Honestly, if youâre looking for âNapoleon Sightsâ, you might expect a little French flair, but here in Indiana youâll get more of a charming piece of American small-town life that secretly sneaks around the name of the famous landlord. Napoleon was founded in 1832, named after Napoleon Bonaparte â a bit overambitioned for a village that today has hardly more than a few dozen houses, but that gives the place a unique pride that I somehow admire. The town is located in the heart of Jackson Township, Ripley County, and is practically a hub between Indianapolis and Cincinnati when you drive over USâ24; a short trip from Iâ74 will take you in the middle of what's happening, and yes, the small airport in Batesville is not a hub, but it's enough for a quick flight if you don't like the road trip.
I don't quite understand the hype about the historical plaques, but the small memorial plaques on the main road have something authentic â they tell of the time when the railway was still the backbone of the economy and people packed their dreams into wooden frame houses. And as you stroll through the main street, the old town hall has more character than some hipster cafĂŠ in the city. If youâre still doing a detour to the nearby Ripley County Courthouse, youâll notice that the âseen worthâ is more in quiet everyday life, not in great attractions. So, grab your suitcases, take the highway, and let yourself be surprised by this underestimated spot earth â I promise it won't be a joke, but a real experience.
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One might think that the rural Indiana has hardly anything to offer, but a short trip from Napoleon, Jackson Township, Ripley, Indiana will lead you to a number of places that will amaze even the most incarnated city muffle â or at least to the annoying pussy.
The first stop I always recommend is that Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge south of Madison. The terrain is a huge piece of unspoiled prairie that was barely touched by excavators â a rare sight in a state that is otherwise oversown by corn fields. I once tried to shoot a photo of a bison, just to realize that the animal prefers to stay in the background while I had to deal with a horde of curious ducks. Parking is almost always a Klack on the main entrance, except on the rare Saturday afternoons when hunters and birdwatchers appear simultaneously and the field becomes a small battlefield of sheet metal and plastic chairs.
A couple of miles on, that's how Hoosier National Forest with its network of hiking and mountain biking trails, which slew through gentle hills and dense beech forests. I tried the âTrail of Tearsâ â not to be confused with the historical path, but a local mountain bike loop â and had to find out that the signage rather reminds of a puzzle from the 80s. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a portion of adrenaline, this is the right patch. Most of the trailhead parking spaces have toilets, but cleanliness varies greatly; a short view to the right often shows a sign âPlease donât throw backâ that acts more as a challenge than a request.
For those who prefer to relax on the water, is Mississinewa Lake a real secret tip. The lake is located northeast of Napoleon and offers a wide range of fishing and boat friends. I remember a sunny afternoon when I glid over the smooth water with an old kayak and suddenly a swarm of geese appeared right in front of me â a picture I will never forget because I almost lost the rudder. Parking on the main dock is usually easy, but on the weekend it can come to a small chaos when the families move with barbecue equipment and strollers.
A short trip after Versailles State Park in the south of Ripley County is worthwhile if you want a bit of history with a pinch of nature. The park is home to the old Versaille-Kreuz in the 19th century. century served as a meeting place for local farmers. I made a picnic there, combining the sound of grilled charcoal with the remote reputation of a hunter â a soundtrack that sounds almost too romantic for the rural Indiana. The parking lot is large enough to grab some campers, but the toilets are rather ârusticâ, so better before emptying the bubble.
Another jewel I always mention is that Osgood Opera House. This small but fine theatre from 1892 has more charm than a whole neighborhood of Broadway. I was there at a local opera performance where the singer suddenly lost her voice and the audience â including me â broke into a collective âOh no!â. This was embarrassing, but the subsequent improvisation was a real proof of how much the community holds together. Parking right in front of the house is practically always free as long as you do not visit a concert there on the first Friday of the month, then parking becomes a small battle around the last places.
Last but not least, Wabash & Erie Canal Trail not forgetting that winds through the rural heart of Indiana and passes several places near Napoleon. The path is ideal for a cozy bike tour or a long walk, and I have had the opportunity to chat with an older gentleman who claimed he had seen the channel as a child when he was still pulled by horses. This is a bit romantic, but the reality is that the way is sometimes blocked by oversized garbage containers â a small indication that not everything is perfectly maintained in rural Indiana.
So the next time you think about what you could do in the area of Napoleon, Jackson Township, Ripley, Indiana, remember: Napoleon Sights are not only a bunch of dusty shields and outdated buildings, but a mix of nature, history and a pinch of local peculiarity, which at the same time excites you and brings you a little to the eye.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Napoleon is not some hip boutique, but the honorable one. Napoleon Public Library â a real Carnegie jewel that feeds the dusty heads of the city with books since 1915. When you arrive there, you'll best find a parking space at the end of Main Street; that is usually a Klack, except on Sundays, when the seniors are holding their weekly bingo rounds and blocking the street. Inside, it smells like old wood and a bit after the dust that I swirled out of the 30s when a yellowed almanad leaves â no joke, that's almost an aromatic time travel trip.
A short walk (approximately five minutes if you don't keep jamming on your phone) leads you to Napoleon Riverfrontwhere the Wabash River swells gently through the valley. I don't quite understand the hype about âcity by the riverâ, but here there is a small ridge where you can throw out your fishing, and a few benches that are perfect to photograph the panorama while you ask why you didn't just buy a house by the water. Parking is a bit tricky here â a small farm behind the old mill house offers space, but on the weekend it fills up faster than a coffee cup in a hipster cafĂŠ.
If you have enough of nature, see the St. Mary's Catholic Church a stone building from the 19th century Century that is still filled every Sunday with a choir full of seniors who talk more about the saints than about the weather. I once tried to take a picture during the fair, and was promptly pointed out by a well-launched pastor that the ânot entirely corresponds to the sacral ambienceâ. Practically seen: The entrance area is barrier-free, and the small visitor park behind the nave is almost always empty â a real lucky handle when you arrive by bike.
A couple of blocks waiting Napoleon Historical Museumhoused in the former school building, which once formed the generations of 1900âbisâ1970. There are old school books, a dusty gramophone and an original school bus that still has the squeaking doors you know from movies. I found a handwritten note from a former student there that says that the museum ânot only preserves history, but also preserves the true heart of the cityâ. Parking is a children's game here: a small farm next to the museum takes up your car as long as you don't celebrate a festival with the local club of shooters on Saturday night.
A little further down the main road is the Napoleon Community Center, an inconspicuous construction, which forms the social center of the city. Here the weekly yoga classes take place, and in the evening the hall turns into a dance hall, where the youth of yesterday (and the youth of today) shunk to the beats of 80s hits. I once saw an impro-theatrical piece that was so bad that it became good again â a real proof that every attempt counts here. Parking is practically right in front of the door, but if you come to a big event, you have to adjust to a little crowd.
A short trip to the old railway station, the Napoleon depot, let you feel the era of the steam locomotives that once rolled through the city. The little shed is today a museum for railway enthusiasts, and I have discovered an original received signal fork set that still has the same patina as over a hundred years ago. Access is free, and parking is an old farm located next to the depot â a place you would only reach with a tractor if you don't just use the small entrance reserved for visitors.
Last but not least, Napoleon Town Hall Forget that is in the heart of Main Street and is a classic example of the sober architecture of the 1920s. I took part in a meeting where the discussion on the new garbage collection was almost as exciting as a crime. The building is barrier-free, and the small visitor park behind the town hall is usually empty â a real blessing if you want to get a coffee in the nearby diner after a long day.
If you now think it's too much, don't let yourself be fooled: Napoleon Sights are small, but they have character â and that is exactly what I love about this city. I did more than just a few photos here; I have collected a few stories that I will unpack at the next visit, and maybe, just maybe, you will also find your own favorite places between the old bricks and the quiet noise of the river.
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