Now I truly know the meaning behind the phrase, "a feast for the eyes." Samara is one of those…read morehouses where my eyes were on overdrive, just trying to look at every element of this gorgeous property, and absorb all possible details. It's almost overwhelming how beautiful this Frank Lloyd Wright house is. Samara is my first FLW structure that I've had the pleasure of touring. I didn't know what to expect when I signed up: Would it just be me and the tour guide? Surely, there aren't that many people who want to see a house in the middle of a weekday. I was wrong! Our group was at least a dozen people, all enthusiastic about learning more about this special house and Frank Lloyd Wright's plans behind it. Our tour guide was excellent, and gave us so much information about the house, the previous owners, the reason why it was created and Wright's vision for the house. I love when people do things with intention and attention to detail, and that's what's going on here with Samara. No detail of the house is by accident: Everything was carefully planned out. You can tell that Samara is a house that was purposefully made. Photos are welcome on this tour, which is good because I wanted to take photos of everything. You are not allowed in the spaces by yourself, and you have to stay with the group. The tour guide and a couple of helpers lead you through the house and explain all of the features. The tour starts right on time, and is about an hour and a half. But that 90 minutes flies by!

We had a great 90+ min narrated tour. So many stories about the family, the house, and the overall…read moreproperty. Nathan the tour guide/ docent was great and had history and anecdotes for anything our tour asked of him. I came in with limited knowledge on FLW, and came away with a much better appreciation.

I was in the Franklin area for a work obligation and finally made it over to see the famed "Grave…read morein The Middle of The Road." One of the more unique graves around, this grave nearly always shows up on any list of Indiana's most unique roadside attractions. Of course, this isn't "roadside." It's in the middle of the road and serves as a sort of divider in the road. The grave is for Nancy Kerlin Barnett, married to William Barnett. Fun fact: William was the great great great grandson of Pocahontas and John Rolfe. Nancy passed away on 12/1/31. She was buried here - a place that used to be a hill overlooking Sugar Creek. Over the years, the area became a small cemetery. Eventually, a small footpath was made. Finally, they wanted to put a small county road here. While it's not certain, it's believed that most graves in the area were moved. However, Nancy's grave stuck around as one of the son's protested moving it. Eventually, they wanted to widen the road - this time around, per report, grandson Daniel showed up with a shotgun essentially saying "Over my dead body." So, she stayed again. They built the road around her and a concrete slab was placed over the grave. On August 8, 1912, a historical marker was also placed. To this day, the grave remains and is definitely considered an "attraction." Anyone who visits roadside attractions in Indiana will eventually make it here. It took me way too long. Surprisingly, it's also fairly accessible and the road is really fairly lightly traveled. It's not hard to stop and see it, though given it's a hill you do have to be a bit cautious even with slow traffic. Is this the best roadside attraction you'll ever see? Of course not. It is, however, a cool sort of cultural icon in Indiana and worth a stop for those in the area. It's definitely not what I'd call a destination attraction. Franklin is a great community to visit, however, I'd certainly not drive down just for this unless you're truly a gravesite person.

This was on a list of unusual things to do/see in Indiana so I had to check it out. The story goes…read morelike this. They were developing the road and it was going right through where the grave is. So they decided to dig the grave up, to which the grandson of the deceased said, ohh heck nawww. It ain't going down like that, and he grabbed his shotgun and threatened the powers. to be so bad that they came up with the compromise of incorporating his gam gam's grave into the new road. So, here we are. Down the center line of the road you will find a tombstone covered with pennies and an occasional flower or two. There is also a historical road marker on the side of the road as well, detailing the significance of the spot. This stop is just or brief stop or drive by. There is really no good place to pull over. I had to be creative and pray. To my favor was that the street was not very busy. An occasional car would pass by. Well now, I can check off "seeing a grave in the middle of the road" off of my bucket list. On to the next adventure.

Big windmill farm as you go down I-65. Towering metal pinwheels for miles helping to generate…read moreelectricity. Mesmerizing and fun to watch! Art in motion for sure.

I absolutely love it when we drive through here, day or night. We make the trek about 4 times a…read moreyear or so to see our son and his family in northwest Indiana, and it takes us right through this amazing wind farm. The turbines are majestic as they rise from the farmland and whirl with the wind. They are placed at different angles, so sometimes, because of how the wind hits them, there are a few that aren't spinning . Generally, however, most of them are magically doing their work of creating electricity. In the daytime you're treated to this huge array of beautiful dove gray or white spinning giants, dotted all over the countryside. At night, they are equally - yet differently - stunning, as you're surrounded by their red blinking lights. Day or night, they are a delight to see. On each side of the highway there are rest areas, where it's fun to just park and watch the turbines spin. There are those who decry wind turbines, saying that they kill birds. I have driven literally right next to a bunch of them many, many times over the years, and there isn't one dead bird anywhere near them. Perhaps when they were first erected, some birds may have flown into some of the turbines, but I have seen birds safely flitting all around the turbines. Birds seem to be able to adapt their flight patterns accordingly. When you get a chance, take I65 north of Lafayette to see these beauties. You won't be disappointed!

The Two Story Outhouse. I loved being here. I smiled ear to ear the whole time. Such a great way to…read morebring some traffic to the village of Gays. They had a mini replica of the outhouse that had cars and pens inside where you can write where you are from. So fun! I recommend spending time here. It was fun and wholesome.

Me and my wife recently went here to see one this place was all about. Rich in history, the…read moreOuthouse had no people here and only a few people wrote their names and the log book presented. You get to learn a nice history lesson too! Obviously you cannot access the outhouse and it's not in its complete true form due to various changes but you can see more of its original form looking at the historic photos. Unfortunately if you read it, it's completely full of typos. The park is very well maintained and it's definitely worth stopping it. I wouldn't drive a few hours to visit this place personally. It's something fun to check out if you are going through the city. Great place to spend 15 minutes at! I really do wish the city of Gays can make a bigger attraction out of this and have more stores here.

My husband and I visited the Tippecanoe Battlefield Historical Museum on our travels through…read moreIndiana. The Battle of Tippecanoe was was the event that launched the presidential campaign of Indiana's son William Henry Harrison. Outside you can see the monument to the men and the battle as well as walk on the battleground. Inside the museum, you can learn more about the battle. There is a good video that describes what happened in the battle. There are also plenty of artifacts and exhibits. For history lovers, this is a must visit museum!

I was told that I should set aside about 45 minutes to an hour to explore the Tippecanoe…read moreBattlefield Historical Museum. I'm not one to brag, but I made it out of there in about 10 minutes! Yes, I win! All kidding aside, you can spend as much or as little time as you want in this historical museum, and you'll get something out of it. If you want to read all of the things, then you'll spend more time here, for sure. I'm more of a vibes person when it comes to museums, so I enjoyed wandering through the exhibits, taking in the scenery, and letting my feelings about what I saw wash over me. I wandered out of the main museum to the Wah-ba-shik-a Nature Center, which is on the Tippecanoe Battlefield grounds. It's a small nature center with some interesting things to see. I talked to the friendly docent who had a table at the entrance, and she told me a little about the history of the nature center. In the nature center and the museum, there aren't too many hands-on activities. It's mostly things to see and read, which is great for older kids and adults, but is a little bit of a bummer for younger kids. But if you have younger kids who need physical stimulation, take them outside to explore the rest of Battlefield Park. There are creeks and wide open spaces and woods and bridges and lots of things to explore.

Indiana loves its covered bridges. About 90 bridges still exist around the state. The Cedar Chapel…read moreCovered Bridge originally spanned Cedar Creek in DeKalb County. The bridge was built in 1884 and is the last surviving bridge by George Woerntz & Son. The bridge features Howe truss construction and is 110 long. The bridge was dismantled in 1966 in DeKalb County. Connor Prairie purchased in the 1970s and stored the pieces for 25 years before restoring the bridge as a feature on the grounds crossing into the Junction. The (now) pedestrian bridge crosses a small marsh that attracts water fowl. I have visited the bridge several times now. I took my granddaughter last week. We talked about the significance of the bridge as we walked across and listened to the echoes inside. The bridge, one of three in Hamilton County. is an important part of Indiana history and worth a visit. Admission to Connor Prairie is required. The bridge is accessible.

Cedar Chapel Covered Bridge so far is my favorite covered bridge in the state of Indiana or…read moreanywhere! I am so impressed at how much care goes into the preservation of the covered bridges in this state. Not only do they keep many of them freshly painted and structurally sound, they celebrate them with driving tours, festivals and special parks such as Conner Prairie. Cedar Chapel is a beautiful structure unlike any other I've seen, moved from its original location to the Conner Prairie Pioneer Settlement. Six years prior to its purchase it sat roadside and then remained on Conner Prairies property for 25 years until The Governor's Office presented a check for $240,000 to aid in the cost of it's restoration. Conner Prairie is AMAZING! Truly worth visiting with your family as you walk through time. The facility is divided into villages. There is an 1836 Prairietown, an 1863 Civil War Journey, 1859 Balloon Voyage, animal encounters, a homestead, Indian camp, nature walk and many interactive areas. The bridge is located between the 1836 Prairietown and 1863 Civil War Journey. We had very little time to spend here, but are making plans to return soon! BRIDGE FACTS Year Opened: 1884 Builder: George Woerntz & Son Length: 110 feet (124 feet including the 7-foot approaches at each end) Width/Height: 12 feet wide / 13 feet high Truss type: Howe Truss Current Location: Conner Prairie Interactive History Park in Fisher, IN Original Location: DeKalb County FINAL THOUGHTS It costs to get into Conner Prairie ($15/adults or $10/children at the time of this review), but it is so worth it, especially if you are a fan of historic details. Of all the bridges I've EVER seen, I would recommend this be a top destination for your travel folder. It is one of the most beautiful covered bridges you will ever see in an ideal family setting loaded with things to do. Visit. Enjoy.

I've been visiting West Lafayette for many years but never noticed this magnificent fountain until…read moremy visit to the Courthouse in September. The fountain is amazing - my first thought was just "wow". The fountain was designed by Laredo Taft in 1887. The statue honors General Lafayette, the city namesake. His figure stands majestically over the pool below. Panels around the base also honor John Purdue (namesake of Purdue University), an artesian well beneath the fountain, early pioneers of the city, Union solders who fought in the Civil War, and William Digby (founder of Lafayette). The fountain is surrounded by beautiful landscaping. Local business workers sat around the fountain eating lunch or reading in the serene setting and the sounds of the fountain water. There is free street parking about a block away. The fountain and Courthouse are definitely worth a visit.

Famous American sculptor Lorado Taft from Illinois was selected to create the magnificent fountain…read moreon the northeast corner of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse. In 1887, the piece was erected on the site and appears to have undergone some TLC along with the courthouse. The main figure atop the fountain is that of the Marquis de Lafayette who was instrumental in helping the inexperienced and underfunded American military during the Revolutionary War. Below that life sized figure, there are four oval reliefs and below that, an octagonal shape with each of the sides bearing an ornate framing around the names of honorees with ties to the city. Honorees are quite varied and include pioneers, soldiers, John Purdue, and William Digby, the town founder. Earlier versions of the courthouse are also honored. Although the honorees may be somewhat random, the overall beauty of the work is fantastic. Review #1410

Completed in 1972, the Salem Crossing Covered Bridge crosses Fishback Creek, just to the west of…read moreSalem Road. It was built by E.J. Murphy who earned an engineering degree at Purdue University and subsequently moved to Zionsville. Interestingly, the dedication of the bridge was attended by U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey. U.S. Senator Vance Hartke, U.S. Senator Birch Bayh, and "Bonanza" actor Lorne Greene. After Murphy passed away in 1981, the Kennerk family purchased the property and bridge in 1982 from Murphy's estate. The Kennerks renamed the bridge Salem's Crossing in 1996. The bridge is not open to traffic and I believe that it might be located on private property. So keep that in mind if you're planning to visit. [Review 20587 overall - 121 in Indiana - 1568 of 2023.]

Neat little park, historical home of Monon railroad, intersection of 2 lines of first all…read moredieselized railroad.

This pocket park is well maintained and features a restored Monon Railroad Caboose on site. There…read moreis also a memorial to the citizens of Monon who worked for the railroad. The park has a few trees, a picnic table, and a railroad service cart. Located downtown next to the railroad, the park also has a historical marker about the Monon Railroad's history...one that was key to the development of the town. If you have a couple minutes, check out this tiny park. Or relax if you have time, maybe have a picnic. Review #2752