Visit Tipton Tipton Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Tipton, Indiana: Small America in the heart of the Middle West! Experience traditional festivals such as the Tipton Harvest Fair and the Tipton Freedom Days. Discover the old railway station and the historic parish hall. Eat a typical American maal in the local diner or in the traditional bakery.
Honestly, if you ask yourself why anyone should talk about Tipton, Indiana at all, let me give you a little story: Founded in 1844, named after Governor John Tipton, the city has created its charm from the railway time when the rails formed the backbone of the Middle West. The old brick houses and the slightly weathered town hall tell about a time when life went even slower – at least until the car came.
I came by train to Tipton because I had tired the stress of the highway; the small station is hardly more than a nostalgic photo motif, but it takes you to the heart of the city where I like to take my first steps. There, between the café, which offers more coffee than service, and the small park, which has more squirrels than visitors, I feel at home immediately.
To the Tipton Attractions, which I can really recommend: The historical courthouse, a building from 1884, is a must if you like architecture that does not try to impress you, but just exist. And the annual autumn festival – no joke, this is the only time in the year where the city really pulsates, and you can marvel at local craftsmanship while asking yourself why you were not here earlier.
So, next time you drive over the Indiana-Plains and suddenly the sign “Tipton” appears, let me get the first Top attractions betrayed: the imposing Tipton County Courthouse, which thrones like a stone heart that measures the heart of the city. I once spent a rainy afternoon there because I thought the building was just another boring courthouse – wrongly thought. The red and white columns, the artistically crafted bell game and the huge dome give you the feeling that you have landed in a movie from the 30s. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the local jazz picnic takes place in the courtyard and everyone is looking for a free parking space.
A short walk down the main road leads you to the Tipton County Historical Museum, which is actually hidden in the old court building – yes, the same monument I just praised. There you will find exhibitions ranging from the pioneering period to the local railway history. I remember when I discovered an old diary in a dusty corner, handwritten by a blacksmith from the 1880s; that was for me the moment I realized that Tipton has more to offer than just corn fields. Admission is free, and the staff is so friendly that they even offer you a piece of homemade bread from the cafeteria if you are still hungry after the tour.
If you have enough of dusty relics, just keep going to Downtown Main Street. There is a mix of old brick shops, a small bookstore that leads more indie titles than any big city, and the restored Tipton Theatre, which occasionally shows indie films and local theatre productions. I once saw a midnight film of “The Big Lebowski” there – no joke, the audience was half out of town, half out of the neighborhood, and the popcorn prices were surprisingly fair. Parking is available in the small side streets, but be warned: in recent years the city has set up a few new bicycle stands that make parking for cars a bit more tricky.
A bit further north, almost on the edge of the city, this is Tipton City Park with its small lake, which is used in summer by families for fishing and in autumn by Joggern for sprinting. I once made a picnic with my cousin, while an older gentleman in the background loudly swarmed over the “good old times” of the 1970s baseball team – a real tip for everyone who wants to sniff a little local flair. The park has free toilets and a few benches, which, however, can become somewhat slippery after a strong rain, so better wear hard shoes.
Another highlight that I cannot leave is the St. Joseph Catholic Church, a small but fine example of neo-Gothic architecture that has been the spiritual center of the city for over 150 years. I once participated in a choir test because I thought that was a good excuse to test the acoustics – and indeed, the voices are so beautiful there that you almost forget that you are in a small town. Visitors can visit the interior at any time, and the staff will be happy to explain the old stained glass windows that tell stories from local history.
Finally, if you ask yourself what else you can see in Tipton, take a look at the Tipton Attractions – this is not only an advertising slogan, but a real collection of small museums, historic buildings and local events that shape the cityscape. I have the feeling that everyone who spends a few hours here takes a piece of Indiana heartbeat, and this is worth more than any expensive tourist attraction.
I must confess the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of the area around Tipton, is the grelle neon of Indiana Beach at Lake Shafer – a bit like a forgotten amusement park cult from the 80s, which suddenly reappears when you leave the highway 35 north. I spent a rainy afternoon there, because the weather in Indiana is always a bit lurking, and yet the giant wheel was a real eye-catcher. Parking is almost always a children's game at the main parking lot at the lake, except for the hot summer weekends when the field is full of families with picnic baskets and you almost have to build your own parking lot from the rest of the visitors.
A few miles further, towards Kokomo, this is Kokomo Opalescent Glass Factory. I was there because I thought this would be just a dusty store for collectors, but the guide was surprisingly alive – you can see how the glass material goes into flames and then solidifies to these dazzling pieces that later land in lampshades or art objects. The small visitor area is not huge, but the staff is so enthusiastic that you almost forget that you are here for a few minutes. And yes, parking is right in front of the work, a small asphalt strip that is rarely full, as long as you don't come on Friday night when the local art scene holds a small after-work event there.
If you have enough of glass and rumble, the path leads me Beberling Mansion in Kokomo, a magnificent mansion from the early 20th century. I visited the house on a lousy autumn afternoon when the leaves just start to discolor – this gives the place an almost film-ready atmosphere, which is in vain in most museums. The tour is rather a relaxed walk where the curator talks a bit about the Seiberling family and then suddenly about the strange preference of the old gentleman for Japanese teapots. Parking is a bit tricky here because the property is in a residential area; I just parked my car on the street and asked a friendly resident a few minutes later if I can park there – he nodded only and continued.
A short detour to Peru brings me to Circus Hall of Fame. I was there because I thought this would be just a small museum for circus nostalgists, but the collection is amazingly extensive: old circus cars, worn clown shoes and even an original elephant-circus-circus tent that still seems to bear the smell of popcorn and animal food. I remember how a little boy next to me shouted “Wow!” when he saw the huge, red and white striped manege – that was a real moment that made the whole exhibition alive. Parking is a huge, open car park behind the museum, which is usually free as long as you don't arrive on the first Saturday a month when the museum hosts a special event with live performances.
For those who prefer nature instead of glass and circus is Tipecanoe River State Park A must. I spent a weekend to paddle, and the water was so clear that you almost feel like sitting in a huge aquarium. The trails are well marked, and the visitor centre offers maps that you don't necessarily need, because you always get off the road – that's almost the real pleasure. Parking is at the main exit a large, free parking lot, but at the holiday weekends it can quickly get full there, so better get early when you want to see the sunrise above the river.
Another secret tip I almost forgot is that Wabash and Erie Canal Museum near Peru. The museum is small, but the history of the canal, which once was the backbone of transport in the Middle West, is fascinating. I have found an old map that shows how the canal went through the region – a real treasure for history lovers who appreciate not only the great battles but also the everyday life leads of the past. Parking is a small but sufficiently large car park right in front of the museum, and this is usually not a problem as long as you do not arrive on Saturday morning when the school classes have their excursions there.
So the next time you think about what you could do in the vicinity of Tipton, Cicero Township, Indiana, remember: Tipton Attractions not only are the small shops in the city centre, but the whole colourful potpourri from leisure parks, glass factories, historic villas, circus museums, nature parks and old canals that make this region a surprisingly varied destination.
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