Visit Culver Marshall Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Culver, Indiana: A family holiday in the historic Lakeside Park! Discover the old railway and summer fun at the lake.
Honestly, if I take the word “Culver Sights” in my mouth, it sounds almost like an insider joke that only the locals understand – and that’s the beauty of it. The city was founded in 1872 when the railroad slit the prairie, and since then it has become a small but proud corner in the heart of Union Township. I usually travel across the US-30, because this is the fastest route from Indianapolis, and when I finally get back to the main road, I feel like a explorer in the Wild West, only with more corn fields.
The story of Culver is not exactly a Hollywood blockbuster, but that makes the charm: an old town hall that still pulsates the city life today, and a few well-preserved half-timbered houses that tell us that there used to be real people, not only tourists with Instagram feeds. I don't quite understand the hype about the annual “Culver Fest” but the small café next to the station, which serves the best apple cake wide and wide, is really great – no joke.
When you arrive by train, just get off in Marshall and take the short bus to Union Township; that's faster than you think, and you feel like you're not just driving through Indiana, but through a piece of lively history. And yes, this is my personal recommendation because I see more than just “Culver Sights” here – I see a piece of real Indiana heart.
I must confess to you that what I love most about Culver is the honorable Culver Military Academy is – yes, this is not some dusty barracks, but the heart of this small town, which has stuck into the heads of the locals like a stiff gum since 1894. I was there on a lukewarm Saturday afternoon when a group of cadets marched along the main road in their shiny uniforms and I wondered if this is a film set or a real place. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the annual “Cadet-Ball-Gala” takes place and everyone tries to get a place next to the main gate.
A short walk further (and yes, this is a bit of a walk, so sneaker your sneaker) leads you to Culver Historical Museum. The building was formerly the old Union-Township school, and now there are old photos, some rusted tools and an amazingly well-preserved model of a steam locomotive that once drove through the area. I found a handwritten note of 1912 where a villager complained that the cows were too loud – no joke, that was real. The museum is small, but that makes it charming; You can see almost everything in a single, cozy round, and the staff is so friendly that they even offer you a piece of cake from the cafeteria when you ask the way.
If you have enough of dusty memorabilia, take a look at the Culver Park. I made a picnic with a few friends there while the kids died on the playground and the adults were talking about the “good old time” – this is the typical Culver feeling you can’t buy. The park has a baseball field, which is occupied by local teams almost every weekend, and a small amphitheater where concerts take place occasionally in the summer. The car park is an open field, so no stress with parking tickets, but bring some blankets if you want to spread on the lawn.
A bit further north, almost on the edge of the city, this is Culver Community Center. I once went to a yoga class led by a former cadetist – ironic that it now runs in leggings instead of in uniform. In addition to fitness courses, the center also offers art exhibitions by local artists, and the best: the swimming pool is a real secret tip in the summer because most tourists do not know there is a public pool. The swimming pool is freely accessible as long as you stop at the opening hours, and the staff is so loose that they welcome you almost like an old friend.
Of course you can Culver Public Library Don't forget. I borrowed a book about the history of Lake Maxinkuckee, because I wanted to relax a bit mentally after a day full of outdoor activities. The library is a small but fine building with a cozy reading corner, where you can withdraw with a coffee. Wi-Fi is faster than the Internet in some big cities, and the staff knows everyone who lives here – you always get a smile and a “How you do?”.
And yes, if you feel that you have enough of buildings and museums, just look at the Lake Maxinkuckee that borders directly to Culver. I rented a kayak there in the summer and ruddered over the glittering water surface, while the sun hung like a huge, rotten gold bar above the lake. This is not only a place to swim, but also a popular spot for anglers who hope to catch a pike – I have not caught a pike, but the noise of the gulls was almost as satisfying. There are several public docks, and parking is usually easy as long as you are not there on the first Saturday of July when the annual “Lake-Fest” starts.
A short detour to Culver Municipal Airport may not be a highlight for most travellers, but I think that the small airfield has a certain charm that you are looking for in vain in larger cities. I once made a small propeller aircraft round-trip over the lake – that was a short but intense view of the landscape, and the staff at the tower was so friendly that they even gave me some insider tips on the best fishing spots at the lake. Parking at the airport is practically free, and the terminal is so small that you can cross it in five minutes.
If you now think that all this is too much to create it in a single day, let me tell you: Culver sights are not meant to be beaten, but to enjoy them at your own pace. I spent more than once a day strolling from one place to another, discovering new corners and feeling that the city invites you a bit more into its small, slightly cynical heart. And that's what I really appreciate in this place – the mix of history, nature and a pinch of local peculiarity that keeps you snooping.
The first stop of my little Odyssey is the sparkling water of Lake Maxinkuckee, the largest natural lake Indiana-s, which extends only a cat jump south of Culver. I rented an old, crunchy rowing boat there – no joke, the thing looked like it had survived the Second World War – and I drove a few hours over the clear water while the anglers on the shore presented their baits loudly. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the small parking lot turns into a battlefield of crowded picnic blankets and loud barbecue sounds.
A short trip to Plymouth, about 15 minutes by car, leads to Marshall County Historical Museum. The building itself is a charming relic from the 1920s, and there are old land machines, photo albums and a few dusty ties that were supposed to belong to a former mayor. I have to admit, I don't quite understand the hype about old ties, but the museum has a surprisingly lively guide that links each exhibit with an anecdote about its grandparents – that makes it kind of human.
Directly next to the museum lies the Plymouth Downtown Historic District, a collection of brick buildings that seem to tell more stories than the city dwellers themselves. I discovered a small cafe that supposedly serves the best apple cake throughout the county – I tried it, and it was actually better than what I would find in most tourist brochures. Parking is a bit more tricky here, because the narrow alleys barely offer space for more than a car, but a short walk is worthwhile to admire the old facades.
A bit further north, about 30 miles away, this is Tipecanoe River State Park. Here there are trails that lead through dense forests, and a river that is perfect for canoeing – I have swung myself into a small canoe and have almost been torn by the stream because I underestimated the current. The parking spaces are well signposted, and the visitor center has a few brochures that reveal more about the local flora than I ever thought necessary.
If you're looking for a little more action, that's Indiana Beach at Lake Shafer a real secret tip for adults who want to feel a bit like children. The water park is not exactly a UNESCO World Heritage site, but the slides are fast, the food is cheap and the staff seems to know how to survive a crowded summer day. I spent there a day where I spent more time in the wave bath than in the hotel room – that was a good training for my back pain.
A short trip to Winona Lake, about 25 miles east, brings you to the Winona Lake Historic Districtthat once was the heart of the Chautauqua movement. The old villas and the small museum there tell of a time when speakers and musicians from all over America came here to inspire. I took a walk there while an older gentleman told me about the legendary lectures that took place here – a bit like a live podcast from another era.
Lastly, the Hoosier Heritage Trail not missing, a 350-mile-long network of cycling and hiking trails that runs through the rural Indiana. The section, which runs near Culver, is flat enough to cycle comfortably, and always offers small signs that point to historic farms or old railway bridges. I have borrowed my bike there for a few hours and I have straightened over fields that are dipped in the summer into a sea of gold – a picture that is not found in every guide.
So those looking for a mix of nature, history and a bit of nostalgia will find more than enough reasons to turn on the engine around Culver in Union Township and Marshall. From the quiet waves of Lake Maxinkuckee to the dusty halls of the Marshall County Historical Museum to the razor slides of Indiana Beach – there is something to discover for every taste. And that's exactly what makes Culver Attractions to an underestimated jewel in the heart of Indiana.
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