Honestly, if you're looking for a place that has more charm than a dusty fieldbook, then you're at Morocco, a tiny spot in the heart of Beaver Township, Newton County, just right – yes, that's what I mean when I talk about Morocco sights, although most of them are more of a single road sign and an old station. The city was founded in 1850, when pioneers populated the country near the Kankakee River, and has barely gained in size since then, but in self-will. I usually drive out the Highway 71 from Chicago because the highway here still has the real Central Germany feeling – no joke, you almost feel like in a Western movie, just without horses.
A short detour to the historical post office, which still carries the original sign, is a must for me; reminds us that there was a real post here, not only digital spam emails. The old community centre, which today serves as a meeting point for the local chess group, is a place where you can learn more about the true life here than in any guide. And yes, I don't quite understand the hype about the annual pumpkin show, but the adjacent field with the wild sunflowers is just fantastic. When you arrive by train, just get off in Newton and take the short bus to Morocco – this is the fastest way to feel the real Indiana without being suffocated by tourist crowds.
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 Morocco, 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 put to every visitor is that Kankakee River State Parkonly a short trip of about 30 kilometres east. Not only on well-developed hiking trails you can enjoy the lush river landscape, but also make a picnic at the lake shore – parking is almost always easy as long as you do not arrive at the weekend with the whole family. I once rented a kayak there and slept down the river, while a few curious ducks almost knocked me down the paddle; a real natural experience you don't miss.
A few miles further north, almost in the shadow of the old cornfields, lies this Indiana Dunes National Park. Yes, that sounds like a trip to Michigan, but the dunes on the southwest coast of Lake Michigan are actually in Indiana and only about 70 kilometers from Morocco. The sand is here not only for sunbathing – it offers surprisingly good opportunities for hiking and bird watching. I once discovered a rare pebble bite while I annoyed myself about the seemingly endless wideness of the beach because I had forgotten to pack sunscreen.
Back in the interior of the country, only ten kilometers north, this is waiting Kentland Train Depot Museum. The old railway station building, which today serves as a museum, is an example of how to preserve history not in dusty boxes but in lively exhibitions. I remember standing there as a child with my grandfather and marveling the old locomotive models – the sound of the original bell, which suddenly sounded, let me briefly believe that a train would go in the same way. There are parking spaces right in front of the depot, and this is a blessing because the road here is usually quite narrow.
A short trip to Watseka, about 20 kilometres east, leads to Iroquois County Museum. The museum is not exactly a tourist magnet, but the collection of artifacts from the pioneering period is surprisingly well curated. I found an original preserved diary of an early settler, which still has no digital copy – a real treasure for historical lovers. The museum is located next to the town hall, so you can easily find a parking space on the adjacent sidewalk as long as you don't get to lunchtime when the city administration stops.
If you love architecture, you should Newton County Courthouse in Kentland not overlooked. The impressive brick building from 1906 dominates the cityscape and offers a surprisingly well preserved wood panelling inside. I once took part in a guided tour where the guide – a real local hero – linked the history of the court negotiations with anecdotes about fighting cattle farmers. Parking is possible directly in front of the building, but after the first floor of the court building you have to push a piece to the right, because the main access is sometimes blocked by vans.
Another highlight that is often overlooked is the St John the Baptist Catholic Church in the heart of Morocco. The church of 19th The century impresses with its neo-Gothic façade and an artful stained glass window that creates a warm light play at sunset. I once had a small concert where a local jazz musician improvised – a strange but fascinating contrast to the otherwise quiet atmosphere. Visitors can enter the nave free of charge; Parking is possible on the small front garden, as long as you don't come during the Sunday fair, then it will quickly be tight.
Whether you are looking for nature, history or a bit of both – the surroundings of Morocco, Beaver Township, Newton, Indiana have more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. From the vast dunes of the Indiana Dunes National Park to the calm waters of the Kankakee River State Park to the charming museums and historic buildings in Kentland and Watseka – there is something to discover for every taste. And that's exactly what makes Morocco sights an unforgettable experience for those who want to experience the real Indiana off the highway.
I have to admit that my favorite place in this tiny spot Earth, which is called Morocco, Beaver Township, is not exactly what one would expect in a guide with sparkling stars – but that's exactly what makes the charm. Right behind the old Town Hall the Morocco Community Park, a piece of lawn that hears more stories than you could put in a whole blog post. I once made a picnic, while a tractor overtaked the neighboring grain mill, and that was somehow the best “city center” experience I ever had. Parking is usually a Klacks, except Saturdays, when the whole neighborhood decides to unpack their barbecue equipment – then the small car park becomes the battlefield.
A short walk further (or a short sprint if you don't have morning coffee) leads you to Morocco United Methodist Church. The building is a real relic from the 1800s, with a stone facade that has more patina than my favorite pulli. I don't quite understand the hype about church visits, but here the organ is so loud that you're wondering if the community is secretly planning a rock concert. The church is friendly, but don't let the courtesy greetings fool you – they have an unwritten competition who brings the best cake recipe from the church community.
If you ask yourself why I'm talking about grain here at all, you'll have to Morocco Grain Elevator visit. This massive wooden and steel block projects over the shallow Indiana country like an indivisible guard. I stood there once in the summer, while a wind blows the grain almost like confetti through the air, and thought: “Here the true heart of Morocco is ground.” The good thing about it: you can almost always enter the huge factory site as long as you don't just cross a field full of tractors – that's a bit like an obstacle course.
Another highlight I like to mention is the Morocco Bridge over the St. Joseph River. This is not a romantic suspension bridge made of a film, but a sober steel beam that has been keeping traffic since the 1920s. I put my bike down there to shoot a few photos, and suddenly a fisherman came out of the water with a huge rush – no joke, the thing was almost as big as the car that just drove over the bridge. The bridge is a popular spot for Instagram enthusiasts who love the word “rustic”.
For those who like to inhale a bit of history, there is Morocco Cemetery. Yes, a cemetery, but not some – here are the founders of the city, and the tombstones tell more about the hard times here than any city tour. I found an old veteran there, whose inscription says that he “driven the first tractor in Morocco”. This is the true Indiana feeling you don't find in every guide.
A short detour to Morocco Fire Department completes the picture. The old fire department store is a small museum for those interested in red carriages and rusty helmets. I tried the old hose there once – it was so stiff that I almost thought it was made of leather. The volunteers there are proud as Ochs, and if you're lucky, you'll even get a piece of cake that they baked after a bet.
And yes, if you googlest to “Morocco Sights” you will quickly realize that most hits point to the Moroccan desert – this is a classic case of search engine confusion. Here in Indiana, however, there are enough little wonders that are worth a visit as long as you are ready to accept some dust and some honest conversations.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
