Visit Vincennes Knox Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the beautiful city of Vincennes in Indiana! Experience the Historic State Park and Fort Ouiatenon, 200 years old. Walk in the Knights Templar garden or enjoy a good coffee at Central Square.
Honestly, if you ask yourself why Vincennes in Indiana deserves a place in your guide, then let me start with a bit of history: in 1732 French traders founded the Fort de Vincennes here, and that was probably the first European patch that touched the wild Midwest. Today, the whole is in the Vincennes Township of the same name, embedded in the vast Knox County, and I must admit that the flair is a mix of dusty pioneering romanticism and modern small town everyday routine. I don't understand the hype about the old military buildings, but the small café on Main Street, which I feel every morning, is really great – there's the best coffee I've ever had in a place with less than 20,000 inhabitants. When you arrive by car, take the I‐69 that leads you directly to the heart of the city; the station is a relic, but a nice photo motif for Instagram stories. And yes, the “Vincennes Sights” are not only the old fort: the historic town hall, which hosts a slightly sloping street festival every year, and the quiet fields around the township, where in summer you hear almost the sum of the grills about the quiet noise of the nearby Wabash River. I could talk about the small bookshops and the self-willing locals for hours now, but this can be better experienced on site – so, grab the bags and come by before I lose myself even more in Nostalgie.
I have to confess: my favorite place in Vincennes is that George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. Yes, exactly where you feel like you're playing in a bad historical film – only that the trees are still standing here and not just serve as a backdrop. I came there on a lukewarm Saturday afternoon, parked at the small visitor center (parking is usually simple, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem) and left me from the old cannons and the crumbling wooden planks to the time when Vincennes was still the capital of the West. The view over the Wabash River is not to be underestimated – a bit too much romance for my taste, but hey, that's what tourists want.
Directly next to the park Fort Sackvillethe heart of the Vincennes Attractions is formed. I spent more time there than I wanted to admit, because I caught myself in the small museums and the informative boards. The leadership is not exactly spectacular, but the fact that you can actually enter the old fort that was conquered by George Rogers Clark in 1779 has something authentic. Practical: The entrance is free, and the staff is friendly, though a bit too busy to bomb the visitors with historical anecdotes – a bit too much when you ask me.
A short walk leads you to St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, a church that reveals more about the religious history of the city than I would have ever expected. I remember listening to the organ play once during a fair – a sound that was almost as old as the city itself. The architecture is impressive, but the real highlight is the small museum in the basement, where you can admire old bishop's seals and some strange relics. If you ask yourself if this is a must: Yes, if you like churches, no, if you're only interested in bars.
Now Gibson County Courthousea building that looks like someone in the 19th. Century spent a little too much money for columns and an imposing roof. I spent a few hours there, because I just couldn't decide whether to visit the old judiciary hall or the small café on the ground floor. The café serves the best coffee in the city – not a joke, that is really good – and parking is right in front of the building, which was a little luck for me, because I would otherwise have looked for a free place in the city centre.
A bit further, but still in the heart of Vincennes, this is Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy. I was skeptical because I wasn't sure if a comedy museum in Indiana had anything to offer at all. Surprisingly, the museum is a real treasure box for fans of classic comedy: original costumes, handwritten scripts and even an old TV set that looks like someone saved from a secondhand store. I laughed more there than in any other museum tour I've ever made – and that's a compliment.
If you're looking for a place to just relax, go to Wabash Riverwalk. The river has a quiet side here that you rarely find in guides, because most people prefer to take off the historical sites. I made a picnic there while a few boats are slammed by – that's what I mean when I say that Vincennes has not only history but also a bit of nature to offer. Practical note: There are some public toilets near the park, and parking is best on the opposite side of the road, because the small parking spaces on the Riverwalk are quickly occupied.
A last stop I didn't want to leave is that Vincennes University Historic Campus. The old brick buildings seem to have survived more exams and parties than you can count. I made a small tour there and ran randomly to the library where a student was working on a research project on local history. The conversation was short, but he gave me some insider tips that are not in any guide – for example, that the best breakfast in the “Morning Glory Diner” lies directly opposite where the pancakes are almost as large as the portions in the museum café.
So, next time you drive through Vincennes, don't forget that this city has more to offer than just old buildings. She has character, a bit of cynicism, and a lot of small surprises that are just waiting to be discovered by a slightly ironic guide like me.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, which is practically hidden at the edge of Vincennes, where the story still smells like asphalt. I made a picnic on the meadow next to the monument, while an older gentleman in a devastated military hat told me that Clark took the French fort here in 1779 – a little more dramatic than the sober plaque suggests. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the field becomes a small battlefield from cars.
A short jump over the state road 57 leads me to the Angel Mounds State Historic Site, one of the best preserved pre-Columbian village complexes in the Middle West. I have to admit, I was skeptical if a prehistoric Indian village can be really exciting, but the exalted earthwall structures and the museum, which exhibits artifacts from the 1400s, have completely knocked me around. While I stood there, I heard a child shouting loudly: “Look, Mom, a real Indian!” – that was the loudest echo of the past I have ever experienced. The parking lot is small, so better to be there early if you don't want to stand in the traffic jam of tourist buses.
Further north, almost one piece outside the card grid, lies Patoka Lake. I rented a kayak there because I thought the water was too cloudy for a clear view – and was instructed for a better one. The water is crystal clear, and the surrounding forests offer a panoramic view that brings even the hardest city muffle to sigh. Fishing is a popular pastime here, and I actually have a pike on the fishing I later put back into the water because I'm not the type that collects trophy. Parking is generous, but at the weekends the visitor center fills up faster than a quick snack on Friday night.
A little further southwest, hardly a cat jump from the city, the Wabash River through the landscape. I found an old, slightly rusty rowing boat there, which I tried briefly – the result was a shaky but unforgettable rowing adventure that reminded me of the times when the pioneers transported their goods here. The river is not only a beautiful photo pot, but also a popular fishing area; I caught a cash that was almost as big as my breakfast egg. The access is free, but the shore can become slippery during rain, so pack solid footwear.
For those who prefer to travel on two wheels, there are Wabash & Erie Canal Trail, a 350-kilometre long path that offers a particularly quiet section here. I took half an hour to explore the trail, stumbled over an old sluice house, which today serves as a small café – the best croissant I had eaten for months came from a bakery that used to bake bread for canal ships. The trail is well marked, but at the intersections with country roads you have to pay attention to traffic, because the cars do not always adhere to the rules.
Another slightly overlooked jewel is the Vincennes State Forest, a forest stretching over several square miles and offering numerous hiking trails. I discovered a narrow path that leads to a small, hidden waterfall – a perfect place to let the soul bangle while the birds give their morning concert. The forest is accessible free of charge, and parking is sufficient at most entrances as long as you do not arrive with a whole school class.
When you explore the surroundings of Vincennes Township, you can quickly see that the Vincennes Attractions have much more to offer than what you find in the guides – from historical sites to unspoiled nature to hidden cafés along old canals. Each of these places has its own charm, and I can only recommend taking the car, turning off the phone and simply pulling off.
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