Honestly, if you ask yourself why this little town is mentioned in the heart of Floyd County at all, then let me start with a short historical piece: Greenville was founded in 1829, named after the then governor James Greene, and has since accumulated more than a few centuries of rural charm. The old wooden houses on Main Street cores tell about a time when the railway was still the backbone of the economy – a bit of nostalgia that you can still smell here when you stroll over the field roads on a lukewarm summer evening. I usually get by car over the I‐64 because the bus to Indianapolis exists, but rather is an adventure for patience. As soon as you arrive in the township, you immediately feel that people here have a self-contained relationship with their own heritage: they celebrate the everyday, while at the same time they are a bit proud of the “small but fine” image.
I don't understand the hype about the typical midwestern cities, but the combination of historical calm and a surprisingly lively sense of community makes the Greenville Attractions for me to an underestimated jewel. So if you want to experience a piece of Indiana that is not suffocated by tourist streams, just go by – you won't regret it.
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 Greenville, 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'm driving again and again is that Floyds Knob in the Hoosier National Forest – a hill that offers more views than one would expect from a place called “Knob”. The way up is a narrow, slightly weathered path lined in the spring by wild blackberries; in summer he turns into a maze of mosquitoes and sun rays. I once tried to shoot a photo of the sunset there, just to find out that my phone was completely out of the last five minutes of the day – no joke, that was a real test for my patience. Parking is usually easy, except for long weekends when the locals occupy the field with their picnic baskets and barbecue equipment.
A short trip to the south leads directly to O'Bannon Woods State Park, a place I like to call the green lung of Floyd County. The lake there is crystal clear enough to see the underwater plants, and fishing is a popular pastime – I once caught a pike that was almost as big as my bike. The trails are well marked, but the signs can be somewhat confusing in some places; I almost caught myself in a circle of three small bridges before I found the right path. A little note: The visitor centre has a free Wi-Fi hotspot, which is surprisingly stable if you have to do a bit of work while enjoying nature.
If you have enough trees, it is worth a trip to Corydon Battlefieldwhere the first battle of the civil war took place in Indiana. The site is not just an amusement park, but the historical signs tell the story with such clarity that you can almost hear the drum fire. I remember standing there with a friend and trying to climb the old cannon – the result was a short fall and a loud laugh that made the other visitors curious. The park area is accessible around the clock, and parking is usually easy on the main road as long as you do not arrive on Saturday night when the annual reenactment takes place and the road becomes a battlefield full of people.
A little further east lies the Lincoln State Parknamed after the president who once spent a few days here to escape everyday life. The park is famous for its hiking trails along the White River, which lead to small waterfalls – a perfect place to refresh the feet in cool water when the heat in July becomes unbearable. I once made a picnic with self-made sandwiches there, just to realize that a curious raccoon took my cola; that was a real learning effect in food storage. The toilets are clean, and the visitor center occasionally offers lectures about the local flora, which are surprisingly informative.
A short jump to the north brings you to White River itself, a river that winds through the landscape like a silver thread. I drove canoe several times there, and every time I am surprised by the tranquility that you only find when the water doesn't make a noise. The docks are usually well maintained, but on hot summer days it can happen that the water is so low that you are almost on the ground – a good argument why you should start early in the morning. For anglers there are numerous places where you can catch trout, and the local fishing business on the river banks sells fresh baits that are amazingly effective.
A little away from the usual tourist paths lies the Old State Bank Museum in Corydon, a small but fine museum that houses the history of the first Indiana bank. I once made a lead there with a retired banker who told me how he put a 100 dollar bill in a piggy bank in the 1970s – a picture that remains in my mind until today. The museum is free, and parking is possible directly in front of the building, but only for a short time because the road is very narrow there.
Whether you’re looking for historic sites, nature experiences or just for a quiet spot to relax – the environment of Greenville, Greenville Township, Floyd, Indiana has more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. The blend of well-preserved monuments, inviting parks and the distinctive charm of the White River makes every visit a small adventure. And that's exactly what makes Greenville Attractions to a worthwhile destination for those who want to experience the real Indiana.
I have to admit that I chose the first stop in Greenville almost out of pure boredom – the old town hall with its bustling clock, which ticks more for decades than an old gum, kind of attracted me. The Greenville Town Hall stands in the middle of the historical core and looks as if someone had tried to combine a Victorian monument with a 20-year old building plan. The entrance area smells like freshly painted wooden panels, and if you're lucky, you hear the quiet knock of the watch, which is more a nostalgic stutter than a precise tick. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, it becomes a real problem because then the whole town mutates to the dance hall.
Directly next to the town hall, the Greenville Historic District – a word that tourist offices love because it sounds like there are more than a few old barns here. In truth, it is a narrow strip of Main Street, lined by brick buildings from the 19th century. Century, which today serve as a café, antique shop and – to my surprise – as a tattoo studio. I don’t understand the hype around the “authentic” shop window, but the small café “Bean & Bread” next to the old iron goods store has the best espresso I ever drank in a place with less than 2 000 inhabitants. And yes, the Wi-Fi is as shaky as the old power grid, so better bring a book.
A short walk leads you to Greenville Public Library, a charming brick building that looks more like a cozy living room than a library. The shelves are full of local history books, which you will probably never read, but this is not the real highlight – the librarians, Mrs. Hargrove, have known every resident since childhood and likes to share anecdotes about the “good old time” when you give her a smile. Practical: There is free Wi-Fi and a small reading room window that lets in the summer the air from the surrounding fields so that you can almost hear the sum of the bees.
If you have enough of dusty books, take a look at the Greenville Community Center, which used to serve as a primary school and now acts as a venue for everything possible – from yoga courses to karaoke nights, where the neighbors sing more obliquely than a drunken cock. The courtyard is surrounded by an ancient oak that seems to tell more stories than most locals. Parking here is a dream because the terrain has a small but sufficiently large parking space that is not crowded even on market days.
Now comes what I personally appreciate most: Greenville Farmers Market. Every Saturday from May to October the main road turns into a colorful collection of fresh vegetables, homemade jams and handmade soaps. I bought a pumpkin there that was so big that I almost had to use it as a seat while I slept through the stands. The market is a bit messy – the stalls are close to each other, and the sound of loud talking is almost part of the charm – but that's exactly what makes the whole thing authentic. And yes, parking is a nightmare here if you don't arrive early enough; I drove in circles for three hours until I finally found a free place.
A little off the hustle and bustle Greenville Cemeterya cemetery that reveals more about the history of the place than any museum. There are veterans of the civil war, pioneers who made the country urbarous, and a few forgotten souls whose tombstones are overgrown by Moos. Once there I discovered an old, artfully carved gravel, which reminds a little of the art of craftsmanship that is only found in hipster workshops. The cemetery is freely accessible, and parking is practically directly at the entrance, because the terrain is small enough that you can almost always find a place.
Finally, almost out of pure mood, I have the Greenville City Park visited – a small green piece with a playground, a picnic area and a tiny lake, where ducks paddle in front of themselves. The park is not just a natural paradise, but it offers a quiet retreat, if after a long day full of “Greenville Sights” you just want to let the soul bangle. There are a few benches that are surprisingly comfortable, and parking is always a Klack because the small field next to the park is an open field that everyone can use.
So, next time you think about whether to make a detour to Greenville, remember: the city may be small, but it has more character than some big city kiosk. And that's exactly what I love in this place – the mix of honest history, slightly slanted charm and the constant feeling that you can still discover a little more here than you suspect at first glance.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
