Honestly, if you're thinking of Center in Marion County, you probably don't get the usual tourist clichés in your mind right now – and that's good, because the real sights are more in your head than on a flyer. The city became the middle of the 19. Founded century, as a few brave settlers decided to build exactly in the geographic middle of the then County – therefore the name. I don't quite understand the hype about the historical plaques, but the old town hall, which today serves as a community center, has a charm you can't overlook when you accidentally walk past Main Street.
A short trip with the IndyGo bus (line 42 stops right around the corner) will take you to the nearby White River State Park, where you can sniff a bit of nature before you get back to the city. And yes, the car is still king: the connection to the I‐65 makes it easy to get out of Indianapolis and disappear again, without you being hovered in endless dams.
I have a faible for the small cafés that survive here – the “Bean & Brew” serves an espresso that is almost as strong as my opinion on the annual city festivals. And while most visitors are looking for the famous Marion County Courthouse, I find the quiet corners of the old cemetery much more fascinating; there you can feel the weight of history without a guide telling you every stone. So it was from my side – the real sights of Center are the people they live in, and the slightly sloping smile you get when you realize that you have discovered something really authentic here.
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The first stop I put to every visitor is the venerable Lincoln State Park – a piece of history hidden between the gentle hills of Lincoln City, about 30 minutes drive south of Center. I once made a picnic there, while an older gentleman in the cowboy style chatted from the tourist railway that he “ breathes the air that Abraham himself breathed”. Parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you don't get to school classes on weekends, then the field becomes a small battlefield of buses and strollers.
A short detour to the east leads you to Hoosier National Forest, a huge green piece that has more trees than most people's friends. I spent a weekend in a rustic hut, and the only thing that disturbed me was the constant cirps of the grills – a soundtrack that you no longer get out of your head. The trails are well marked, and parking at the main exit point is almost never a problem thanks to a wide asphalted entrance.
If you have enough of forest and history, take a look at Turkey Run State Park – a place that hides itself like a secret between the steep gorges of Marshall. I remember standing there in a narrow gorge and sprinkling the water of the Sugar Creek over the rocks, while a tourist, beside me, crawled loudly over the “best Instagram location”. The parking lot is small, but this is part of the charm; you just have to bring some patience when you come to the high season.
A bit further south, almost in the heart of the Indiana boom, this is Brown County State Park. Here arts and nature meet, and I feel that the locals here know more about mushrooms than about the weather. I spent a few hours walking on the scenic paths, while an older couple told me that the trees are “older than most politicians.” The garage is large enough to host a small festival, and the price/park ratio is almost generous.
For those who prefer the adrenaline to look in concrete instead of in earth, this is Indianapolis Motor Speedway a must – just about an hour drive north of Center. I first experienced the sound of the V8 engines there, which was so loud that I thought my heart would jump out of my chest. The parking lot is a labyrinth of asphalt, which becomes a regular battlefield from cars on a Saturday evening, but this is part of the experience if you want to breathe the “Racing feeling”.
A short trip to the city brings you to Children’s Museum of Indianapolisthat I would call the only museum that made me amaze as an adult. I spent a day there because I thought I could find my inner childhood – and indeed, the interactive dinosaur exponate almost made me cry. Parking is always a bit of a mystery in the city centre, but the museum offers its own car park, which usually has places free as long as you don't come to school holidays.
Finally, if you feel that you have enough of museums and nature, take a look at the Indianapolis Canal Walk. I took a walk there at sunset, combining the quiet strolling of the water with the distant rat of the city. The way is well illuminated, and parking at the end of the canal is convenient because you can easily park your car right next to the exit.
Whether you're looking for history, nature, speed or childish curiosity – the surroundings of Center, Marion, Indiana keeps an impressive range of Attractions ready to challenge and inspire every traveler at the same time.
I have to tell you about the little jewel I'm always my personal topLandmark sign when I send with friends through Center, Indiana: the old venerable Center Town Hall at the main square. The building is not only a relic from the 1880s, but also the heart of every city assembly – and yes, I don't understand the hype about modern glass door constructions, but here every creeping stage has history to tell. Last weekend I accidentally caught a reading of local poets there; that was a real lucky handle, because otherwise I would only have expected the usual “bureaucracy hearing”.
Only a few blocks further Center Community Park, a place I like to call “green chaos”. In the summer, families, in autumn the jogger, and in winter – well, then the car park is full, because parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem. I once made a picnic with a friend who said that the grass smelled like “fresh hope”, while I only thought of the mosquitoes that almost flew around our neck. Nevertheless, the old oak at the lake is a perfect spot for a photo that you can post later on on Instagram without anyone notices that you are actually looking for a quiet place.
A short walk leads you to Center Public Library. This is not some library, but a place where I spend more time than in my own living room. The shelves are full of regional history books that you find nowhere else, and the staff knows every tribal reader by name – a bit cheesy, but somehow also charming. I remember once borrowing a book on the old railway line, just to see that the history of the city is actually closely interwoven with rail traffic.
If you're already at the railway theme, you're allowed to Center Railroad Depot do not miss. The depot is today a small museum that documents the history of train connections from and to center. I've seen an old locomotive that still snares in the wind, and that reminds me why I appreciate the whole “retro feeling” of small cities. The entrance is free, but the staff consists of volunteers who like to explain every little thing to you – unless you talk too loud about the weather, otherwise you will get a sceptical look.
Another highlight I always mention is that Center Historical Museum. There are not only old tools and photos, but also a small exhibition about the founding families of the city. I found an old diary that was written by one of the first settlers – a real find that made me feel like a piece of time travel. The museum is small but compact, and you never lose the overview where you are right now.
For those who prefer to do something active, there is Center Golf Course. The place is not just a PGA paradise, but it has charm and a few surprisingly difficult bunkers that remind you that you cannot always control everything. I once held a 9-hole tournament with a friend there, which ended in a heated dispute over the right deportation – a real proof that even in a quiet small town the ego is sometimes too big.
There is also a bit of culture Art Gallery. The gallery shows changing exhibitions of local artists, and I first saw a painting that consisted entirely of recycled car parts. No joke, that was somehow fascinating and at the same time a bit absurd – just my taste. The opening hours are flexible because the operators are usually on site and are happy to offer you a glass of wine if you want to relax after a long walk.
Finally, a small secret tip: the Center Farmers Market on the first Saturday a month. There are fresh vegetables, homemade bread and sometimes even handmade soaps. I once met an old farmer who told me that he has been here every Saturday since 1952 – a real veteran that gave me the feeling of being part of a long tradition. The market is small, but the atmosphere is authentic, and that is the most important thing for me.
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