Visit Oxford Benton Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the charming place Oxford in Indiana! The Amish Acres is a must: A museum village shows the life of the Amische. The Oxford Canal Park offers hiking trails and canoeing opportunities. Eat traditional food at The Barn Restaurant. Exciting!
Honestly, if you think Oxford is just another slept spot in the Middle West, then you haven't experienced the charm of Oak Grove Township yet. The city was founded in 1853 when brave pioneers colonized the fertile land of Benton County – and since then there has hardly been anything from the original, slightly rusted romance. I usually drive with the old diesel pickup over State Road 55, because this is the fastest way to Lafayette, but a short trip by bus from Benton to Oxford is just as good if you want to hear the authentic rats of the wheels. I don't understand the hype around the small cafes, but the “Old Mill Café” next to the historic town hall is really great – a place where you can feel the quiet sum of the city with a black coffee while thinking about the history that is in the bricks. And yes, Oxford sights include not only the town hall, but also the old railway museum, which has more dust than shine, but that is what makes the appeal. If you're looking for a place to feel the true Indiana, don't let the wide fields and the barns scare. There's no snuck here, just honest people, a bit of dust and the quiet certainty that you really arrived somewhere.
So, next time you go to Oxford in Oak Grove Township, let's go first Town Hall stop – the old brick building at the main square, which looks like it had an architect from the 19th century. Built century after a particularly long midday sleep. I don't understand the hype about this kind of “historical” charm, but the creeping wood of the entrance door has something that makes me a little nostalgic every time I open the door and hear the quiet echo of previous city meetings. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the weekly “Bier-und-Brettspiel-Treffen” will begin in the municipal house.
A short walk further Oxford Public Library. I once borrowed a book about the history of Indiana, which I have never read to the end, because I was more interested in the squeaking chairs in the reading room. The library is small, but the shelves are packed with local stories, and the staff knows everyone who borrows a book – this is almost a bit scary if you don't want your reading behavior to become public. Nevertheless, if you're looking for some rest, this is the perfect place to crawl with a coffee from the small café next door.
If you need a little fresh air, go to Oxford Community Park. The park has a small lake, a few playgrounds and a treadmill that looks more like an old treadmill from the 80s than after a modern fitness equipment. I once tried to start my morning jogging round, just to be stopped by a group of teenagers who spoke loudly about the latest TikTok video. The park is free, parking is almost always free at the edge of the park, and the only thing you should bring is a bit of patience and a ball if you want to play football with the kids.
An absolute must when you are there in the summer, that is Benton County Fairgrounds. The annual Benton County Fair is what I would call the “Herzschlag-Event” of Oxford – a bit too much ketchup, too loud carousels and a bunch of people who believe that “Corn Dog” is a gourmet dish. I once climbed a giant wheel and tried to photograph the panorama, just to see that my phone has lost over 30% of battery all day, because the giant wheel apparently produces a magnetic field. Nevertheless, if you want to experience the authentic country life, this is the only address you should visit.
Directly next to the exhibition grounds every Saturday morning the Oxford Farmers Market to take place. Local farmers sell their fresh products – from corn to handmade jams. I once tried a glass of homemade apple butter, which was so good that I would have bought almost the whole glass, just to realize that I had no more space in the trunk. The market is easy to find because it is always in the same place, and parking is usually not a problem as long as you do not visit the fairground at the same time.
For those interested in history, Oxford Historical Society Museumhoused in an old school building that used to be a primary school. The exhibition is small, but it contains original documents, old school books and a few dusty tools that show how life was here a hundred years ago. I once found an old photograph where a man with a huge mustache can be seen – I swear he looks like a ancestor of my uncle, only with more hair. The museum has no fixed opening hours, but usually someone is there who explains the story to you as long as you don't come too late in the evening.
Last but not least, if you want to do some sport, look at this. Oxford Community Center at the same time as the home stadium of Oxford High School. The stadium is not just a NFL Arena, but the atmosphere at a Friday night football game is amazing – the amount is small, the volume is loud, and the cheerleaders still wear the same jerseys from the 90s. I once saw a game where the team played almost the whole game in the rain, and yet the mood was better than in some of a big city bar. Parking is available behind the center, and this is usually the only thing you need to enjoy the evening.
Next time you drive through Oxford, don't forget that Oxford sights not only consist of buildings, but of the small moments you experience between the stops – the squeaking of the door in the town hall, the razing of the sides in the library, the laughing of the children in the park. And yes, I know that sounds almost too poetic now, but that's just what I love about this tiny spot in the Middle West: it's honest, a bit messy and always ready to surprise you with an unexpected smile.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was the Tipecanoe River State Park, a piece of untamed nature hidden around half an hour south of Oxford. I spent a weekend with my old tent there – the rush of the river is really soothing, but the mosquito plague spectrum here could fill a separate guide. Parking is almost always a Klack on the main entrance, unless you arrive on Friday night, then the field becomes a small battlefield of sheet metal and dust. The hiking trail along the river is well marked, and if you're lucky, you can see a few beavers that are eagerly screwing their dams – a sight that reminds me that life in the wild is still a bit wilder than our everyday life.
A short detour to the north leads to Prophetstown State Parkwhere the history of the 19th It is almost tangible. I stood where the Indians and later the pioneers opened their camps, and could hardly believe that I was allowed to enter the same earth that was once passed through by Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa. The visitor centre building is a bit cheesy, but the view from the view tower over the wide, flat country is a real eye-catcher. Practical: The car park is small, so it's better to be there early, otherwise you have to avoid the road – this is not just a walk for people with high heels.
If you have enough of trees and rivers, it is worth a trip Delphi, which with its Greek-looking architecture almost seems like a misunderstanding. I saw the famous “Delphi mosaic” there, which is supposed to turn the whole village into an ancient theatre. The city is small, but people there have a surprisingly good sense of humor – they serve in their café “Olympic Olives” and claim that the recipe has remained unchanged since ancient times. Parking is always a bit messy at the marketplace, because the locals put off their tractors there, but this gives the place a certain charm.
A bit further west, almost near Lafayette, this is Purdue University Arboretum. I spent an afternoon there to recover from the heat of the summer, and I stumbled over a few rare trees that I previously only knew from specialist books. The best thing about this: the grounds are freely accessible, and parking is a children's game thanks to the many public parking spaces on campus. A little hint: The paths are not always well signposted, so better use the phone as a compass, otherwise you end up in the agricultural sciences lab, where you are suddenly surrounded by students with rubber boots.
Another highlight I didn't want to leave is that Wabash River Heritage Trail Lafayette. The trail stretches along the river and offers a mix of nature and history that reminds me of a walk through a lively museum. I discovered an old shipwreck there, which was apparently declared a “art installation” by a local historian – a bit cheesy, but at least a photo motif. The trail is well-developed, and parking at the starting point is usually easy as long as you don't arrive at the weekend, then you have to share with the cyclists who use the way like a highway.
Last but not least a short trip to Hoosier Heartland Heritage Center in Lafayette, which houses an impressive collection of artifacts from the region. I was there because I wanted to know a little more about the agricultural history of the area and was surprised with an exhibition about old tractors and barns, which almost seemed nostalgic. The centre has a small café serving surprisingly good apple cake – a real munter maker after a long tour. Parking is free at the main entrance, but the seats fill up quickly, i.e. better after unpacking the suitcase there.
Whether you're looking for nature, history or a touch of antique flair, the surroundings of Oxford, Oak Grove Township, Benton, Indiana have more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. The stated goals show that not only the usual tourist trails have to run here, but can also make real discoveries away from the beaten paths. So the next time you think about which Oxford sights to visit, I recommend integrating these places into the itinerary – they are all but boring and provide enough fabric for a few good stories back home.
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