Worthington's sights are for me less a marketing term than an honest hint that there is more here than you suspect at first glance. Honestly, the city was founded in 1835, as brave pioneers colonized the country in Jefferson Township, Greene County, a piece of Indiana history that you can't just overlook because it's not in shiny brochures. I like to drive over the old state road 54, which acts here like a silent witness of past carriage rides, and then stop at the small main road where the old town hall still sprays the flair of another era. When you arrive by car, take the I‐69 and follow the signs to Worthington – this is the fastest route, but take a bit of a road, lets you enjoy the wide fields and the occasional cow's heul, which is kind of soothing. I don't understand the hype around the big metropolises, but here, between corn fields and the gentle stroller of Little Wabash, I find a real piece of peace. A short detour to the nearby Jefferson County Fairgrounds is not the Nonplusultra, but the annual festival gives you a good impression of the community that lives here. And if you ask where you get a coffee in the evening, just look into the little diner at the corner – no joke, that's the best piece of locality I've ever found. I could talk about the quiet alleys and the friendly faces for hours, but it's best to see if you just get rid of Worthington and surprise you.
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The first stop I always recommend is the Greene County Historical Society Museum in Bloomfield – a small but surprisingly well-stocked museum that keeps the rural history of the region alive. I once saw an old tractor from the 1930s, which still had the smell of engine oil, and that immediately reminded me of the dusty fields of my childhood. Parking is usually a Klacks, only on the first Saturday a month, when the local senior meeting takes place, you have to sneak around the car a bit.
If you have enough dusty tractors, the way will take you to Corydon, where the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site is waiting. The old Capitol, which housed the first capital of Indiana in 1816, is a real piece of history that you not only know from the textbook. I have seen a guided tour there with a somewhat too enthusiastic guide who cheered a bit too loud every time he said “Free Choice” – no joke, that was almost funny. The parking lot is right behind the building, and although it's small, it's enough for a few cars as long as you don't arrive at lunchtime.
A short detour from Corydon leads you to the O'Bannon Woods State Park, where a 40-hectare large lake invites you to paddle. I rented a canoe there in autumn and I was suffocated over the smooth water while the trees were lit in all colors – a picture I still see in my head when I think of the summer. The entrance is free, parking is well signposted at the main entrance, and the visitor center has a small souvenir shop where you can find a T-shirt with a beaver if you need it.
For those who prefer to walk in the forest, the Hoosier National Forest is a must. The section south of Worthington offers the Trail of Tears, a historical path that recalls the sad events of the 1830s. I once made a 10-mile walkway there and discovered a sign that explains why the trees are particularly dense here – a bit of irony that I almost missed the way because I stared too much over the shield. The parking spaces on the trailheads are usually empty, except for long weekends, as the families with picnic baskets then move in.
A bit further north lies the Lincoln State Park, named after the president, who worked here as a young man as a woodjack. The park has a small lake, a visitor centre and several hiking trails that lead through the hilly terrain. I remember a sunny afternoon when I fished with a friend at the lake and suddenly a roe jumped out of the underwood – that was almost too film-ready to be true. Parking is large enough to accommodate some campers, and parking is free as long as you don't want to camp there all year round.
Patoka Lake, about 30 kilometres north, is the largest water in the region and a paradise for anglers and boaters. I rented a small inflatable there and drove over the smooth waves while the sun glittered over the water – a moment I will never forget. Access to the lake is well signposted, and parking at the main dock is usually easy, except for the summer holidays when the families move with their caravans.
Last but not least, you should not forget the Blue River, which stretches through the rural Indiana and is particularly popular with canoeing. I rented a kayak there in the spring, and I flushed down the river, while the trees on the shore shined in fresh green. The access point on County Road 500 is easy to find, and parking is a simple gravel place – not a luxury, but completely sufficient for a few day trippers.
Whether you're looking for history, nature or a bit of both, the surroundings of Worthington have more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. From museums to old Capitols to deep forests and clear lakes, there are enough reasons to explore the area and to explore its own Worthington Attractions to rediscover.
If you ask me, this is Worthington Historical Museum the first thing I want to show you – and not just because I drank my first cup of coffee after moving into town. The old school house from the 1880s has more charm than some hip district in Chicago, and the exhibitions about the railway and agricultural history of the area are surprisingly well curated. Parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you don't want to look past the weekly flea market on Saturday night, then the small car park in front of the museum suddenly becomes the most desirable place in the city.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Worthington Town Hall, a red brick building that looks as if it had designed an architect from the Victorian era with a modern twist. I don't understand the hype around the old town hall – it's basically just an office that radiates a bit of history – but the wooden staircase that leads to the small offices has something calming that reminds me of my childhood every time I fill out a form.
Right next to the town hall Wordhington Community Center, which used to serve as a school and now serves as a meeting place for everything possible, from yoga courses to bingo evenings for seniors. I took part in an improvised jazz evening where a retired teacher bred the trumpet because the microphone fell out. The room still smells like chalk and old school benches, and this is somehow the best souvenir you can take when you leave the building.
A few blocks on, almost unnoticed, the Wordhington Library, part of the Marion County Public Library System. I spent more hours there than I would like to admit, because quiet reading in the cozy corners is almost therapeutic. The staff knows every regular guest by name and recommends books you would never have considered for yourself – a real secret tip if you want to keep away from the usual tourist traps.
If you are looking for a place to represent your legs, then the Worthington Park That's right. The small but well-kept green area on the corner of Main and Oak offers a playground, a few benches and a small pond where ducks swim – nothing spectacular, but perfect for a picnic if you want to relax after a long day with Worthington attractions a little. I started a spontaneous Frisbee game with native teenagers there, and that was the highlight of my stay because nobody else was so loose with a stranger.
Saturday in summer the main road turns into the Worthington Farmers Market. Fresh vegetables, homemade jams and a stand that allegedly sells the best corn flasks in the region – I tried the corn and can confirm that it actually tastes better than what I find in the supermarkets. The market attracts a bit more traffic, but this is a small price for the authentic atmosphere you don't get anywhere else in the area.
Another jewel that is often overlooked is the old Worthington Depot, which today houses the railway museum. The original rails and a restored wagon give you the feeling that you will return to the time when the railway was the backbone of the city. I made a guided tour there with a former locomotive leader who told me stories about the “golden days” of the railroad, while he demonstrated to me the brakes – a real highlight that I recommend to anyone seeking a little nostalgia.
Finally, if you are looking for a spiritual moment, take a look at the St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The building from the 1920s has an impressive stained glass window front that filters the light in a way that sounds almost too cheesy to be true, but I swear there is a little magic. I took part in a choir sample there, because I thought it was a nice distraction, and was rewarded with a warm sound carpet that completely ripped me out of everyday life.
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