Visit Argos Marshall Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Argos, Indiana: Experience the Amish community and the Tanner Farm Museum! A beautiful village following the Cicero-Greenfield State Forest. #Travel TipsUSA
Honestly, if you're looking for "Argo's Sights", you don't get a tourist paradise, but that makes the charm – a small town that was built on Chicago's track in 1853, Fort Wayne & Southern Railroad and has since been in the shadow of Walnut Township's corn fields. I remember driving the Indianapolis train over the endless fields, the rat of the wheels was almost the only sound that didn't come from the cows that strip the county. Today it is best to get by car over the US-30, a short trip from the I-69, and if you are really nostalgic, there is a sporadic bus to Marshall that takes you to the heart of the county.
I don't understand the hype about the little Main Street shops, but the old diner on Main Street has the best milkshake I've ever tasted – no joke, that's almost cult. And while most visitors ask for the County Courthouse, I prefer to show them the old Water Mill building, which today serves as an art gallery; that's my personal secret tip. If you are looking for a walk, take a look at the historical cemetery on the edge of Walnut Township – the gravestones tell stories that no one mentions in the guides. And yes, all this is just a short detour, but that's exactly what makes Argos a place you shouldn't overlook, even if the "Argos Sights" didn't jump on every map.
I must confess at the beginning that this Argos Historical Museum for me is the real heart of this tiny little spot in the Middle Indiana – and I say that not only because I had my first real encounter with a 19-year-old cookie can, which is supposedly from the founding period. The museum is located in the former school building, which you can see from the main road, because the bricks were a bit too much of the tooth of time to not please. Inside, there are more original items than you could find in a second-hand store all day, and the staff is so enthusiastic that they explain almost every piece personally – a bit too much if you don't want to count any screw, but I think it's charming. Parking is usually a Klack except when the annual “Founders‐Day-Fest” runs; then you have to avoid a few blocks.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Argos Public Library, which I personally describe as the quietest “coffee cabinet” of the city. The library is not only a place to borrow books – it is a meeting place for the local chess round, which discusses a bit too loud every Wednesday at 7 p.m., and for the kids who shout loudly “marish time” after school. I once borrowed a book about the history of the corn fields, only to see that the shelf has a window next to the window, which in summer looks almost like a natural fan. Practically because you can cool the heat while reading outside, but also a bit too “rustic” for my reading glasses.
If you're looking for something that gets you out of the dusty library flair, then it's Argos Community Park That's right. The park has a small lake, a few baseball-diamonds and a playground that makes more noise than a lively marketplace. I remember the day I made a picnic with my nephew there and suddenly a swarm duck decided to “prove our sandwich”. This was not planned, but the ducks have made it an unforgettable experience – and the garage (only a few parking spaces on the edge) was full on this sunny Saturday afternoon, so better to get early if you don't want to end up in the traffic jam of your own cars.
A real highlight for those who like to sniff a little local flair is the Argos Farmers Market. Every Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm, the main road turns into a colorful collection of fresh vegetables, homemade jams and the one or the other shrill craft stand. I don't understand the hype about organic aprons, but there's the pumpkin soup served by an older lady named Marge, which is really great – no joke. Practical: The parking spaces behind the town hall fill up faster than the cash registers, so a short walk from the city center is the better choice if you don't want to stand in the backdrop of your own feet.
For those who prefer the water instead of the bread, the Walnut Creek an underestimated jewel. The brook winds through the countryside, and in some places there are small fishing segments where you can throw out your fishing without a tourist having a huge backpack disturbing you. I once caught a pike that was almost as big as my bike, and that was the first time I had the feeling of being a bit like an Indiana-Jones adventurer while fishing – just without the whip. Access is free, and parking is usually an empty field path as long as you are not there with the families from the surrounding area on weekends.
Another place I like to mention is that Argos Community Center. The building is a bit like the Swiss pocket knife in the city: yoga courses, art exhibitions and the annual “Pie‐Bake‐Off” take place here. I took part in a course where we tried to make a yoga-posen program, while in the background a local choir “Amazing Grace” sang – that was at the same time calming and slightly irritating, but somehow it fits to Argos, where everything is a bit at the same time. The center has a small parking space right in front of the door, which is usually empty, except when a large community festival runs; then you just have to park a few blocks and enjoy the way on foot.
Last but not least, I shouldn't like the iconic Argos Water Tower Forget about the city as a silent guard. It is not exactly a place that you can “visit” but a short trip to the footpath at the end of the main road offers you a view that almost seems poetic when the sun goes down. I took a photo that now hangs in my living room – not because it is particularly artistic, but because it reminds me that even the most inconspicuous things in Argos have their own charm. And yes, this is one of my favorite spots if I just want to do “not” while the city humps quietly.
So, if you think the next time you want to spend your next little break, remember: Argos has more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. And that's not just an empty promise, that's my personal experience that I like to share with you – without a big tam, but with an eye-catcher that the Argos Attractions a little more human.
The first stop of my little Odyssey leads me to Tipecanoe River State Park, a piece of untouched nature that extends only a stone's throw from Argos in the heart of Winamac. I spent a weekend there that sounded more after a survival workshop than after a relaxed picnic – the water is cold enough to wake you up immediately, and the trails are so muddy that you ask if you should not stay in the car. Nevertheless, the view from Lookout Tower, where you can look over the river delta, is really great; the panorama is so clear that you almost feel you could see the city from the sky. Parking is usually easy, except for the long weekends in summer, then there is a regular traffic jam of caravans and families that celebrate the bathroom in the river.
A short trip to Plymouth, about 15 minutes north, brings me to Marshall County Historical Museum. This is where old land machines, dusty photos and a couple of curious items are stacking you up to the rural Indiana that I always underestimate. I remember trying as a child to turn an old tractor wheel – the thing was so hard that I almost had to leave the museum because I thought I would bring the foundation down. The entrance is free, and the staff is so friendly that they even offer you a piece of self-baked bread from the cafeteria if you are still hungry after the tour. Practical: The museum is located directly on the main road, so no stress with the approach.
Go on Indiana Beach at Lake Shafer, a place I always connect with a mixture of nostalgia and light discomfort. The park is a bit like a relic from the 80s, with a rollercoaster, which is more squeaking than roaring, and a water park overflowing in summer. I once tried to climb the chute, just to find that the snake was longer than the chute itself – a real test for patience. Nevertheless, the water is crystal clear, and if you are lucky, you will get a place on the beach before the families with their huge parasols occupy the whole shore. Parking is best done early in the morning, otherwise you have to choose between a parking lot and a parking lot full of campers.
A little further south, near the border to Starke County, lies this Strong County Fairgrounds in Knox. I visited the site during the annual County Fair, and that was a spectacle of carousels, cattle shows and a lot of people who talk more about the weather than about the latest trends. The atmosphere is a bit like a big family festival where everyone tries to get the best piece of cake. Practical: The approach is uncomplicated because the fairgrounds are located directly on the US-35, and parking is generous as long as you don't arrive on Friday night when the exhibitors build their stands.
A short detour to Delphi brings me to Delphi Historical Museumhidden in an old bank building. I was there because I wanted to read a little about the famous “Delphi Murders” – a case that shocked the city in the 1970s. The museum offers a compact but well curated exhibition that illuminates both the dark chapters and the proud agricultural achievements of the region. I remembered the old typewriter used by a local reporter; she almost sounded like a relic from another time when they were actuated. The museum is barrier-free, and parking is right in front of the building, which makes the whole very comfortable.
A little off the beaten path lies the Potawatomi Trail, a historical path that leads through the area around Argos and recalls the old trading routes of the Potawatomi Indians. I explored the trail on a foggy autumn morning, and the rustling of the leaves under the boots was the only sound that broke through the silence. The path is not signposted as a typical hiking path, so you need a good GPS or an old, crumbling map sheet that you found in the Museum in Plymouth. The trail is ideal if you want to escape the hustle and get a bit of history in your feet – and parking is usually not a problem because you simply turn off your car at the edge of the field.
Whether after a muddy adventure in Tipecanoe River State Park a bit of history in Marshall County Historical Museum want to suck, the shrill flair of Indiana Beach want to experience or just want to escape from everyday life by trying to Potawatomi Trail folgst – the environment of Argos has more to offer than one would suspect at first glance. And that's exactly what makes Argos Attractions to an underestimated treasure for those who want to discover the real Indiana off the tourist paths.
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