I never thought of Danville, Indiana as a destination town, but I had a wonderful visit to the…read morehistoric town. Most notably, the people were incredibly friendly and helpful. Little kids opened doors for me with big smiles. Sheriff deputies showed me historic paintings. Everyone that I encountered went the extra mile to make me feel welcomed. Danville is the County seat for Hendricks County because the town sits in the middle of the County. The Courthouse sits on a grand square in the center of town. Danville has a rich history in farming and industry. The square is surrounded by little businesses, antique shops and restaurants. There are an amazing amount of really good restaurants in the small town. I did not see chain or big box stores, just locally owned mom and pop businesses. The former Sheriff's home/jail has been converted to a wonderful little museum and is a must see. Volunteers provide free guided tours that are interesting and educational. Parking is free downtown. Public buildings had restrooms. Everything is walkable.

I just want to give praise to the employees of the Hamilton County Assessors office in Noblesville…read more Every time I call regarding a question or issue I have with my property taxes they are very friendly and helpful. I'm a disabled veteran and I can always use the help when trying to make sense of how my property tax is determined and what is deductible. The Indiana legislature just modified how deductions are calculated for disabled veterans and honestly I was not able to discern how the modification affected me. They took the time to explain the changes and that made all the difference. I only hope someone in that office sees this review and tells the others. Your kindness and compassion makes a challenging life a little easier. Thank you.

I got that dreaded letter in the mail recently: I was being summoned for jury duty! Because I'm a…read moreresident of Hamilton County, I had to report to this particular court house. My experience being called for jury duty was fine. The people who work here are very professional and efficient. The building itself is beautiful. If you do have to serve on a jury and spend some time here, there are lots of restaurant options to choose from. I ended up being dismissed before lunch. Keep in mind that they don't allow you to park outside of the courthouse itself. There's a free parking garage a block away at which jurors are instructed to park. I would add an additional 10 minutes to your trip to find parking and walk to the courthouse. It's not far away, but there's a traffic light that takes a while. Also keep in mind: Before you enter the courthouse, you have to walk through a body scanner and empty your pockets. It's very easy but also kind of a pain, but I guess it's necessary in these strange and unpredictable times.

I found out about this place after the post office canceled the passport appointment I had…read morescheduled for my son a month in advance. Thankfully, I learned that this location accepts walk-ins for passport services. I called ahead to confirm, and I'm really glad I did. They don't offer photo services like the post office, so I had to make an extra stop to get photos taken. I had also already prepaid for a money order on the processing fee, but it turned out they accept credit/debit cards or cash for that portion of the cost ($35), so I ended up paying that way instead (since my money order was too much ($50) because of the extra photo service charge I had opted for originally with the post office). The payment to the U.S. department of state ($130) still had to be money order/cashiers check or a check which I had a money order for that. The building itself is beautiful, very historic with a old-timey vibe. I enjoyed sightseeing around the building, checking out all the landmarks. When we arrived, the security guard at the front was helpful and guided us to the correct area. The staff member who assisted us was also very friendly, which made the process smooth. Parking was free and available around the building, which made things even easier. When I called ahead, they also let me know which entrance to use since some were closed, and that was really helpful. I'm so grateful this option was available the same day. It was convenient, easy to access, and the service was great, plus, the building itself was a nice bonus to see.

The Johnson County Courthouse stands on a prominent square in Franklin. The Courthouse, designed by…read morearchitect George W. Buenting, was completed in 1881 and is a mixture of Italianate and other styles. The courthouse is the 4th dedicated structure for Johnson County. (Two previous courthouses were destroyed by fire.) The exterior of the building is a combination of brick and limestone. A central clock tower with working bell is prominent. Several war memorials stand in the courtyard including a bronze Civil War sculpture by John Vawter. Inside, marble floors, curved stairways, carved woodwork and other woodwork captured my attention. A central atrium with a beautiful lit ceiling is the centerpiece of the building. The building is pristine with the most recent renovation completed in 1983. The security guard was friendly and directed me to the clerk's office for information. There are several courtrooms in the building. The Superior Court was close to original 1881 condition with folding seating made of wrought iron and oak. Other courtrooms had been modernized. Free parking surrounds the Courthouse square. The building is fully accessible. The Courthouse is worth a visit if you are interested in architecture and history.

The Hendrick's County War Memorial sits on the northeast corner of Courthouse Square in Danville,…read moreIndiana. The modern monument honors Hendrick's County residents who gave their lives during 20th century wars. The granite statute has the names of soldiers from WWI, WWII, Koran War, and Vietnam carved on flanking pillars. The base is inscribed "Once in our lives, forever in our memories". A center pillar states "In Honor of Hendrick's County Veterans Who Gave Their Lives in Defense of Our Country". An eagle and map of Indiana are also carved in the pillar. Flags stand behind the monument. I thought of my parents who both served in the Air Force. There is a small wall high enough to sit and remanence. The memorial was made possible by the Danville and Pittsburg Jaycees. Jeffry Dever designed the monument and served as the chairman of the project committee. The Memorial was dedicated July 4, 1992. A nearby time capsule will be opened on July 4, 2042. There is free street parking nearby. The sidewalk is accessible.

The historic Hamilton County Courthouse in Noblesville is one of the older functioning courthouses…read morein the state, dedicated in 1878. The building was designed by famous Indianapolis architect, Edwin Mays, but completed by J. C. Johnson. (Mays went on to design the Indiana Statehouse, but became paralyzed during the project and died in 1880.) The courthouse is French Second Empire and I think the French influence is evident from grand facade outside. The clocktower has been replaced due to failure of the original structure (similar to the Montgomery County Courthouse clocktower). Inside, the staff is friendly. The deputy welcomed me, told me where to find courthouse artifacts and encouraged me to peek inside the courtroom. Other staff members also asked if I needed assistance. The courthouse has undergone numerous renovations throughout the years and offices are 1990's "modern" while the halls are original. Most notable are the twin staircases with short bannisters and steps. The floors are a mix of marble and mosaic tile. Some of the original cabinetry stands in the halls. Lovely leaded glass windows crown entryways. Unlike other Indiana courthouses, there is no grand dome that can be seen from the inside. The original bench of the courtroom has been maintained, while seating was updated at some point. A plaque notes the 1925 historic conviction of Klu Klux Klan leader, D. C. Stephenson, for the brutal attack that led to the death of Madge Oberholtzer. Stephenson's conviction contributed to the demise of the Klan. A cabinet on the third floor holds interesting artifacts such as one of the original hands of the clock and photograph of the original building. Today, a tunnel runs from the basement of the courthouse to a government complex across the street. The original sheriff's house and prison sits on the Square, now housing a museum. There is limited parking around the square. The building is accessible through an entrance ramp and there is an elevator inside. I recommend visiting on a Thursday or Friday, when the Sheriff's House/Museum is opened. Around the Square are several good restaurants and antiques shops. Worth a visit, for sure.

The Monroe County Courthouse sits on a grand square surrounded by thriving restaurants, bars and…read moreshops. There is an energy around the square that I have not seen at other county courthouses. The courthouse building, completed in 1907 is constructed of Indiana limestone (of course). There is a large copper dome on top and four large clocks around the tower. A limestone-carved Lady Liberty sits over the main entrance with a male figure sitting beside her. The building is National Registered as a Historic Place. The Courthouse is surrounded by memorials. The is a really nice Viet Nam memorial on the West side with beautifully cared for flowering plants. On the East side is a War Memorial commentating those who served in multiple wars back to the Spanish American War. Other memorials honor local public servants. This is very much a working Courthouse housing the Circuit Court. Residents can register to vote here. Landscaping is variable around the courthouse with parts needing care. Many of the statues and the exterior of the courthouse building are in need of cleaning.

Monroe County was formed by the Indiana General Assembly and Bloomington was selected as the county…read moreseat in 1818. A one-story two-room log cabin was the original. The second courthouse was built here between 1819-1826 and was two stories with brick and a stone foundation. It was expanded a couple of times but was eventually demolished for the construction of this new courthouse. The current stricture was build in 1908 and is in the Beaux Arts style. It is large, majestic and absolutely lovely. You'll want to try spotting the weather vane on the top of the dome which was saved from the original courthouse. The grounds of the courthouse have a number of memorials including a Civil War monument and a World War monument (because back then, there was only the one). There is metered street parking on all four sides of the courthouse and the square is surrounded by bars and restaurants and retail shopping. [Review 20563 overall - 101 in Indiana - 1544 of 2023.]

Located not far from central Danville, this marker is in front of a small city park next to one of…read morethe city's firehouses. So if you're here to see the marker, be sure to park carefully and not block the firehouse. The marker has text on both sides. The front reads, "Residential district bounded by Main, East, Cross, and Marion streets. Nineteenth and early twentieth century homes reflect social and economic diversity of residents, including town's prominent citizens. Listed in National Register of Historic Places 1994." And the reverse, "Part of original 1824 Danville plat; county seat of Hendricks County, formed by Indiana General Assembly 1824. Lies west of downtown commercial area and reflects town's growth and prosperity. Town was market center for area farmers 1820s into early 1900s. Industries developed along tracks of Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad built 1870." This is marker number 32.2000.1 and it was erected in 2000 by the Indiana Historical Bureau, Main Street Historical Association of Danville, and Town of Danville. [Review 1301 of 2024 - 178 in Indiana - 22324 overall]