New Washington sights? Honestly, that sounds like one of these exaggerated travel guide titles, but I must admit that the town in Washington Township, Clark County, Indiana, hides some real treasures that you should not overlook. The city was founded in 1815, shortly after the war of 1812, and has survived more than a few old wooden houses since then – the whole flair is a bit like a well-aged whiskey: rough, but surprisingly sweet. If you're coming from Indianapolis by car, just follow I‐65 to Exit 12, then a short stroller to State Road 111, and you're right in the heart of New Washington, where the pace is still after 19. Century seems to tick.
I don't quite understand the hype around the big metropolises, but here there is a small café that has served the same pancakes since 1923 – no joke, this is almost a historical monument for the palate. And as you sneak your coffee there, you can look out the window and admire the old Main Street, which has hardly changed since the first pioneers here turned their carts. A short trip to the nearby Ohio River is also a must; the water has the same tranquility that you would only find in a book about forgotten border cities. And yes, this is another reference to New Washington sights that you do not find in every guide because they are too small, too authentic or just too good for the masses.
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 New Washington, 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 of my little Odyssey was Falls of the Ohio State Parkthat extends only half an hour south of New Washington along the Ohio River. I have the feeling that nature is a bit too proud to be impressed by tourist crowds – that is good because the fossil banks that come from the 380 million-year old Devon are really the highlight. I ventured into the shallow water basins to look at the ancient fish sheds, and that was a bit like a trip to a prehistoric museum without the annoying entrance fees. Parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you don't come at the weekend, then the field next to the visitor center will quickly become a battlefield.
A short trip to Charlestown brought me to George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. The place is a bit cheesy when you look at the oversized statues and the exaggerated patriotic tables, but the view from the hill above the Ohio River is really great. I made a picnic there, while an older gentleman drove past a tractor and loudly swarmed over the “good old time” – a perfect photo motif for everyone who likes to throw a little nostalgia in their Instagram feed.
Just a few streets on Clark County Historical Society Museum in Charlestown. I must admit, I was skeptical because little history museums often offer more dust than storytelling. But the exhibition on the early settlers and the role of the place in underground railroad really surprised me. The curator, a type with a preference for flannel shirts, personally told me that the museum opened only on Wednesday and Saturday – a note I wrote down because I don't want to stand in the empty hall again.
A bit further east, in Jeffersonville, the Big Four Bridge, a rebuilt railway arch that today leads as a foot and bike path over the Ohio. I watched the sunset from there while I strolled over the narrow planks and heard the quiet sum of the city in the background. Parking is usually free at the end of the bridge access, but if a local festival is in the city, it can be filled quickly – then you just have to park a few blocks further and walk away.
Another highlight I couldn't leave was that Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center. The building is a bit like an oversized classroom that tries to bring the fossils into a modern light. I saw an interactive exhibition about the prehistoric sea dwellers, which almost left me forgetting that I wanted to put in a short stop. The entrance is free, and the staff is friendly enough to give a few insider tips for the best photospots.
If you're already in the area, it's worth a trip to Clark County Fairgrounds, especially when the annual County Fair event is running. I was there in August when the stands were swollen with corn and sugar cane and the local music scene became a bit louder. Parking is still relatively relaxed at the edge of the terrain as long as you don't want to go to the main stage, where everyone suddenly tries to get a free space.
Included are the surroundings of New Washington and the local New Washington attractions a mixture of prehistoric fascination, historical depth and modern recreational design that convinces even the most cynical travellers – provided you have a little patience for the occasional car park chaos and the occasional tourist masses.
So if you ask me, the real jewel of New Washington is the Historic District – a glittery little neighborhood that looks like someone stole it from a film set and then dusted a bit. I stood there on a rainy Tuesday morning, cried the raincoat, and suddenly an old man came out of the 1920s-look from the shop around the corner, waved to me and said that this was “the place where history has not yet been completely asleep.” No joke, the old brick buildings – the old town hall, the former school and the Methodist Church – have more character than some hipster café in Berlin.
Directly next to the historical core lies the New Washington Bridge, a rusty steel strap that runs over the Ohio River. I don't understand the hype about modern glass façades, but this bridge has something raw that reminds me of my youth every time I drove over the tracks with my bike and thought I was a real adventurer. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem – then the cars are like trees on the shore, and you have to push yourself between a few Angles and a in love with a picnic blanket.
A short walk further leads you to New Washington Cemetery. I once visited my great aunt who has been there since 1903, and while I looked at the weathered tombstones, the idea came to me that cemeteries are the real museums – no tickets, only silence and a bit of graffiti from the kids who leave their names here. The atmosphere is not cheesy, but honest; a place where you ask yourself if you really did everything in life before you move on.
If you need a little green, look at this Riverfront Park on. The name sounds like an Instagram world, but in reality it is a simple strip of grass on the river, where you can dive your feet into the cool water, while an old angler tells you that the pike fishing here is “only for the patience”. I once made a picnic with my friend, and we were fighting about whether the noise of the gulls is a sign of freedom or just annoying grief.
Another highlight I always mention is that New Washington Community Center, formerly the old school, which now serves as a venue for everything possible – from bingo ends to local rock bands that try to define the sound of Indiana. I was there at a Poetry-Slam where a guy from the neighborhood introduced a poem about the disappearance of cornfield crows; that was so profound that I almost forgot that I was actually just looking for a place to dry my shoes.
And yes, I still have to get rid of this: If you follow New Washington attractions googlest, you'll probably just find some sober lists. What you don’t get there is my personal touch – the quiet fool of the halls in the old diner, which you should definitely try because the breakfast there tastes like a Sunday ritual, and the feeling that you are not just a tourist, but a part of a small, slightly cynical community.
Finally, a small tip I almost forgot: The annual autumn festival on the main square is not a must, but if you happen to be there on a Saturday in October, then grab a piece of apple cake, sit on the old wooden bench and watch the locals complain about the weather – this is the true heart of New Washington, a bit loud, a bit lazy, but always honest.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
