a myth, but if you want to take the train, there is a small Amtrak stop that brings you to the heart of Wayne Township – practical if you want to inhale the authentic “small city feeling” without worrying about the traffic jam. As soon as you get out of the vehicle, the mix of rural idyll and slightly dusty charm that I personally describe as refreshingly honest.
A short trip to the historical district is a must because the true Richmond sights are hidden there: an old town hall that has more stories to tell than some Netflix series, and a café that claims to bake the best cake in the region – no joke, the cake is actually good. And while you sit there, you can hear the quiet sum of the city that reminds you that history is not only in books, but in every street corner.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Richmond is not the hip café around the corner – that's almost a cliché. My first recommendation, the one that I whisper to every visitor when we're in the car and the cityscape goes past us, is that Richmond Art Museum. The building itself is a bit like an old professor who hides himself in a modern suit: historical, but with a touch of contemporary buckling taste. I once discovered a painting that reminded me more of my first love than any art criticism, and that was no joke. Parking is usually easy, except when there is a special exhibition event – then the car park becomes a battlefield.
A short walk further (and yes, this is a bit on foot, but this is the beauty of Richmond) leads you to Wayne County Historical Museum. Here the story of the city is presented with so much pride that you almost feel that you would scroll in an over-ambited family album. I remember the old railway locomotive that stands there – a relic that has more rust than shine, but that's what makes the charm. If you're lucky, there's a guided tour right now, otherwise you can just take a coffee from the museum café and look at the old photos while you think about why you're spending so much time with dust.
Now it gets a bit rocky: The Gennett Records Studio – yes, this is actually a museum that celebrates the cradle of early jazz and blues. I don't understand the hype about the old records, but the atmosphere there is really great. I stood there, heard an old 78-rpm record from Jelly Roll Morton and thought: “Here the music history took its first drink of coffee.” The studio is located in an inconspicuous building that doesn't notice until you open the door and hear the creeping wood under your feet. Parking? Directly opposite, there is a small field that is usually free as long as you are not there on Saturday night, then it becomes a real problem.
If you'd rather get the adrenaline in the form of engine noise, then that's Richmond International Raceway Your goal. I saw a race there, and that was a spectacle of dust, speed and a lot of loud fans who smelled more like popcorn than gasoline. The grandstand is not the most modern building, but it makes the charm – you feel almost like in the 70s, just that the cars now smoke a little less. On weekends, parking is a labyrinth, but if you arrive early enough, you get a place right next to the main gate, and that's almost a privilege.
A little bit of nature? The Whitewater Canal Trail sounds like a forgotten band from the past. I once spent an afternoon there, took my bike and let me just drive while I heard the sound of the water – this is almost meditative if you don't have to constantly think about the next gas station. The trail is well signposted, and parking at the beginning of the path is usually a Klacks, as long as you do not come to the high season, then there are a few cars that push like bears around the few places.
Of course you can Old State Street do not leave out the heart of the city, where the shops are still trying to preserve the charm of the 1900s while at the same time they have Instagram-friendly showcases. I once discovered a small antique shop that had more stories to tell than a whole museum. The road is best to explore on foot, because parking there is a bit like a gamble – you will find a place if you are lucky, otherwise you will have to go on a few blocks and ask yourself why you didn't just take a taxi.
A last but not less important place is that Earlham College-Campus. The green areas there are so well maintained that you almost feel you are in a set of films. I made a picnic there while I listened to the students at philosophical – that was a real insight into what young heads are doing today. The visitor centre has a small café, and parking is a huge parking lot, which is usually empty, unless there is a big event.
All this together Richmond Attractions to a colorful patch carpet of history, culture and a bit of chaos. Next time you drive through Wayne Township, don't forget to take your curiosity with you – and maybe a bit of patience if parking doesn't work immediately.
The first stop I put to every new man's heart is that Metamora State Historic Site – a tiny, but amazingly well-maintained channel location that feels like a lively history book on the Whitewater River. I made an old wooden boat trip there on a sunny Saturday afternoon; the rudder cracked, the water splashed, and suddenly I was convinced that I was back in the 1800s. Parking is almost always a Klack at the main entrance, as long as you don't get to the high season on the weekend – then the field behind the visitor center becomes a small battlefield around the last free places.
A short detour to the north leads to Brookville Lake, one of the largest reservoirs in the state, perfect for a spontaneous picnic or a few hours fishing. I once tried to catch a pike, and after a bitter fight with the fish I was more excited about sweat than success – but this is the true adventure, isn't it? The parking lot at the southern shore is huge, and the signage is so clear that even a tourist without a map is not lost.
If you have enough of the water, it is worth a detour Centervillewhere the Courthouse Square with its red and white brick buildings almost looks like a film set. I discovered a small café that serves the best homemade apple cakes – no joke, that's better than anything I've tried in the larger cities. Parking is a bit tricky here because the roads are narrow, but a few free places you always find when you bend a bit around the corner.
A little further east lies the John Dillinger Museum in Mooresville, which applies to all who have a faible for the darker chapter of American history. I must admit, I was skeptical if a museum can be really exciting about a bank robber – until I saw the original handcuffs and the dusty diary of the notorious gangster. The museum is small, but the exhibits are surprisingly well curated, and parking right in front of the building is practically free.
Back to the Whitewater River there are the Whitewater River Trail, a network of hiking and cycling trails, which sounds through untouched nature. I made a morning run there, while the sun was rising above the river, and that was the only time I volunteered at 5:00 in the morning. The trails are well marked, and there are several small parking spaces along the river, which usually remain unused as long as you are not on the weekend.
A little off the main road lies the sleepy town Aurora, which offers a real time capsule feeling with its historic railway museum and the old railway station. I spent an afternoon watching old locomotives and listening to the quiet sum of the city – a rare piece of rest in the middle of the otherwise so busy Indiana. Parking is a children's game because the museum has its own, generous parking space, which is rarely full.
Whether you’re standing on canals, lakes, old banks or abandoned stations – the environment of Richmond, Wayne Township, Wayne, Indiana has more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. These Richmond Attractions show that the surrounding area is full of surprising stories waiting to be discovered by curious travelers.
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