Honestly, if you're looking for “Scottsburg Sights”, you won't be served a tourist paradise, but that's what makes the charm – a bit of history, a bit of dust and a lot of local characteristics. The city was founded in 1871, named after General Winfield Scott, and is embedded in the Vienna Township of the homonymous Scott County, where the first railways still formed the backbone of the economy. I remember my father standing at the old station as a child, while the steam locomotives were crying and all the towns were trembling – a picture that is still to be found today in the headlines of the Main Street when you look closely.
If you come here, take the I‐65 and then the branch US‐31; this is the fastest route, and I have never experienced a traffic jam that was not greeted by a friendly peasant with a “welcome” from the field. A short trip to the heart of the city leads you to the small shops that have more character than some big city chain, and to the cafés where coffee is almost as strong as the opinions of the locals. I don't quite understand the hype about the annual County Fair, but the next antiquities business is fantastic – a real treasure box for everyone who wants to sniff the real midwest feeling. And yes, if you ask where to stay, there are some family-run B&Bs that spoil you with homemade apple cake while you think about the next “Scottsburg sights”. I promise you you won't be disappointed as long as you're ready to enjoy all day with an eye-catcher.
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The first stop I couldn't miss was that Lincoln State Park – a piece of Indiana that smells more like history than fresh air, although both are in rough combination. I took a walk along the Little Blue River, while an older gentleman passed in a devastated tractor that looked like he survived the 1970s. The park is famous for Abraham Lincoln hacking wood here as a young man; I don’t understand the hype around the “Lincoln Trail”, but the small visitor center with original artifacts is really great. Parking is usually easy except for long weekends when the families with picnic baskets flood the field.
A short detour to the north leads to Jefferson County Courthouse in Madison – an impressive 19th building Century that has more columns than a Greek temple recipe. I stood there while a Ohio tourist spoke loudly about the “best architecture” and thought that the whole thing is more of a photo stop for Instagram. Nevertheless, the interiors are surprisingly well preserved, and the car park behind the town hall is free as long as you do not come to the main traffic period.
If you have enough of stone facades, it is worth a trip to Lanier Mansion, also in Madison. The mansion from the Antebellum era looks like a film set that was forgotten until I got a lead where the guide told more about the old family secrets than about the furniture. I was wondering why you didn't just set up a café – that would be a real crowd magnet. The property is a bit off, so you should leave the car at the small parking lot at the main entrance; there is enough space, but no signs, so just follow the way to the house.
Back to the south, an absolute must for nature lovers: Muscatuck National Wildlife Refuge. I spent a few hours with a binoculars that I just bought, and actually saw some rare waders – no joke, that was a real lucky handle. The way to the visitor centre is well signposted, but parking can quickly be full at hunting seasons, so it's better to be there early. The trails are not too demanding, but the wetland has a peculiar silence that almost seems meditative.
A bit further east is the Hoosier National Forest, a huge forest area that has more to offer than just trees. I made a day hike on the “Cedar Creek” trail that led me through dense jaws and small streams – a perfect place to escape everyday life without losing the phone (I still took it because I didn’t want to risk my blog suffering). The parking spaces on the trailheads are usually free, except for the weekends in autumn, when the leaves attract people.
For those who prefer to travel on the water, there is Blue River Canoe Trail. I rented a canoe and drove down the river, while the sun glittered over the fields – a picture you don't see every day. The access point is a small wooden ridge on the edge of Scottsburg, where a local angler gave me some tips on how to use the flow without wasting too much force. Parking is right next to the ridge, but only a few places, so better be there early, otherwise you have to transport the canoe on foot.
All in all, Scottsburg's surroundings offer a colourful mix of history, nature and a bit of local character that appeals to every modern traveler – whether it be hiking in the Hoosier National Forest, bird watching in the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge or as a dazzling over the stone facades in Madison. If you are looking for authentic experiences, the Scottsburg Attractions not only as a checklist, but as an invitation to small adventures.
I have to confess that I always start the first stop in Scottsburg with a slightly spidy grin: the old Scottsburg Railroad Depot Museum. The thing is a red relic from the 1910s, which today looks more like a dusty shop window for yellowed schedules than a place where you could really learn something. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a little nostalgia for the age of steam locomotives, this is your spot – and parking is almost always a Klack, as long as you don't come to the Depot-Bier-Abend on Saturday night, then the field in front of the building suddenly becomes a battlefield.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Scott County Historical Society Museumhoused in the imposing old court building. I don't quite understand the hype around the courthouse – it's simply a brick base with a few old columns, but the exhibitions there are pretty much researched. I found a handwritten diary page from 1865, which tells about a young soldier from nearby, and that really made me think, while I stood next to a dusty showcase that seemed to have more spider webs than visitors.
If you have enough of dusty halls, look at the Scottsburg City Park on. The park is not just a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it has a small lake, a few benches, and a playground that looks more like an improvised climbing scaffold than a designer playground. I was eating an ice cream from the nearby ice cream parlour on a hot afternoon of July and watching the local seniors jogging their daily rounds around the lake – an image that keeps me smiling when I recall it.
A little culture? From Scottsburg Public Library. Yes, you have read correctly – a library. I was skeptical until I noticed that the building is a real community hub. There are not only books, but also regular readings, a small café and even a room for local artists who exhibit their works. I once experienced a Poetry-Slam where a 12-year-old boy ran over life in the small town – no joke, that was better than some expensive club performance.
For those who prefer to stay in motion, there is Big Four Trail, a closed railway track, which has been converted into a cycle and hiking path. The path stretches through fields and small forests, and the best is: you can stop almost everywhere to shoot a photo of the endless corn fields that extend to the horizon. The other day I saw an old tractor that seemed like a relic from a Western film – that was the highlight of my day, because I hardly found anything else to photograph.
Another must, if you happen to be in the city in summer, is that Scott County Fairgrounds. There are various events all year round, from the annual County Fair to small concerts and flea markets. I once met a local craftsman who sold handmade wooden toys – the quality was so good that I almost bought a set for my niece, although I was actually looking for a quick snack.
And because I'm not allowed to forget everything: if you're looking for a real insider tip, look at them. Scottsburg Attractions Map in the Tourist Information Office. There you will find not only the well-known places, but also a few hidden corners, such as the small, barely noteworthy monument at the end of Main Street, which is supposed to remind of the city's first post messengers. I spent a few minutes there because I thought it would be a good place for a selfie – the result was a slightly blurred picture that is now stored in my phone as “remembering the best moments in Scottsburg”.
Finally, I must say that I would never have thought that a place that is as small as Scottsburg can have so many different facets. Maybe that's because I keep discovering something new that makes me feel and amaze at the same time – and that's actually what travels are, isn't it?
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