Patriot sights? Yeah, that sounds almost like an advertising slogan, but I promise you there's more than just a sign on the roadside. Patriot, a tiny piece of Indiana, is nestled in the rural Posey Township of the picturesque Switzerland County, right on the Ohio River Curve, and was founded in 1850 as a small trading venue to bundle the agricultural products of the region. The story is not exactly Hollywood-worthy, but that's what makes the charm: a few old barns, a weathered post office, and the remains of a once-flowing railway line, which today are only in the field as a rusty relic.
If you're coming from Evansville by car, just follow the US route 41 until you turn to State Road 56 – not a GPS sense, just a little road that leads you through fields where corn reaches almost to the horizon. I have to admit, I don’t understand the hype about the “big” cities, but here, between the endless grain fields, you suddenly feel like a discoverer in the 19th century. Century. And yes, the “Patriot Sights” include not only the old church building, which is still visited by a handful of villagers on Sundays, but also the small cemetery, where the names of your ancestors stand in crooked letters – a quiet place that reminds you that history is not only in museums but in the dust beneath your feet.
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The first stop of my little Odyssey was the Posey County Historical Museum in Mount Vernon – a place I always underestimate because it doesn't advertise with neon light. The building itself is an old court building from the 1800s, and inside artefacts are stacked, which betray more about the hard life on the Ohio River than any Instagram story ever could. I found a handwritten letter from the civil war that was addressed to a young man from New Harmony; that immediately reminded me of the next station, where the real New‐Harmony feeling is even more tangible.
A short jump over the bridge and one stands in New Harmony, a small town that was once founded by Robert Owen as a socialist utopia. The historic houses are not all in perfect condition, but the atmosphere is unmistakable – a bit like a lively history book that you scroll through with your feet. I discovered a café there, which is supposed to serve the best apple cake in the region; no joke, the cake was actually better than what I find in most big city bakeries. And while I was sitting there, I heard an older gentleman talking about the “big dreams” of the founders – a conversation that reminded me that not all that shines is gold, but some ideas still remain fascinating.
The Hovey Lake State Park is located on the north side of the village. This is not the typical “hidder paradise” that you know from travel guides, but rather a wild, slightly wild retreat for birdwatchers and anglers. I spent a few hours sitting at the lakeside, while a bear (yes, a real bear) snapped to fish in the background – fortunately only from a distance. The park area is mostly unconsolidated, so you should pack robust shoes; Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the local anglers flood the field.
A short trip to the Wabash and Erie Canal Trail will take you through a forgotten infrastructure, which today serves as a popular cycle and hiking trail. The path is lined by old sluice ruins and small museums that explain the former traffic network. I discovered an old wooden boat that seems to be there since the 1920s – a perfect photo motif if you love the rustic charm. The trail is not wide, so keep ready when you're traveling with families; the children find the old stone bridges more exciting than any modern attraction.
Only half an hour drive south is the Angel Mounds State Historic Site, a magnificent relic of the pre-Columbian Mississippian culture. The earth's hills and the well-preserved mounds give you the feeling as if you were walking through a living museum. I met a leader there who told me that the site was once an important trading centre – an interesting contrast to the rather rural, modern settlements around Patriot. The entrance is free, but the visitor center can be quite crowded on hot days because school classes like to make excursions here.
At the end of my small tour before I went back to Patriot, I made another trip to Evansville to visit the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science. The museum is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “culture” in Indiana, but the mix of local art, scientific exhibitions and a small but fine collection of historical vehicles has positively surprised me. I even discovered an old railway model that is supposed to come from the 1900s – a real treasure for nostalgics.
Whether you are looking for authentic stories, unspoiled nature or a touch of art, the surroundings of Patriot, Posey Township, Switzerland, Indiana have more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. The places mentioned show that the region is not only another rural spot Earth, but a small kaleidoscope of history, landscape and surprising cultural highlights. And that's exactly what makes Patriotic sights to a worthwhile destination for those who appreciate the unusual.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Patriot is not some hipster café, but that Patriot Community Park. The lawn is not always perfectly mowed, but this is exactly what makes the charm – here you can unpack a nice picnic in the summer, while the kids get rid of their energy on the somewhat sloping playground. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the weekly baseball game of the local league starts and everyone tries to get a free place.
A short walk further (I mean really just a few minutes, not the whole Indiana Trail) leads you to Patriot Fire Department Museum. I don't quite understand the hype about old firefighting equipment, but here are gracious, rusty extinguishing hoses and a 1920's firefighter car that has more stories to tell than some politicians. The owner, a retired fireman, even lets you do the siren – a short moment in which you feel like a real hero before you realize that this is just a loud beep.
If you have enough of metal and plastic, look Patriot United Methodist Church on. The building is a real relic from the 1880s, with stained glass windows that immerse the light in an almost sacral yellow. I visited a Sunday worship service there, only to establish that the community seems to talk more about the weather than about the Bible – but hey, that is Indiana, where the weather is the real topic of conversation.
A little further north, almost on the edge of the place, lies what I love Patriot River Access nenne. The Wabash River is not just a tourist magnet here, but if you have a little patience, you can catch a few carp in a quiet afternoon. The shore is a little muddy, so bring an old T-shirt that you can use later as a cleaning cloth. I once met an old angler who told me that he has been fishing here every summer since 1975 – this is almost a local myth.
For the hunger for something deculent there is Patriot Diner, a small corner place that sells more burgers than one would expect in a city of this size. The service is friendly, though a bit cured, because the staff usually consists of students who just do their shift after the lecture. I tried the “Patriot Special” there – a thick cheeseburger with extra bacon that almost made me forget my diet for the rest of the year.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the annual Patriot Days Festival. This is what you could call a “small city party”, but for the locals it is the nonplusultra. There is a flea market, a few local bands and a competition in pumpkin carving, where participants show more creativity than most art galleries. Last year I won the prize for the “scruted pumpkin” – a piece that reminded more of a misfortune alien look, but the audience loved it.
Last but not least, if you ask yourself what else you can see in Patriot, then take a look at the Patriot Elementary School. Yes, that sounds like a strange recommendation, but the school building is a good example of the robust, functional architecture that prevails here. The children always have a smile on the face, and the staff is so friendly that you almost forget that you are actually just a tourist. I took part in a parent's evening there, just to see how the teachers try to impregnate the chaos – a real spectacle.
So, next time you decide if you should make a detour to Patriot, remember: Patriotic sights are not the glittering metropolises you know from travel guides, but they have their own, slightly cynical charm that will certainly not disappoint you.
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