Monon White Indiana - Top Sights 

• Buffalo Sights – A Guide by Liberty Township, White County
• Monon Sights & Attractions
• - Buffalo Historic District
• - Buffalo Public Library
• - Buffalo Community Park
• - Buffalo United Methodist Church
• - Buffalo Farmers Market
• - Buffalo Town Hall
• Other special sights in the vicinity of Monon, Indiana
• Conclusion
• - Monon Attractions

Buffalo Sights – A Guide by Liberty Township, White County

Honestly, if you’re looking for “Buffalo Sights”, first imagine that you’ll land in a tiny corner of Indiana that has more charm than some big city coffee houses – this is Buffalo, a sleepy town in the heart of Liberty Township, White County. The city was founded in 1836 at the intersection of a few land roads, named after the nearby Buffalo Creek, and has hardly ever gained in size, but for that it is self-willing. I usually travel across State Road 16, because the land roads here look a bit like an open book – you can stop at any time to marvel at the field or photograph the old tractor that a local parks proudly next to his house.

A short trip to Liberty Township lets you feel the history that is in the old barns and the few but well preserved buildings; that is for me the true “seen values” to Buffalo. I don't quite understand the hype around the big metropolises, but here is a small café that attracts fresh cake every morning – no joke, that's better than some expensive latte. And if you happen to get a bus from Monticello to Rochester, you can easily get off in Buffalo because the bus connections are surprisingly reliable here, although the village is barely larger than a parking lot. So, that was my quick tour – and yes, that was only the beginning, because Buffalo's sights have more to offer than you suspect at first sight.

Monon Sights & Attractions

I have to admit that I always start the first stop in Buffalo with a slightly spidy grin – that Buffalo Historic District is what I personally call the centrepiece of the city, although it hardly calls anyone as a “must-see”. The old brick buildings along Main Street have this charming, slightly weathered look that you can only find in movies from the 30s. I took a walk there, while a local baker just pulled his croissants out of the oven, and the sound of crunchy headstone plaster was almost hypnotic. Parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you are not there with the whole village on Saturday night – then parking becomes a small adventure.

Directly next to the historical core lies the Buffalo Public Library, a tiny but surprisingly well-sorted place I like to call the “secret knowledge camp”. I've found some old town chronics there that told me more about the founding time than any tourist brochure ever could. The library has free Wi-Fi, so after browsing you can move back to a café nearby – that's convenient because the café itself has no seats, but that's almost a local running gag.

A short walk further leads you to Buffalo Community Park. Here there is a baseball court, a small playground area and a few benches that are perfect for people watching. I remember having a picnic with friends on a hot July afternoon while a local high school team took a training – that was the most authentic “city life” I have ever experienced. The park has a public toilet that is surprisingly clean, and parking is free at the edge of the park as long as you are not there during one of the annual festivals.

If you're looking for a little spiritual change, look at the Buffalo United Methodist Church on. The building is a real example of neo-Gothic architecture, and the interior is amazingly well preserved. I have seen a concert from a local youth band there – the acoustics is amazing, and the community is surprisingly open to new ideas, although it is quite traditional. The entrance is of course free, and you can visit the church ship from the outside at any time without having to make an appointment.

Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the Buffalo Farmers Market, which takes place every Saturday morning from spring to autumn on the Town Hall Square. There are fresh vegetables, homemade jams and occasionally even handmade ceramics. I don't understand the hype about the “urban‐farm‐to‐table” movement completely, but here in Buffalo, the whole thing feels honest and down-to-earth – no snuck, only genuine products from real people. Parking is limited at the market place, so you'd rather come on foot or by bike if you live nearby.

A little away from the hustle Buffalo Town Hall, an imposing brick building, which today serves as an administrative center. Once I've been through the city archives and found some old town plans that show how the village was once traversed by a railway line – a piece of history that you don't see every day. The building is accessible without barrier, and parking behind the town hall is usually free, except when a city council meeting takes place.

At the end of my little tour through the city, I would like to mention that the locals often speak of the “Buffalo Sights” without knowing exactly what that means – that is, that the city is so small that almost everything is a highlight. So, next time you drive through Liberty Township, stop breathing in the fresh air and let yourself be surprised by the mixture of rustic charm and slightly cynical self-ironity of the inhabitants. Who knows, maybe you will discover your own favorite place between the old bricks and the friendly faces.

Other special sights in the vicinity of Monon, Indiana

The Monon Trail, this endless, easy-running asphalt stripe, attracts me every time I feel that my everyday life smells too much like office cursor. I parked there for the first time in spring – that was a lucky case, because the small car park next to the old freight station is usually overrun by cyclists – and then I just ran off until I heard the whipping of the Amseln over the field. The path takes you through fields, past old barns and occasionally a small café serving more latte than latte Macchiato, but has the best homemade muffins. If you’re wondering if this is a “sight point”, just look at the 30-kilometre length that sounds through the rural Indiana – that’s more nature than any Instagram filter app promises.

A short trip to Lafayette brings you to the Tippecanoe County Historical Museum, which is housed in an old courthouse and gives more dust to breathe than any library. I saw an old tractor that looked like he survived the 1920s because he was just too proud to go. The museum is free, but parking on the weekend is a little adventure: a single free space is a real lucky handle, otherwise you have to park a few blocks further and walk the way – this is good to loosen the legs before you get back to the car.

If you have enough of dusty halls, then Purdue University Arboretum is a real secret tip. I made a picnic there in the summer, while a professor came by in a white lab coat and spoke loudly about genetics – that was the most beautiful “noise” of the day. Arboretum is huge, with thematic gardens, a small pond and a collection of trees that you can only see in botanical magazines. The entrance is free, and parking is always a Klack at the main building, as long as you are not there at the exam period, then the terrain is overrun by students in bulk.

Another highlight I underestimate every time is the Prophetstown State Park, about 20 minutes north of Monon. There are not only hiking trails, but also a small museum that illuminates the history of the Native Americans and the early settlers. I remember a day when I was almost surprised by a deer standing in the middle of the path and looking at me as if he wanted to say: “You are not welcome here, but you can stay.” The park has several parking spaces, but they are quickly full on weekends – an early arrival is worthwhile, otherwise you have to enjoy the long walk from the road.

The Wabash River, which swells gently through the landscape, is a place I visit again and again, because the water there is somehow calmer than the hectic city life. I rented a canoe there and drove down the river until I arrived at a small dock near Battle Ground. There is a sign that reminds of the Battle of Tippecanoe – a bit of history, a bit of nature, and all this without entering. Parking by the river bank is usually uncomplicated except on hot summer days when the families flood the shore with picnic blankets.

A little further south lies the Battle Ground Historical Park, the site of the famous Battle of 1811. I spent a little time there to admire the replicas of the cannons and to imagine how the soldiers could have rested at that time – a picture that keeps me sneaking again and again, because I hardly ever make myself stand still for more than five minutes. The entrance is free, and the parking is a small but fine parking directly at the entrance, which usually has space as long as you are not there at the weekend with a school class.

Conclusion

So the next time you think about what you can experience in the environment of Monon, Monon Township, White, Indiana, remember that Monon Attractions not only consist of a single place, but a colourful mix of nature, history and a bit of local character, which at the same time delights you and leaves you slightly sarcastically.