Visit Boswell Benton Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the small town of Boswell in Pennsylvania: unique rock formations and an impressive mountain railway await you. The Mineral Museum shows you a beautiful view behind the backdrops of the mountain works. An unforgettable travel tip for adventure lovers!
To explore Boswell's sights, that's almost like a short time jump into the rural history of Indiana, and that before I even cross the main road. The city was founded in 1884 around the railway line, named after the local businessman S. Boswell – a guy who probably invested more money in rails than in chatter bags. Today Boswell is located in the heart of Grant Township, Benton County, and looks as if someone had equipped the 19-year old-Kuh-Stall aesthetic with a hint of modernity, without really knowing what he is doing.
Honestly, the arrival is a children's game: I take the US‐52, park at the only, but charming, small car park behind the old diner and then run away because the car is hardly more than a relic from another era. On the way I stumbled over the old town hall, which still has the same squeaking wooden window that my grandparents would have admired in the 60s. I don't quite understand the hype about the annual harvest festival parade, but the adjacent field with the huge sunflowers is simply fantastic – a perfect spot for a spontaneous photo that later shines in the Instagram feed.
If you're looking for a place that is neither overrun nor completely forgotten, you're right here. And yes, Boswell sights are enough to fill half a day without feeling like a catalog for tourists.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Boswell is not some hipest café, but that Boswell City Park. Where the grass is almost always a bit too short and the old benches tell more stories than most guides, I feel like a secret explorer. When you arrive there in the summer, grab an ice cream from the small stand at the entrance – yes, this is really the only thing that is really “tourist” here – and look for a place under the big oak tree that has been there since the 70s. I once organized a picnic with my neighbor, and we were surprised by a group of teenagers with loud “Yo, this is our spot!” Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the local baseball team has its game and the whole city is suddenly a fan club.
A short walk further Boswell Public Library, a small but charming building that houses more than just books. I don't quite understand the hype about huge, modern libraries, but here the staff has a humor that makes you smile immediately when you ask for a book about Indiana history. Last time I was there, the librarian showed me an old photo album from the 1930s – a real treasure you can't find anywhere else. Parking is right in front of the entrance and you can park your bike there if you feel athletic.
If you're looking for a place where the locals really spend their spare time, then that's Boswell Community Center Your goal. I once participated in a bingo evening, and the energy was almost contagious – except for the one lady who shouted every time according to “BINGO!” when she heard only one word. In addition to the large hall, the center also offers a small gym, and the best: The door is always open so you can spit in at any time to see what's going on. A little hint: If you come on Friday night, you should adjust to a bit of crowd because then the weekly karaoke event starts.
A bit of history? Then look at this Boswell Historical Museum in a former school building. I was there because I thought it was just a few old photos, but instead I found an original preserved schoolbook from 1912 and a few tools that used the first farmers from the area. The museum is small, but every exhibit has its own history, and the staff is so enthusiastic that they even offer you a piece of original cake from the 1950s – no joke, that is actually a piece that they have baked out of an old family recipe.
A short detour leads you to St. John Lutheran Church, one of the few preserved church buildings from the early 1900s in Grant Township. The architecture is simple, but the stained glass windows tell of a time when craftsmanship was something special. I once saw a small concert where a local guitarist played classical pieces – that was a real moment that broke through the silence of the place. If you are there, you can use the small Kirchhof grounds to enjoy a few quiet minutes; parking is right outside the door, but be warned that the road is sometimes slippery in winter.
And yes, I can Water Tower not to mention – this is the landmark that you find on each map, although hardly anyone visits. I once tried to make a selfie, and the whole city watched me as if I were a tourist from another world. The tower is not accessible, but the surrounding field offers a good spot to see the sunset over the fields. Nearby is the old Boswell High School football field, where the local guys make every fall game a small spectacle – this is a good example of how sport is almost a religion here.
So, next time you drive over the road to Boswell, don't forget that Boswell Attractions not in a shiny guide, but in the small moments you experience between the park benches, the library halls and the old church windows. And if you ask yourself if this is really the case – yes, I have experienced it myself, and that is the only thing that matters.
The old court building in Fowler, just a few minutes away by car from Boswell, looks like a relic from a time when judges still stabbed through the corridors with cylinder hats – not only in movies. The brick frame, which was completed in 1905, is proud of the marketplace and is today a popular photo motif for those who want to grab a bit of history without entering a museum. Parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you don't come on the first Saturday a month when the whole county mutates to a small folk festival.
Just a short walk away is the Benton County Historical Museum, which is housed in the former prison cell of the County – yes, this is not a joke. I found an old chain there, which was supposed to belong to a fleeting chicken thief; that was not the highlight, but the exhibition about the agricultural equipment from the 1900s really impressed me. The entrance is free, and the staff is so friendly that they almost give you the feeling that you are part of the family, even though you just got out of the car.
A bit further north, about 30 miles from Boswell, is the Tippecanoe River State Park. Here you can not only walk, but also go canoe, if you want to spend your time in the water – a real contrast to the dusty field paths you otherwise know here. I remember a rainy afternoon that I slept in the tent and used the rush of the river as a sleep aid; that was almost as soothing as the sum of an old stereo system. The parking lot at the main entrance fills quickly when the weather is good, so better be there early.
If you prefer to follow the river on foot, the Wabash River Heritage Trail at Delphi is a must. The path stretches along the river and offers breathtaking views, which are otherwise only known from postcards. I once met an old fisherman who told me that he has been fishing here every summer since the 60s – a real Indiana character that perfectly embodies the image of “rest on the river”. The trail is well signposted, and parking on the trailhead is usually easy, except for the weekends when the local running groups show up.
A short trip to Lafayette brings you to the weekly Farmers Market in the heart of the city. There are fresh products, handmade soaps and occasionally some live music that makes the whole a small festival. I bought a pumpkin there that was so big that I could hardly carry it through the door – a good example that you can not only shop here, but also experience a little comedy. The approach is uncomplicated, and parking is available in the surrounding garages, which usually still have places free when you don't come to the main time.
For those looking for a little green in the city, Purdue University Arboretum in West Lafayette is a hidden gem. The 300 hectares include various thematic gardens, from native premise flowers to exotic trees, which can be found only in botanical gardens abroad. I once made a picnic there, while a student told me that most of the trees are part of research projects – a bit of education next to relaxing. Parking is free at the main gate as long as you are not there during a university event.
Whether you prefer historical brick buildings, quiet river banks or lively markets – the surroundings of Boswell offer a colourful mix that unwinds any traveler's smile (or a light eye roll). And while you explore all these places, you quickly realize that the actual Boswell Attractions not necessarily in the city itself, but in the small, authentic experiences that the surrounding area has to offer.
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