This historic marker for Allison Machine Shop in downtown Speedway describes the important role…read morethat the machine shop played in 500 racing and wartime production. The marker indicated that in 1915, James Allison helped establish Indianapolis Speedway Team Company and built a machine shop to improve race cars. During WWI, the shop produced parts for Liberty Aircraft. In 1921, the facility was renamed Allison Engineering Company. In 1929, General Motors bought the facility and dedicated efforts to building aircraft engines, including the V-1710 fighter plane engines for WWII. They employed 23,000 workers. By the 1940's, they produced jet engines and transmissions that were important during the Korean War. One of the original buildings still stands, but is closed.

This is a small memorial dedicated to our Fallen Hoosier Heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice…read moreafter 9/11 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. It is the brainchild of Don and Carol Peed and is a beautiful memorial and is an excellent honor to those heroes. The memorial honors more than 200 local herons and is maintained by Vietnam veteran and local groundskeeper, Dennis Zavada. You will find it near Westfield High School, just outside of downtown Westfield. The memorial was dedicated in 2009 and consists of plaques with the name of each honored soldier, where they were from and when they died. Originally the memorial started with white crosses vice the plaques. There is also flagpoles with flags representing each branch of service behind an American flag, a Family Member Military Service Flag, and a POW/MIA flag. There is also some granite and stone plaques that are dedicated to gold star families, and instrumental people that made the memorial possible. You will also find brick pavers that are dedicated to special people, with lots of room for expansion. The memorial is very well maintained and looks awesome. I reminds me of something that you would see at the Arlington National Cemetery. It grabbed my attention as I was driving down the road. There is free street parking available right in front of the memorial and it is easy to get to. The memorial's first cross was in memory of Jeanette Winters, a Marines Corps sergeant who was killed in 2002. and the last memorial belongs to U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez who was one of 13 American service members killed in August in an attack on the airport in Kahul, Afghanistan as the US was exiting the war in 2021. It is amazing the impact that only a few people can make. This memorial is managed primarily by two people with support from local veteran's groups. The Memorial plays host to a Memorial Day service each year that is organized by the Carmel VFW and the American Legion. It is well attended. I love we a community puts something together to honor anyone that served, especially when it is as well done as this memorial. This is definitely worth a visit but I would make it part of a larger itinerary with attractions such as Big Hoffas, the Anti-slavery Cemetery, or nearby Asa Bales Park.

Whether you believe this place is haunted or not, it remains a rather impressive bridge. It is…read morequite high and has a wow factor, especially when a train barrels across the top. And of course there is the intrigue of the haunting stories. One involves a mother and her child falling from that bridge and another a construction worker cemented within the bridge. I am fairly sure that someone somehow died around this bridge (but you can probably assume that of most bridges). While I have not seen or heard any spirits here myself, it does feel a little eerie driving under it. Most likely due to all the stories and my vivid imagination. Still it is worth a visit, after all, it is a famous landmark.

Avon's haunted bridge has been on my radar for a little while. I don't know why, but I'm fascinated…read moreby supposedly haunted things. Which is interesting, because I can show up at a haunted space, all logical and left-brained, and experience absolutely nothing. Crickets. Ghosts never want anything to do with me. (Knock on wood! Throw salt over my shoulder! Spit three times!) Nevertheless, I think it's cool that other people hear things and experience things that are other-worldly. The haunted bridge is located inside Washington Township Park. If you want to see it up close, I suggest parking near the playground and walking the 0.6 miles to it. The path to the bridge is partially paved, and some of it requires you to pay attention to where you're stepping, because it can be a little uneven. When I was at the bridge, I did see some trucks drive under it, so I guess you can drive under the bridge. But there's nowhere to park, so if you drove, you'd just be experiencing a quick drive-by. But maybe you do want to drive under the bridge. Because the legend of Avon's haunted bridge is that a mother was walking with her baby on the tracks on the bridge, and both fell off the bridge and died. So now, the mother's wailing for her baby supposedly can be heard when you drive under the bridge. I stood under the bridge for a good several minutes and didn't hear any wailing, but I did smell something sulfurous, so there you go. But maybe I should have been in my car, because I think you only hear her wail if you drive. Ghosts are so particular in the way they express themselves! Apparently, you can honk when you drive under the bridge to help muffle this ghost-mother's screams. As a piece of architecture, this haunted bridge is beautiful and towers over White Lick Creek. Yes, it's partially covered with graffiti, but I think that lends to its beauty. It's a sign that life continues, despite a supposed tragedy.

I have placed this memorial for years. You can actually see it from I-70 as you are approaching the…read morePost Road exit. It is kind of difficult to get to, but not impossible. I was on a mission. I had to call the number they provided and they opened the black gate for me to drive my car through. I drove all the way to the back and parked and then walked through another black gate that leads you right to the Remembrance Walk. Don't worry, if you get lost, just remember that the memorial is adjacent to I-70, so just follow the highway and you should find it. The Remembrance Walk will take you to the memorial and eternal flame. This memorial is respectfully done and pays tribute to the State Troopers that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The memorial itself consists of the names of the fallen Troopers inscribed on three black granite tablets and a flame that is always lit. There are also two stone benches facing the memorial where you can sitThe website also claims that the sound of Taps echoes every hour from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm through a grove of trees surrounding the memorial site, but I was not there at the top of the hour, so I did not experience it first hand. The memorial is open Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 4:00PM, but you will probably need to call to get the gate open so that you can go back there. This is not a place that you would probably spend a lot of time, but this is a spot to pay respect to Indiana's finest that died in the line of duty.

A friend of mine was raised in Fortville, Indiana and this has given me the opportunity to visit…read morethe small town just Northeast of Indy quite a few times since my move from Pike Township to Lawrence Township a few years ago. Established in 1865, the Town of Fortville is in Hancock County. It's a fairly easy drive for anyone who lives on the Northeast side of Indy and quite a few Yelpers can be found in Fortville, Indiana either at Taxman Brewery or Foxgardin Kitchen & Ale. There's a main strip in Fortville that has some awesome public art. Pinkie the Elephant is a beloved Fortville icon and frequent spot for selfies - it also should be noted as being a geocache spot. Noteworthy restaurants include the aforementioned places - Taxman Brewery and Foxgardin Kitchen & Ale plus places like Broadway Diner, 305 Wine Garage, Cortona's Italian Cuisine and Wine Bar, Los Maguelles, and Libby's Ice Cream & Gifts. There's a Mozzi's Pizza in Fortville, a Lincoln Square (one of my favorite locations), and also a Pizza King. There's also a Dairy Queen on the main drag. Fortville has a couple parks. It has a neat location right by a train track and it's not uncommon to see trains while in the Fortville area. Fortville can pose a bit of a challenge in terms of accessibility. Because it's an older town, some of the buildings are truly quite a bit older and not particularly accessible. For example, Taxman has decent accessibility but Foxgardin does not. Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Sunrise Bakery is an awesome bakery in the area. I'd almost consider it a destination bakery. Super friendly and awesome baked goods. I once judged a chili cook-off here at the VFW in Fortville! In terms of the community, Fortville has a dog park, a library, and kids go to Mount Vernon Schools. 4 of 6 Town Council members are women. Currently, the population is just under 4,000. Nearby Greenfield is the county seat, but it would be hard not to love this small town with friendly people and just enough amenities to give you both the peace and quiet of a small town with the "stuff" that makes daily life a bit more comfortable.

Located next to Fishers and home to popular destinations like Taxman Brewery and FoxGardin Kitchen…read more& Ale, Fortville is a cute little town with an increasing number of great shops, entertainment, and restaurants. I attended the Fortville Winterfest recently and had a blast. It was well-advertised and very well organized, particularly for a small-town event. It was a great time to walk down Main Street and check out all of the new places that have opened in the past year or so, as well as take advantage of special one-day-only discounts and goodies in nearly all of the downtown shops. If you're in the Indy area, Fortville is definitely worth checking out if you're interested in trying out a new restaurant or bar, or just looking to get away from the bigger cities and enjoy a night out without the usual crowds and parking nightmares. You can follow Fortville Action Inc. on social media to see upcoming events.

If you've never traveled around Irvington, I highly recommend it. Along the way, you'll find little…read moregems like the Bona Thompson Memorial Center that serves as the home for the Irvington Historical Society and its art collection and historical documents. Not everyone knows that Butler University was originally located in Irvington. This building is one of only a couple buildings of the original campus that continues to exist. It was designed by Henry Dupont and Jesse T. Johnson and constructed in 1903. This building used to be the library, while what is now the Irvington United Methodist Church was the former university president's home. Stick with me. I'll review places and give you some history! The Bona Thompson Memorial Center now has a renovated gallery space and in addition to its regular collection includes a yearly juried exhibit and offers other exhibits. The Center also hosts weddings and receptions. The museum is open weekends from 1-4pm. Current special exhibits include one on Irvington businesses and one on Trees! Both are quite cool. As is true of nearly any building from the early 20th century, there are accessibility concerns here and because this is a historic building it is largely exempt from ADA requirements. You can get into the building, though! You can check out some of it on the Irvington Historical Society's website. As a little more history, Bona Thompson was a young woman who graduated from what was then Butler College in 1897 but then passed away from Typhoid Fever in 1899. In her honor, her family donated $40,000 to build the library. The library is built from Bedford limestone and was built by the still in existence Jungclaus Construction (builders of Murat Temple, Indiana Repertory Theatre, and the Barnes-Thornburg building). This is a beautiful, historic building in a neighborhood known for its beauty and known for embracing its history. In this time of social distancing and spending more time alone, it'd be a great little fun afternoon activity to go check it out.

I never would have came here had it not been for the 2nd Sunday market. What a brilliant idea to…read moreintroduce and get people interested in this museum. It's a nice building, constructed in 1903 as the library on Butler university campus. On this day the space was full of historical exhibits and crafters selling there wares. Soap makers, candle makers and local shirts were just some of the vendors. A band was playing on the terrace looking over the first floor activities. What a wonderful experience we had checking out everything Irvington had going on back in its prime. International Harvester was a big employer and the basement exhibit showcases products that were made there. Another slightly bizarre exhibit worthy of a visit, also in the basement, are the angels of West Baden. In the early 1900's the hotel of west Baden springs, near French Lick, was given a freshen up and new tiles were laid by Italian artisans who may have snuck into a maintenance room high above the lobby at night. This room is very inaccessible, but in the 1990's during another freshening up of the complex, workers found Angels painted in the concealed room high above the lobby floor. Well, the photos of the angels are here along with the story for you to check out!

I always love it when I stumble across this type of review. There's something awesome and inspired…read moreabout honoring a landmark or a location or a neighborhood or something else along these lines. Mass Avenue, for those who don't know, is one of Indy's more iconic neighborhoods with a whole lot of style, equal doses of substance, an abundance of history, and several destination establishments, restaurants, and public art stops. The Mass Ave NEXT Plan kicked off this week (2/21/26), an effort to amplify this cultural district that has succeeded where Broad Ripple has largely failed. Mass Avenue seems to have successfully woven together its tapestry of arts, culture, history, business, dining, and a whole lot more. Fun facts about Mass Ave: It's angled northwest and actually has a tagline of "45 Degrees from Ordinary." You can't possibly visit it without stopping by Julian Opie's "Ann Dancing," a digitized public art exhibit that has become a beloved part of the downtown landscape. The Bottleworks District has taken a historic Coca-Cola bottling plant and turned it into a work of wonder from the Bottleworks Hotel to The Garage Food Hall to Living Room Theatre to some of Indy's coolest businesses. What are my Mass Ave favorites? Silver in the City - a locally owned gift shop run by people who love the city, love people, and have some very cool items. They also have an automatic door to help those with disabilities have easier access. You've won my heart. While Indy has lots of music halls, I absolutely am a fan of Old National Centre with the Egyptian Room, Corinthian Hall, and Grand Lobby. It accommodates up to 4,590 guests and even with the weird slant that drives my wheelchair nuts it's the one place I go back to again and again. The Athenaeum is an absolute blast. Pins Mechanical Company is fun galore. Global Gifts is a must visit. The District Theatre carries forth the risk-taking theatrical traditions of Theatre on the Square, the first theatre group to land in this spot. Stout's Shoe Store is here. It's the nation's oldest shoe store. Heck, I don't even have feet and I go here. The fried chicken at The Eagle is a fantasy come true. The Fountain Room is sublime. The Chatterbox has been serving up jazz for years. Tomorrow Bookstore is what bookstores should be. Especially in the downtown section of Mass Ave, I absolutely consider it walkable (or in my case wheelable). You can park in a lot or at a meter. Yes, there are occasional accessibility issues on Mass Avenue, and the Lugar Towers, a high-rise apartment complex is a public housing complex that's an embarrassment for Indy - NOT because of the residents, but because the city has failed those residents time and again. But, I still cannot deny it. I love Mass Ave. There are days when I'll simply park my car and spend a few hours having lunch, going to a movie, and shopping all along the avenue. I used to work at 345 Mass Avenue and I've never stopped loving this district. If you haven't been here, get here.

YOU CANNOT VISIT INDY WITHOUT WALKING UP AND DOWN MASS AVENUE…read more================================================================ Mass Avenue is a mile long avenue that features many of Indy's most well know establishments and attractions. If you have time and it's not too hot and humid out I highly recommend starting on the northeast end near The Garage Food Hall. This is a good spot to get lunch after you have walked all the way down Mass Avenue into Downtown Indy and back. However, there are many more restaurants along Mass Avenue to enjoy and I've been to a bunch. Mass Avenue is a little bit different than the rest of Indy as the whole avenue is on a 45 degree angle to the rest of the streets on the grid. The Bottleworks Hotel is on the north side of Mass Avenue and it would be a great place to stay. We stayed in an Airbnb up on 16th in August, but I would stay there the next time. The rates are pretty reasonable as well. Pets are allowed too. Now the parking is a bit of a rip off at $48 per day so I might park at a family members nearby. Why is it that hotels always seem to charge so much for parking? Another great place to dine south of the Bottleworks area is at the Rathskeller which is German and the oldest restaurant in Indy. They have great beer and the best pretzels I've ever had in my life. There are so many things to see along Mass Avenue. Don't forget to walk around Downtown Indy on the southwest end and walk around where all the monuments are.

You may think that the fountain has some historical value or is an antique. Nope, not even close…read more This fountain was built in 2009 and installed in 2010. The only thing historical about this fountain is the location that it is in. It is the fourth fountain to be installed here, with the first being installed in 1889. The fountain is made of cast iron and is cast from the same mold as a historic one in New York. On the top of the fountain you will see Goddess Hebe, who is nick named Lady Spray (hence the fountains name). Hebe is the goddess of is the goddess of youth or the prime of life. As I mentioned the fountain is pretty weathered and it was not operating while I was there. I am not sure if it is functional or if it was just shut down for the season. Parking to get a closer look is somewhat simple. There is metered street parking within a very reasonable walking distance. There is no real easy way to cross the street to get to the fountain no matter what side you approach it from. It is on an island. I am sure you know it already, but I would be remiss if I did not say it, please be careful. There is no fountain square without a fountain. Even though this fountain is relatively new, they did a great job maintaining its antique look and nostalgia feel. Definitely worth a peek if you are in the area.

Okay, I get that this current version of the fountain was installed as recently as 2009 and is a…read morecopy of a statue in New York that features "Lady Spray" or more commonly known as the goddess Hebe. But what makes this latest version so great is that an entire neighborhood is named because a fountain was put at this intersection in 1889. The original also featured Lady Spray. I love that the neighborhood wanted to capture some of the original statue/fountain by returning to the first theme even though the original was destroyed. This is the fourth version of the fountain to exist on this spot and it still features the goddess on top a series of supports that have different types of ornamentation (including geese). The water sprays and is collected in several dish shaped layers. Although not everyone in the neighborhood wanted to go with this version, a compromise of sorts was reached when the sculpture that topped the second version was saved and put on display to the southwest of the fountain. Review #1888