Honestly, if you think Indiana is just corn fields and endless highways, then you haven't seen Washington yet. The city was founded in 1815, shortly after the war of 1812, and has since collected more stories than the local radio station archive. I like to sit in the old cafe on Main Street and imagine how the first settlers stopped their carriages here, while today a van for the next food truck throws past me. The whole thing is in the heart of Washington Township, which in turn is part of Daviess County – a name that sounds as if someone had pulled “Daviess” dice and then decided to keep the whole thing.
I don't quite understand the hype about the small town festivals, but the atmosphere is really great: people who still know each other with names, and a bit of this rustic charm you only find in places that are not overrun by tourists. When you arrive here, take the State Road 57 – it takes you directly to the centre without having to fight through a maze of one-way streets. And yes, if you're wondering where you can park your car, there are plenty of free places at the town hall where you can prepare yourself for the next “Washington Sights” round with a cool beer.
A walk along the Little River lets you feel the nature that almost already leads to your own life. I feel that the water is telling more stories here than some city guide brochures. And as you stroll away, you hear the distant laugh from the local bowling alley, which somehow completes the image of a city that is both historically and surprisingly alive.
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The first stop that came to my mind was Patoka Lake – a huge, glittering piece of water that almost feels like an artificial lake because it is actually a reservoir. I spent a weekend there because I thought a little fishing could calm my soul; Instead, I was overrun by a horde family with squeaking strollers that defined the “natural experience” in the form of barbecue smell and loud pop music. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole region flows here to launch its boats.
A short detour into the Hoosier National Forest lets me breathe again – in the truest sense of the word, because the air here smells like pine and something I can only call “lost youth”. I tried one of the many hiking trails that are barely marked, and I almost landed in nowhere, just to sit on a small stream that was so clear that I could see my mirror image in it. This is the true Indiana, far from the overrun tourist centers, and parking is a children's game here: a few trees serve as natural barriers.
A bit further north lies Lincoln State Park, named after the man who allegedly knew more about the country than any other. I don't quite understand the hype about the historical replicas, but the museum that stands here has an amazingly well-preserved original bank from the 1840s, and this is a real treasure for me. The park is huge, so you can easily spend a whole day strolling from a historic house to the next, while the locals run their dogs on the leash and chat about the “good old time”.
If you have enough of forest and history, the way to the east leads to the Cannelton Locks & Dam, one of the few places where you can hear the noise of the Ohio River and the mechanical humping of a lock at the same time. I stood there once in the late summer when a huge cargo ship passed the lock and thought that this is the true heart of the region – loud, unblown and completely unromantic. The visitor center is small, but informative, and parking is directly on the shore, where you have a perfect view of the water as long as you are not disturbed by the anglers with their chairs.
A short trip to Cannelton itself is also worth it, as the historic old town has a few restored buildings from the time when the city was still a center for the cotton industry. I visited the old cotton spinning museum, which is surprisingly well preserved and gives an insight into the hard life of the workers – no glitter, only dusty machines and the quiet sum of history. The streets are narrow, parking is limited, but a small parking lot behind the museum is usually enough when you get early enough.
Last but not least, almost like a secret tip, there is the Ohio River Museum in Newburgh, which is a bit further away, but offers a view of the river's history of shipping, which is otherwise easily overlooked. I put an old navigation tool in my hand and asked myself how people survived without GPS at the time – a short moment of reverence before I turned back to modern chaos. The museum has a small parking lot, which is usually free as long as you do not come to lunchtime when the school classes come here.
If you're looking for something that goes beyond the usual “Washington Sights”, grab your things and explore these five to six places that show the true heart of Davies County and its surroundings – from quiet lakes to dense forests to industrial relics on the Ohio River.
So if you ask me, the absolute highlight here is that Washington County Courthouse – a stone monstrum from 19. Century that has more stories to tell than so many Netflix series. I came by a lukewarm Thursday afternoon because I thought that was a nice photo motif, and landed promptly in a queue of seniors who enquired about the “good old time”. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the weekly “beer and bread” meeting takes place in the rear courtyard. The courtyard has a small well that unfortunately hasn't been running for years, but that only makes the charm – a little patina, no joke.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Washington County Historical Museum. I don't quite understand the hype about old maps, but here there is an original preserved diary of a pioneer I found in a dusty corner – a real find! The museum is small, but the exhibition about the railway that once drove through the city is surprisingly well done. By the way, there is a small souvenir shop where you can buy a handmade key board, which you can proudly present at the next visit to your mother-in-law.
If you're looking for something green, then the Washington City Park Your goal. The park has an old wooden pavilion, which is played by local bands in the summer – I was random when a jazz trio improvised from the neighborhood, and that was really great. There is a small lake where ducks swim, and a playground that has more rusty chains than modern climbing stands, but this is exactly what makes the place authentic. The car park is a bit tricky because it's just a single place next to the entrance, so it's better to come early.
Another must is that Washington County Fairgrounds. I visited the County Fair for the first time in the summer of 2019 – this was a mix of sugar cane, cattle equipment and a demonstration of tractors that made more noise than a city traffic. Fairgrounds are a venue for local concerts and flea markets all year round, so just look at what's going on. Parking is a children's game because the terrain is huge, but don't forget that the toilet offer is rather “rustic”.
For the bookworms among you there are Washington Public Library. The building is an old brick house that used to serve as a post office – I found a letter from 1922 that has never been sent. The library has a cozy reading room corner, where you can sit with a coffee from the small cafeteria while running through the shelves. Wi-Fi isn't the fastest, but it doesn't matter if you're immersed in the history of the city.
A short detour to Washington County Veterans Memorial is also recommended. The monument consists of a number of granite plates that bear the names of veterans from all wars. I met an old veteran there who told me how he was in Vietnam in 1968 – a conversation that made me think more about the city and its people than any brochure ever could. The grounds are freely accessible, and parking is right next to the monument, so no stress.
If you want to have a little shopping, stroll through the Downtownwhere small boutiques and the “Olde Towne Café” serve local cakes that taste better than any big city chain. I tried an apple cake there that was so good that I almost took the whole piece home – almost. The road is car-free, so you can stroll comfortably without annoying yourself after a parking lot.
Last but not least, for those who like to do something active, this is Washington Community Center a place where yoga classes, art exhibitions and local theatre performances take place regularly. I once took part in an impro-theater evening where the audience was allowed to determine the action – that was a real crowd. The center has a small parking lot behind the building, which is usually empty as long as there is not a big event.
All this together Washington attractions to a colorful mix of history, community and a bit of slanted charm. Next time you're in Indiana, take your time to explore these places – you'll see that the real life here is much more interesting than any brochure you've ever read.
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