Honestly, if you're looking for a place that has more history than you can do in an Instagram post, then you're right at Livonia – yes, I'm talking about the Livonia sights that you don't find in every guide. The tiny village is located in the heart of Madison Township, Washington County, and was founded in 1835 as a small hub for the surrounding farmers. By the way, the name comes from a place in New York, because the founders brought a little nostalgia. Today there are hardly more than a few old wooden houses, a closed post office and the unmistakable feeling that time is slower here – and that's exactly my thing.
If you want to come here, grab the car and follow State Road 56, which leads you directly to the village; the next major city, Salem, is only 15 miles further and offers the necessary fuel station if your petrol level becomes critical. I don't understand the hype about big cities, but the quiet country life around Livonia's sights has its own charm, especially if you sit at the nearby Little Pigeon Creek in the summer and hear the sum of the grills. And yes, the old cemetery area you might overlook is a real secret tip – there you can feel the echo of the first settlers who were looking for their luck here, and that's just... no joke.
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The first stop is the Washington State Park, a piece of nature that hides itself like a well kept secret between the fields of Madison Township. I spent a weekend there because I thought a bit of hiking could justify my city curse – and I was not disappointed. The lake is crystal clear, the water is cold enough to wake up immediately after the jump, and the trails are so well marked that even a GPS refuser is not lost. Parking is usually a Klack, except on Saturday afternoons when the families flood the field with their picnic baskets; then parking becomes a small adventure that you better master with an early rise.
A short trip to Salem leads you to the historic court building, which is proudly throned in the heart of the city. I spent a few hours there, because I was curious if the old judges really watch over the city. The 1869 building is a parade example for Italian Renaissance style, and the interiors still smell like old wood and dust – a fragrance that is found only in real history books. The small car park behind the town hall is almost always free, and a short walk through the headstone paved alleys lets you feel the flair of a long past era without having to enter a museum.
If you have enough of stone façades, take a look at the White River, which gently swells through the county. I once rented a kayak, because I thought it would be romantic – and it was also until a curious beaver sabotaged my paddle attacks. The river is wide enough to enjoy a bit of speed, but not so wild that you have to register in a Survival program right away. In most places, there are free docks, and the water is so clear that you can see to the bottom if you are not deflected by a passing tractor.
Another jewel is the Hayswood Lake, which is hidden near Salem in a small nature reserve. I fished there for the first time in summer and was surprised how many different species of fish can be caught there – from trout to carp, all in a single, tranquil lake. The walk around the water is ideal for a cozy walk, and the visitor centre offers enough information to not feel completely unplanned. Parking is available at the main entrance, and the entry and exit is not a problem thanks to wide access, even if you arrive with a packed picnic basket.
For those who prefer some culture than water, the old Washington County Jail Museum is a must. The prison of 1875 was transformed into a museum that tells more about the hard life of the then inmates than one would find in any history book. I made a lead there because I thought it was a short detour, but the stories about escape attempts and the peculiar inventions of the guards at that time kept me longer than planned. Parking is right in front of the building, and the small café next door serves the best homemade apple cake I have ever tasted – a sweet consolation after a tour through the dark cells.
A little further north lies the Washington County Fairgrounds, which becomes the scene of the largest local fair every year in August. I spent the first time in 2019 there because I thought a bit of carousel could drive my childhood memories. The Fairgrounds are a huge field with stands, rides and a lot of local products that you can hardly find. On working days, the terrain is almost empty, so that you almost have the giant wheel carriage for yourself; on the weekend, however, it turns into a colorful chaos that can only be overcome with a good sense of humor. Parking is available in abundance, but on the main days you have to expect a few minutes waiting time until you find a free space.
Whether you're looking for a quiet lake, a historical courthouse, a plumping river or a quirky-coloured market – the surroundings of Livonia, Madison Township, Washington, Indiana have something to offer for every taste. And if you take all this behind you, you will realize that the Livonia Sights not only are a name on a map, but real experiences that bring you to amazement and spun.
I have to confess that what I love most about Livonia, not what is in every guide, but the crunching old Livonia Bridge about the Wabash. The Parker-Truss from 1916 is a bit like a rusty dentist chair – not exactly what one imagines for a romantic photo motif, but if you're honest, the part has character. I made a picnic there in the summer, while a tractor drove over it and put the whole scene in a light vibrating; that was almost meditative. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the entire County Vehicle Club meeting will take place there.
A few streets on, barely overlooking, this is Livonia Schoolhouse Museum. This is a tiny, once a room classroom that now serves as a mini museum. I don't understand the hype about old school houses, but here there are original plates, a wooden booklet that looks like there's a pencil from the 19th. century scratched on it. I got a guided tour there with a pensioner who still pressed the school bench, and he told me that in winter the roof repeatedly “cracks like an old bed”. This was the highlight of my visit – not the museum itself, but the anecdote.
If you are looking for a place where you can recover from the hustle and bustle (or rather from the complete non-trubel), then look at the Livonia Community Park on. The lawn is not perfectly mowed, but that makes the charm. I played a few rounds of baseball there, because the field is barely used, and that was a real fun until an old man came by with a fishing hook in his mouth and said that “the real sport is here”. Parking is available directly at the entrance, and this is practical because you would otherwise have to walk around the block.
Another piece of Livonia history that I cannot leave is the Livonia Methodist Church. The building from the 1880s is a good example of simple rural Gothic. I visited a Sunday service there once – no joke, that was surprisingly relaxing, and the organ sounded as if it had a spirit from the past. The cemetery behind the church is also worth a look; the tombstones tell stories you wouldn't find in any blog. I discovered an old family coat of arms that immediately gave me the feeling of being part of a long forgotten dynasty.
A short detour leads you to Livonia Town Hall, a small brick building that meets more than administrative purposes. A local market takes place here every first Wednesday a month, where you can buy homemade jams and handmade wood carvings. I tried a piece of corn bread there that was so dry that I almost thought it was a historical artefact. Nevertheless, the conversation with the sellers was lively, and you get a real impression of how life pulsates here – slow, but steady.
For those who like a little scary, there is Livonia Cemetery. Not because it is a cemetery – that is clear – but because the old tombstones here come partly from amateur sculptors who apparently never found their artistic career. I saw a small group of teenagers there who tried to make a ghost-selfie, and that was the weirdest acting I've ever seen in a cemetery. Access is free, and parking is right on the road, which means that you should not leave your car keys in the car because the villagers are otherwise curious.
Last but not least, if you ask yourself what else you can see in Livonia, look at them. Livonia Grain Elevator on. This is an old grain silo, which today serves as a viewpoint – yes, you can actually climb up and overlook the surrounding landscape. I did this in autumn when the foliage just started to color, and the view was amazingly clear. The ascent is not exactly a gym visit, but the feeling of standing up and realizing that you are looking over a piece of Indiana country is unpaid. And yes, parking is a small field road, so be ready to see some mud.
So, if you think about the next time you want to spend your next “authentic” trip, think about Livonia. The Livonia Sights may not be the brightest, but they have character, history and a bit of the rough charm you never find in the big cities. And when you look at all this with an eye-catcher, you will realize that the true adventure here is not the sights themselves, but the people who live with their own, slightly cynical way.
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