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.

If you are a Hoosier, after you visit Milan (hoops of course is our top interest), make a trip to…read moreMetamora. Everyone's heard of the Erie Canal, but how many know the story of what happened next. Indiana tried to build a Lake Erie to the Wabash canal, which if it had held together & worked, would have connected the Great Lakes to the Ohio River to New Orleans & the world. Metamora is on the Whitewater Canal which, if it had worked, would have connected nothing other than S/E Indiana farmland with markets in Cincinnati. The canal was 76 miles with 56 locks, which is ridiculous, and the canal was never successful. Our state went bankrupt trying to build these canals. Fascinating history. Anyway, the state museum is at one of the locks, and contains a functional operating grist mill. Time your visit with one of the several times each day the docent operates & explains how it works. The docent is friendly knowledgeable and makes your visit fun. Remember to buy things, especially a bag of corn meal you just saw be ground, because the gift shop helps fund this place. Highly recommend 5/5.

Whitewater Canal State Historic Site is one of the key attractions in the rather tiny town of…read moreMetamora, Indiana. Metamora is in Franklin County, a rural county that still feels mighty rural and lacks many of the many amenities that you'd find even in similar smaller towns or towns that are both historic and known for their "old timey" shops, antiques, and activities. For a couple years, fellow Yelpers Rick G. and Holly G. owned a shop in Metamora. I, in turn, owned a bookstore within that shop. As a result, I got to know Metamora fairly well and even officiated Rick and Holly's wedding out on the Whitewater Canal Trail. This is a historic site that falls under the umbrella of Indiana State Museum. It's a throwback to 19th century Indiana and was a key part of Indiana's commerce in the mid-19th century. The White Water Valley Canal Company was so big at one point that it had its own bank and printed its own currency in Connersville. The Whitewater Canal started in Lawrenceburg and originally ended in Cambridge City. Hagerstown, where I once pastored a church, got together and financed an extension to the canal. Ohio got into the action and built another 25-mile extension connecting the canal to Cincinnati. The Metamora Grist Mill, which is still here, is an example of the grist mills that found life because of the canal. You can take home a bag of cornmeal to this day! Visiting the historic site, you can visit the grist mill, see the nation's only wooden aqueduct, explore hiking trails, pick up some commemorative gifts, and visit the small town of Metamora. There is a canal boat here in Metamora, though it's not currently active. There's hope that the Ben Franklin III will see life again. It's a charming experience to be pulled down the canal by Joey and Jordan, two steeds who pull the boat at a gentle 3-4 miles per hour. Admission to the historic site is free for kids under 3, $3 for kids 3-17, $5 for adults aged 18-59, $4 for seniors (60+), and free for members. The site is open April-October, Wednesday through Sunday, from 10am - 5pm. The site is typically also open through the holiday season but only on weekends. You can rent the Whitewater Canal Gazebo for special events. It can accommodate up to 250. If you're expecting a lot of razzle dazzle here, you'll probably be disappointed. Metamora certainly can get crowds, especially during music festivals (almost always folk/Americana, but this is a town with a gentle pace, a friendly spirit, some old shops that generally open when they want, and accessibility that is incredibly hit-and-miss. However, I loved being here and I loved having a bookstore in the town. Rick and Holly still visit here just about monthly and there are a handful of overnight accommodation options for those who want to make it a weekend getaway.

Like Richard said in his much more thorough review, if you're touristing around in Metamora, you…read moreneed to drive to the end of the road, 2 blocks beyond the state museum grist mill, and look at this historical oddity. It's a bridge to carry water over water. With FedEx, Amazon, and USPS delivering goods and packages now, and we complain when we don't get "next day delivery," it good to have at least some of our history preserved showing how products got delivered back in the day.

It's virtually impossible to visit Metamora, Indiana without coming face-to-face with a historic…read morelandmark. The Duck Creek Aqueduct, which is also referred to by some as the Whitewater Canal Aqueduct, is a historic aqueduct carrying the Whitewater Canal over the Duck Creek in Metamora, Indiana. Metamora is a small town in Franklin County and is known for its historic landmarks along with a variety of antique shops and "old timey" music. The Duck Creek Aqueduct isn't necessarily a destination spot by itself. However, in conjunction with Whitewater Canal and Metamora, it's one of those "must stop" places. Built in 1846, the Duck Creek Aqueduct is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the only surviving covered wood aqueduct in the United States. While it is over water, the Duck Creek Aqueduct closely resembles an actual covered bridge. It is a single-span Burr through truss aqueduct and measures approximately 90 feet long and 25 feet wide, with a structural height of 25 feet. The trough carrying the canal is formed out of oak beams and panels, and carries water to a normal depth of 2-3 feet. Water management valves and a spillway at the western end of the structure permit regulation of the water level of the canal. The roof is a 20th-century metal standing seam roof. Covered wood aqueducts never really caught on in the U.S., though this aqueduct makes for a very cool feature in an already very cool town. While this aqueduct was built in 1846, it's actually not the original. The original was built between 1839-43 and was washed out in a flood. This structure was strengthened in 1868 and repaired in 1901. After abandonment and deterioration, the Duck Creek Aqueduct was restored to its present appearance in 1946-1949 and has since undergone regular maintenance, including a historically sensitive replacement of the trough in 2005. The Duck Creek Aqueduct is located on the South end of the canal and East end of Main Street in Metamora. While it's hard to imagine missing it, if you can't find it everyone in Metamora knows exactly where it is located. The entire Whitewater Canal area is worth a visit and there are several restaurants and shops worth visiting in Metamora. As an older town in an area that has economically struggled, I will note there are accessibility issues in Metamora. However, even folks in wheelchairs (and I am a wheelchair user) can find plenty to do here and most of the people I've encountered in Metamora are quite helpful. If you're here on a Sunday, visit Boundless Ways of Grace Church where Yelper Rick G. is pastor.

Fairytale-like house [Cincinnati OH]…read more We couldn't just drive-by this whimsical house without stopping and doing a double take... and staring. This is the Mushroom House in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Cincinnati. The amount of detail is really breathtaking: circular steel steps, deck rails of wood shingles, stained glass windows, tiled ceilings... of course, I had to snap some pics. How often do we come to Cin City. The original owner/builder by the name of Terry Brown has passed away in 2008. The house is currently not on the market and occupied as a private residence as of 2021. Here are the deets in Zillow: 1 beds, 1 baths, 1,260 sq-ft. If you are curious about the inside of the home you can click on this link and watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pVUFwH9Q6fk Review #3885

If you're passing through Cincinnati you have to stop by the Mushroom House. This is the most…read moreunique real house I have ever seen. It is a relatively young house, when it comes to house age. It was started to get built by architect Terry Brown in 1992 and completed in 2006. Terry Brown him self resided in it until his passing in 2008. This house looks like a mushroom from a certain angle, and like an owl from another. It is a fairytale house in the real world. There's so much fine detail, there's no wonder it had taken this genius man 14 years to complete this artistic masterpiece of a home. The spiral orange stair case was chained off not allowing access to the public. There was a car parked in the driveway as well as a surveillance camera. They also had a "no trespassing" sign. The land around, although very minimal is very well groomed and well kept. Something tells me there are people who currently reside here. I don't know how I would feel about living in a home that gets so much attention and that is always being photographed. The Mushroom House is a must see in Cincinnati. Use your fairytale imagination to guide you inside. Happy travels!

A very random excursion that is sort of in the middle of nowhere. If you have time to kill and you…read morehave young kids interested in castles, this is a unique, short field trip. Admissions is $5 per person. It is free for children five and younger. There is a free and small parking lot. For approximately 45 minutes, we learned about the history of the castle and how a man persistently and willingly built everything by hand. The stairs are narrow and steep. Each room is uniquely designed. There is an impressive medieval collection of swords, shields, weapons, and armors. Furthermore, there are several picture-worthy spots such as the front of the castle, flower garden, and the room with the swords.

This is such a random castle lol.. but its definitely a place to check out if you're bored and want…read moreto kill an hour. Definitely a place to take kids to since they love this kind of stuff - the story of this castle is quite unique. Apparently you can rent this space for events.. which I think would be fun to do.. maybe a little corporate event? Although... maybe just in early spring time and during autumn since the inside can get HOT during the summer (no AC). Anywho.. quite random, but neat at the same time.

Commonly known as the Channel 9 castle, you won't find armored knights protecting our local news…read morestation. Elsinore Castle was erected in 1883 by the Cincinnati Waterworks to house a valve for water to be transported to Eden Park. The company was interested in enhancing the view of the park, and this location was the former main entrance. The castle was built be renown architect Samuel Hanneford, modeled after Kronberg Castle, which was featured in a local play of Hamlet. The real Kronberg Castle can be found in Denmark. When the Cincinnati Art Museum opened in 1886, stairs were placed at the base of Elsinore Castle. The steps were too steep to ever become popular and the Elsinore Castle soon lost its appeal as an entrance to Eden Park. A mere 100 years later, it was integrated into the landscaping of Channel 9 and is seen more as a landmark of the news station than of the park. Set alongside Gilbert Avenue, the public can still stop and photograph the castle, however it was sadly never used for anything magical, like kings and armored battle. Viewing Time: 15 minutes

Pretty. Nothing spectacular but neat. I was looking for things to do local in Cincinnati that are…read morefree and this came up as a option.

A wonderful historical stop in Versailles to pay tribute to the celebrated sharpshooter Annie…read moreOakley. Easy to navigate to and plenty of room to park, it's really cool to see that people are still stopping by her resting place to pay their respects.

I was just driving along a country road from Indiana to Lima, Ohio when suddenly a small sign…read morepopped up saying "Annie Oakley Grave" with an arrow pointing to a side road. I thought, "What??". I grew up on cowboys and Indians and one of my favorite TV shows was "Annie Oakley". I had missed the turn but took the next right to reconnect with the road. After driving aways, there was another sign and Brock Cemetery. I turned in slowly, parked, and walked reverently up to the headstones for Annie, her parents, and husband Frank Butler. It was pretty awesome to be standing at her final resting place. I read the information on the plaques, took some pictures, and somberly continued on my trip. You just never know what you will come across when you take the small roads to your destination instead of freeways.

Here there is something for everyone. It is a nostalgic place for me and many others who are from…read moreTroy, Ohio. But for many, this is a new and booming place, but it's not exactly new. This is not just any park...here is a little history: In the early 1940's, several Troy residents began clearing the river and the banks of rubbish in hopes of using the area for water activates. They even cleared away the remains of an old wooden damn located just north of the Adams St. Bridge. Then, Edward Alvah (E. A.) and William Hobart took an interest in the park and provided the heavy equipment needed to assist in the process of clearing. That's right...E.A and William Hobart of the Hobart Brothers Corporation. The Hobart Corporation used to be based in Troy, Ohio. Yes, that's right...the ones that created and made Kitchenaid for the home and for commercial use...and they are still made today (just not here). Let us not forget the welders, generators and industrial equipment as well to name a few. They weren't always made in a foreign country. Indeed, Hobart was alive and well in Troy, Ohio and the surrounding area once upon a time. The Corporation put quite the thumbprint on Troy, this is one of them. The leaders of the Hobart Brothers Corporation wanted to provide a location for not only boating enthusiasts, but also for their employees to enjoy the Great Miami River and all activities related to water. So, they constructed a marina, a boathouse, and a launch area with a lighthouse all from the profits of the company. At one time there was a baseball diamond located here and playground equipment as well. The place boomed with boating activities, festivals and company picnics for many years. My grandparents and parents used to speak of the fun times here. In the 1960's, E.A. Hobart gave the boathouse and property to the city of Troy as a gift. Troy accepted and decided it had great recreational potential. It has been utilized in many ways over the years. It has even seen days of non-use and dilapidation as well sadly. Some of my fondest memories growing up were playing out on the island after crossing a bridge...and we always fed the ducks. I used to love to ride my bike down that steep hill coming in and lift my legs & feet off the peddles. We used to rent canoes and paddle boats below...sweet memories. But what was once old, is new again. It brings me tears of joy to see this place come alive again and alive it is indeed. This place not only has its own website now, but it has a Facebook page too! There is a fairly new restaurant in the building called "Smith's Boathouse". The Smith family has a history of their own. I went to school with one of the brothers and was able to enjoy the family restaurant in Maui (Yummy). It is a great addition to the Park. And if you get a chance, please check it out. But not only that, there is now an area for concerts in addition to the typical walks, playing, biking, picnicking or just hanging out and enjoying the view. There is quite the venue these days at Treasure Island. It makes me smile that it is alive again. Although people call it "new", please don't forget the history, how it started, why it's here and how it has evolved. When in Troy...stop down...a water activity may interest you, a stroll, a bike ride...or maybe just the view. These are only a few things you can do there...there is something for everyone...to include finding that special spot for peace and quiet. http://www.troyohio.gov/587/Treasure-Island-Park https://www.facebook.com/pages/Treasure-Island-Park/142286295802726

The Ripley County Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. The current building…read morewas built in 1860 following the destruction by fire of the first courthouse. James Pattison was the architect. The Courthouse stands on a prominent square in the center of Versailles, Indiana. The Greek Revival building is brick with a bell tower. The structure has undergone remodeling throughout the years 1912, 1971, 1992 and 2024 to modernize and expand. Current remodeling, had the building closed to visitors, so I could only visit from the outside. The building will open in April, 2025. The building houses the County Circuit Court and County Superior County (which are temporary housed in the County Building across the street). Historical markers indicated that General John Morgan's Calvary (Confederate) raided the courthouse on July 12, 1863, removing the treasury. A second marker indicates that abolitionist and resident, Stephen Harding, gave antislavery speeches locally. A Civil War canon sits on the southwest corner of the square. A Veterans Memorial is also located on the Square. There is a lot of interesting history at the Courthouse and I will return to visit the updated interior of the building. Free parking surrounds the Square.

We decided to visit as part of the Creativity Tour 250 Ohio. It wasn't hard to find. It is free,…read morebut due to upkeep, they ask for donations. It is a cute artsy exhibit full of little treasures to exam at your own pace! We took about 15 or so minutes to look it all over. They have printed brochures of the exhibit (the Highlight Tour) and flowers. There was even a fun scavenger hunt to do. So many different rocks make this up. We were glad to have found this hidden treasure. T

This place is so unique! Its free to visit though donations are appreciated to help with upkeep…read more Its not a huge space, we probably spent about 15 minutes there but really enjoyed our time looking at how intricate things were. Dogs are allowed but they ask that they be carried which was no problem for us since our dogs are small