Visit Pennville Jay Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Pennville, Indiana: Little America on the Wabash River! Experience the old railway and mill city with its charming colonial houses. Discover the nature reserves along the river or visit the historic park "Wabash and Erie Canal". Simple, authentic and friendly!
Honestly, if you think you've already seen everything, let the story of Pennville surprise you – a tiny spot in the heart of Penn Township, Jay County, founded in 1847 to realize the dream of land owners who wanted more field than city. I have always wondered why a village was created here, but this is exactly what makes the charm: a bit of nostalgia, a bit of “we just did it so.”
I usually drive over the US‐27, because the road here is almost a relic from the pioneering period – a bit bumpy, but that gives the roadtrip the certain something. If you prefer to arrive by bus, the local “Jay County Connector” stops by chance on the main road, so no reason to push the car.
A short detour into the neighboring Jay, Indiana, is almost obligatory because there the true “midwest feeling” pulsates – but I don’t want to betray too much, otherwise you miss what I really appreciate at Pennville. And yes, I don’t understand the hype around the big cities, but the little “Pennville Sights” here have their own, slightly slanted charm: an old town hall that knows more stories than you can read in a day, and a cemetery that is quieter than my coffee consumption on Monday morning.
So if you're looking for a place that doesn't try to impress you, but just exists, then you're right here. And believe me, this is not a joke – the real Indiana is just waiting to be discovered by you.
So, next time you're going to Pennville, let me give you that first old town hall show – this is the heart of this tiny little town for me, and I swear it has more character than some big city sky. The building is located in the middle of the historic centre, a red brick building from the early 1900s, which still houses the weekly city hall meeting, where most of the discussions around the new trampoline in the park circle. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole village comes together as a “Bier‐und‐Bingo-Abend”.
Directly next to the town hall, the Bridge about the Mississinewa – an old Parker-Truss, built in 1905 and today still called the old Iron Claw by the locals. I don't quite understand the hype about historical bridges, but here you have the feeling that every stick of the metal tells a small piece of history while you drive over the river and glisten the fields in the background. A short stop to shoot a photo is almost obligatory because the sign on the railing reminds you that you are entering a piece of National Register entry here.
A few blocks further Pennville Community Park, a small but fine piece of green space that has more to offer than you suspect at first glance. There is a baseball-diamond, a few old swings that still squeak, and a barbecue area where the local teenagers prepare their “Chef-Specials” from can-ravioli during the summer. I once made a picnic with my neighbor, and while we complained about the weather, an elderly man came by and told him that he caught the whole city here as a child – a hint that this park has been the social center for generations.
If you're looking for a place to find some rest, go to Pennville Public Library. This is not a huge building, but a cozy red brick house that is part of the Jay County Library network. I found a few dusty editions of the local newspaper from the 1920s, and the staff was so friendly that they even gave me an old photo album from the city history – a real treasure for anyone who wants to sniff a little nostalgia. Parking is here a Klacks because the property has a small parking lot, which is usually empty as long as there is not a reading circle.
Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the Pennville United Methodist Church. The building from 1885 has a simple but impressive Gothic window that throws a warm light through the benches at sunset – no joke, it almost looks like a film set. I once had a concert of a local folk band, and the acoustics were surprisingly good, despite the simple wooden bench series. The entrance is of course free because the municipality likes to do this, and parking is right in front of the church where you can almost always park your car in a few minutes.
A short detour to Pennville Cemetery is also worth when you have a flaw for old tombstones and the stories of the ancestors. The cemetery is located a bit away from the center, surrounded by high corn fields, and the tombstones tell of pioneers here in the 19th century. centuries have left their mark. I discovered a particularly artistic stele there, which carries a small relief of a horse – a hint that horse breeding was a big business here before. The way there is well signposted, and parking is practically directly at the entrance, because there is a small, unfinished parking lot.
And if you ask yourself what else you can do in Pennville, just look at the Pennville Attractions that I have listed here – that is enough to fill a weekend without you being bored. I mean, that's a place where you can hop back and forth between a historic town hall, a cracking bridge, a lively, quirky park, a cozy library, a venerable church and a quiet cemetery, all in less than an hour walk. And if you still discover the one or the other local café I didn't mention here, because I don't want to get involved in every little corner, you've experienced the true Pennville feeling – a bit rustic, a bit charming and always with an eye-catcher.
The old smell of freshly cut hay lies above the fields as soon as you leave the main road towards Portland, and this is the first sign that you approach the historic core of Jay County. The imposing Jay County Courthouse, a red brick building dating back to 1888, dominates the cityscape of Portland – not without reason: The massive dome and the artistic stonemason works are a real photo magnet, although I could never fully understand the whole hype about “old courthouse”. Parking is almost always a children's game, unless you arrive on Friday night after the courtroom meeting, then parking becomes a small battle.
Just a few blocks away, the Jay County Historical Museum, an inconspicuous brick box, which houses a true treasure box of local artefacts. I found an old tractor steering wheel there, which is supposed to come from a peasant who operated the first field in the area with a motor in 1912 – no joke that is part of the exhibition. The museum is free to enter, and the staff is so friendly that they almost give you the feeling that you are part of the family, although you just get out of town.
A short detour to the Jay County Fairgrounds is a must when you are on the road in August. The annual County Fair is a colorful mess of carousels, cattle shows and a lot of people who wonder why they have landed in Indiana at all. I remember being stuck in an overcrowded corn-piston spine in 2022 – a real highlight I will never forget. Practical: The parking lot fills up quickly, so better to come early, otherwise you stand on the edge and watch how others pay their prices.
A bit further east, about 30 miles from Pennville, is the Hoosier Heritage Village in Hamilton. This open-air museum is a lovingly restored piece Indiana from the 19th century. century, complete with an old mill, a forging and even a small railway that runs through the village. I spent a day there trying to recook my grandmother's old oven recipe – the result was rather a burnt experiment, but the experience of standing in a real wood oven bakery was unpaid. Parking is sufficient at the main entrance, but on weekends it can be as full as at County Fair.
Back close to Portland is the John W. Miller House, a magnificent Greek-revivalist property, built in 1855 and now serving as a museum. The high columns and the artistic stucco make you forget that you are actually in a rural area. I took a lead there with an enthusiastic historian who told me that the house once served as a meeting point for local politicians – a bit like the Indiana equivalent to a small Capitol. The property has a small parking lot behind the house, which is usually free as long as you do not come to lunchtime.
Another jewel that should not be overlooked is the Pennville Methodist Church, a Gothic building dating from the 1880s, which still regularly keeps worship. The stained glass windows cast a colorful light game on the wooden pulpit, and I heard the organ sample randomly on a Sunday morning – a sound that warms your heart even if you are not a believer. Parking is possible directly in front of the church, but there are only a few places, so better to be there early if you want to enjoy the silence.
Last but not least, it is worth a walk through the Pennville Historic District, a small but fine neighborhood that has several 19th buildings. The century includes the old post office and a few charming half-timbered houses. I spent an afternoon drinking coffee in one of the small cafes while watching the street, how it is revived by locals and curious travellers alike. The road is traffic calm, so you can easily take a walk to the atmosphere, and parking is usually easy to find on the edge of the neighborhood.
Those who travel to Pennville will quickly realize that the environment has more to offer than just a few old barns – from historical court buildings to lively museums to charming churches and lively festivals there is enough to discover. The mixture of authentic history and slightly cynical observation makes the exploration a real pleasure, and when you count all this, you get a pretty good picture of what Pennville Attractions really.
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