Mount Carmel Sights attract me every time I pass the old railway line, and I must confess that the city has more to offer than you suspect at first sight. Honestly, the story here is a bit like an old family photo album: founded in 1830, then a short upswing thanks to the coal mines, and later a calm retreat into the rural idyll of Brown Township, Washington County. I rolled the first time with the train from Indianapolis here because I thought a short stop would be “authentic” and I wasn’t disappointed – the country roads lead you almost unnoticed through fields that still smelled for corn while you were wondering if you just landed in a movie from the 50s.
A walk through the historic centre is like a conversation with an old neighbor who tells you about the wild days of blacksmithy art while passing a modern café that serves the best coffee far and wide – no joke, that's really great. If you arrive by car, take the US‐31 and then turn to the County Road 250; the shield after Mount Carmel is hardly overlooked, because it almost seems a bit too proud. And yes, I don't understand the hype about the little shops, but the handmade wood carvings next to the old town hall are a real secret tip if you want to catch a little local flair.
I feel that the “Mount Carmel Sights” are not in shiny brochures, but in the conversations of the people who still tell of the days when the town was the heart of the coal industry. This is the true salt in the soup – a mix of history, a touch of nostalgia and a bit of modern pragmatism that will make you return again and again, even if you want to watch over for a quick snack.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Mount Carmel, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop I never miss is the imposing Washington County Courthouse in the heart of Washington, Indiana – a stone monument from the 19th Century that has more stories to tell than most guides. I once tried to make a selfie there, while an older gentleman, in the suit, crawled loudly over the “good old time”; the result was an image that looks more like “historical drama” than after holiday memory. Parking is almost always a Klack, as long as you do not arrive on Friday night after the weekly “County Fair” – then parking becomes a small adventure.
A short descent towards the south leads to Patoka Lake, the largest reservoir of the state where I unpacked my fishing and almost caught a huge cash before a passing canoe pilot pulled me out of the water with a “Nice try!”. The lake is a magnet for boaters, anglers and picnic lovers; the public docks are well signposted, and the visitor center has more coffee cups than information brochures – which is a good sign for me, because I can then get an espresso before I fall back into the water.
Only half an hour further Lincoln State Park, a piece of Indiana that sells itself as “the birthplace of the president”. I have to admit, I don't understand the hype about the historical huts – they are small, but the museum has an impressive collection of artifacts that will amaze even the most sceptical visitors. The hiking trail “Lincoln’s Trail” is well maintained and parking is almost never a problem thanks to the generous lottery places, except for the hot summer days when families with strollers block the paths.
If you have enough of history, Hoosier National Forest a welcome escape to nature. I spent a weekend in a rustic hut that had hardly more than one bed and a wood stove – perfect to forget the urban noise. The trails are well marked, and the trailhead parking is usually free as long as you don’t come with a group of bear observers that fill the whole terrain with their backpacks on weekends.
A little further east, almost on the edge of the city, lies this Davies County Historical Museum. I've had my first encounter with an original 1800s-car there that crawled so that I almost thought he was falling apart. The museum is small, but the exhibition on local agriculture is surprisingly captivating – especially considering that most visitors here only look past the curator because of the free guided tour. Parking is available directly in front of the building, and the sign “Free Parking” is not always honest when a local flea market event takes place.
Another highlight I don't want to miss is that Washington County Fairgrounds. During the annual fair, the site turns into a colorful mess of carousel, cattle turtles and food stands that offer more calories than a gym. I once ate a piece of “Funnel Cake” there, which was so sweet that I would almost have put the word “sin” in my mouth – a real pleasure when you buy the long queues. The parking spaces are huge, but on the main days you can easily drive a few hours in the circle until a free place appears.
Whether you are a history lover, nature lover or just someone looking for a good piece of cake – the surroundings of Mount Carmel offers a colorful mix of attractions that can surprise any traveler. The places mentioned show that Mount Carmel Attractions have more to offer than one would suspect at first glance, and that a little cynicism has its charm when exploring.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Mount Carmel is not just a glittering tourist magnet – the old St John the Baptist Catholic Church at the end of Main Street. The brick dome has more charm than any Instagram filter creation, and if you are lucky, you hear the quiet echo of an organ sample that has hardly visited anyone for decades. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't want to move in there on Sunday morning, then the field before the nave suddenly becomes a battlefield for families with strollers.
A short walk on (and a bit more patience because the headstone paver is a bit slippery when it rains) leads you to Mount Carmel Public Library. I don't quite understand the hype about hip co-working spaces, but here there is a squeaky reading room window that throws the afternoon sunshine directly onto the shelves – a real light switch for the soul. I borrowed a book about local history there, almost forgetting that I was actually just looking for a WLAN spot.
If you ask where you can stretch your feet after all sitting, look at this Mount Carmel Park on. The small lake there is not exactly a paradise for anglers, but the bench under the old oak is perfect to snap a sandwich and observe the passing tractors. I saw a dog there that had more energy than I had after a three-day road trip, and that was the highlight of the day.
A bit further north, almost on the edge of the city, this is Mount Carmel Cemetery. Sounds like a place you would avoid from pure curiosity, but the artfully worked tombstones tell stories you wouldn't find in any guide. I discovered an old veteran burial stone there, whose inscription reminded me that even in the most inconspicuous places there is a hint of history. Parking is available next to the entrance, and this is a rare comfort in this area.
Now a bit of local pride comes into play: Mount Carmel Community Center. The building is a collection of basketball gyms, a small gym and a room where karaoke nights take place – yes, you have read correctly, karaoke in an Indiana town. I once tried to sing “Living on a Prayer” there, and the audience (consisting of a few retired farmers) overshadowed me with applause because they thought that was a local folk song.
A short detour to Mount Carmel Town Hall is worthwhile if you have a potential for old government buildings. The brick building from the 1900s has a sign that proclaims “City Hall”, although the city is officially only a “town” – a small indication that the bureaucracy is as discarded as the road network. I missed a meeting there, because I thought the shield was just decoration, and finally landed in the back room where some old town plans were spread out.
And because I don't just want to mention what you can see here, here is a little hint for the search engine drivers among you: if you're after Mount Carmel Attractions Googelt, you will quickly realize that the city is not confused with the famous Carmel in California – this is rather a quiet place where you can feel the real Indiana without a tourist guide constantly whispering into your ear what to do next.
Finally, a personal tip: the next time you're in Mount Carmel, just take time to stroll through the main road, grab an ice cream from the little kiosk and watch people. The city has no great amusement park, but an authentic smile that reminds you that not every trip requires spectacular sights – sometimes a short look at the old nave is enough to understand why I always come back here.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
