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.

This is a neat little town right outside of Greenwood. Some notable landmarks that you will find…read morehere is the baseball/softball complex, Camp Atterbury, and the Outlets. This is a small town and has a down home feel. Outside of what I mentioned, there is not much else here to do. Fun fact: The Edinburgh post office has been in operation since 1823. This is a neat little town. It is mostly rural with no downtown area. Most of the town's visitors would be here for a specific reason whether it is shopping at the outlet, visiting one of the town's park, going to camp Atterbury or participating in a softball tournament. Either way I like this little Indiana town and visiting here.

My life is now complete. I have see one of the world's largest wooden rocking chair. It is located…read moreoff of the parking lot of Long's Furniture. The chair, built in 2004, is 32 foot tall and known as "Big John", after the former owner of the furniture store. The chair was the largest of its kind until 2008 when one that was 42 feet, 4 inches tall was built in Fanning Missouri. In 2015, a chair standing 56.5 foot tall was constructed in Casey, Illinois putting them both to shame. So that makes Big John actually the 3rd largest wooden rocking chair. The chair is adorned with "Caution Do Not Climb" signs all over it, but you can easily find pictures of people that have made it to the top on the internet. I came during normal working hours, so I did not even try it. It does look a bit challenging without a ladder. and I can not attest to the integrity of the wood supports. I am all for adventure, but a 42 foot fall would leave a little mark. The chair is illunimated at night so it is easy yo see no matter what time it is. Even though this is not the biggest chair. It is still a local sight to see and I am glad that I came to see it. This chair is on a few list of unique things to do/see in Indiana and feature in Roadside America. It is a quick stop that took me all of five minutes. It could be used as a stop on the way somewhere, to do some furniture shopping or as part of a larger itinerary. I don't see it as a destination shop. Fun fact: The originally chair collapse under its own weight soon after it was constructed due to poor design. They tweaked the next one with much more success. It is the one that is still standing today.

My spouse and I went on the Columbus architecture tour. The Miller House and Garden is the focal…read morepart of the architecture of Columbus. The architect Saarinen developed plans for only three houses all for the Miller's. Almost all the doorways are handicapped accessible and the house is one level. Although built in the 1950s many of the design concepts are still seen today. if you are going for the architecture tour, this is a must

loved the aesthetic of this house. first saw it on Kogonada's film Columbus and just had to go see…read moreit. the one thing though is the movie makes it seem like you can walk freely through the house, you cannot. it's an informative guided tour. and you're only allowed to take pictures on this particular rug. I'm fine without getting anymore photos, but I would have loved to spend some more time outside exploring the grounds. also I saw pictures of the couch with red cushions, it was definitely more eye catching with those. (big thing: read your confirmation email and show up at the visitor center first)

If you happen to be at Conner Prairie, you may notice this well preserved covered bridge on the way…read moreto the Civil War Journey area of the park. Inside the bridge, there are banners and sound recordings of things you might hear people say while discussing the Civil War in 1863. Although a Union State, there were a lot of Copperheads who supported the Confederacy. The bridge is fairly short for Hoosier standards at only 110' long. Odd fact is that the bridge wasn't around during the Civil War. It wasn't built until 1884 during the later stages of the covered bridge building boom of the 1870's and 80's. Although bridges usually span rivers, the park has built a pond beneath the bridge to give it the appearance of being functional. You don't hear the murmuring of water flowing underneath like you do at many other bridges. So, it's a good idea of having the sound recordings take your mind away from what's missing. The bridge seems to be in great shape. I've been to nearly 50 covered bridges in Central Indiana and this one is right up there for the best preservation. Review #2720

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.

While this historic building is currently vacant, it is owned by the city and maintained by the…read morehistorical preservation commission. I was fortunate enough to receive a tour a few months back though it has been used for public events in the recent past, which explains a lot of the random supplies and furniture left behind. This was the original location of the Mayor's Office in the city, prior to the construction of the City-County Building a couple blocks away. It's a little creepy being in there now because of a lack of light. No A/C either means it gets pretty toasty in the summer! A few years ago, there were plans to turn the building into a boutique hotel but they fell through. Hopefully the space gets utilized again in the near future, but for now it's a beautiful building to admire.

I have a very deep connection with this building. By that I mean, I think I've seen just about…read moreevery nook and cranny thanks to planning a huge party that required some serious love on my part for the space - ex. hanging lighting, sweeping up crumbling molding, hiding the abundance of old city furniture, installing wifi, and so on and so forth. We reallllly got to know one another during the month of December 2013. In the time that has passed since Yelp's Totally Bazaar, The Hall has received some serious love thanks to People For Urban Progress and the bright and the creative minds that now call this space their "place of work". Here are a few reasons I recommend you revisit the building that once served as the Indiana State Museum, public library and Yelp party pad: -new benches and flowers added to the exterior of the building - great lunch or work spot -exhibit showcasing the future of transit in Indianapolis -event space in the foyer - perfect for weddings, meetings, screenings -side rooms that also serve as great spaces for working throughout the day or hosting meetings in a unique space Hall, you gave me one helluva ride in December but I'm so happy I chose you to showcase the best of Indy's local biz scene. It was truly your shining moment. **special shout out to Tiffany Benedict Berkson with Historic Indy for connecting me with the building back in the summer of 2013.

I love the history of covered bridges and cherish the opportunity to visit one. The New Brownsville…read moreCovered Bridge has endured 185 years of weather, relocation, fire and restoration. The original truss bridge was completed by Adam Mason in 1840 and spanned the Whitewater River in Brownsville. The bridge was the only surviving example of a long truss bridge in Indiana, measuring 182 feet long. The bridge was dismantled in 1974 and moved to Mill Race Park in Columbus in 1985 under the guidance of bridge zealot, Virgil Taylor. The bridge was shortened to 85 feet to span a small pond in the park. According to a plaque on the bridge, the original structure was destroyed by fire and later rebuilt. Today, we were able to drive across the restored bridge. I also explored under the bridge on the concrete walkways that descends under the bridge. The bridge is a beautiful reminder of Indiana's history. There is no charge to visit or drive across the bridge. There is no parking close to the bridge, but I did finding parking across the park.

Located in a quaint little park, this bridge was actually moved here from the Brownsville area…read more Originally build in 1840 , it had to be restored after a fire. They did great work. While it looks somewhat small from afar, it seems to really grow once you are inside. Very photogenic by itself or as a backdrop for your selfies or even important photo shoots. Don't forget to enjoy the rest of the park as well.

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.]

If there's one curse I associate with being a wheelchair user, it's the fact that I tend to fall in…read morelove with historic houses that are far from wheelchair friendly. Such is the case with the Irvington area's "The Benton House," a home built in 1873 and intended to be one of the homes to set the architectural flavor of the Irvington area. Alas, the home's construction was shortly followed by an economic downtown and many of the surrounding homes were built on smaller lots and were a bit more modest in size. This 10-room home served as home from former Butler University President Dr. Allan Benton (Fun Fact: His wife was named Silence, which I personally think is an incredibly cool name). By 1907, it had changed hands and stayed in the Miller family until 1966 when it was sold to the Irvington Historic Landmarks Foundation. There are items from Dr. Benton still located in the home. The home recently underwent renovations and is available for club meetings, weddings, private parties, and retreats. As it is a historic home and noted as a historic landmark, it is not wheelchair friendly. Getting around the yard is fairly easy, though there are steps into the home. Geocachers will be interested to note that there's a geocache located within close proximity of the home - this is actually how I originally discovered the home myself. It remains a nicely wooded lot and is quite often decorated seasonally. You can actually become a "member" of The Benton House - $25 for individuals annually and $50 for families and/or organizations. There are benefits associated with membership, though the greatest benefit is supporting a really beautiful and historic Irvington home. As a wheelchair user, I love homes like this even though they are far from wheelchair friendly. My own home is a 1955 California ranch that, quite fortunately, is on one level. However, I've long felt like if I ever obtained the ability to walk or increase mobility one of my first actions would be to buy a home such as this incredible beauty.

The Benton House will be in my fondest memories for decades to come... granted I might be a little…read morebiased since we had our rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, and reception here. Working with Linda was a breeze. She is so sweet and accommodating. The preferred tent company is a little exhausting, but I kind of think the whole formal wedding process is a little exhausting, so that might just be personal preference. I can't handle talking about table cloth colors for two hours without feeling like I'm losing my mind a little. My husband and I couldn't have been happier with the weekend, and it seems like our guests had a great time, as well. If you're looking at renting The Benton House for any type of indoor event under 100 people, or outdoor event under 150, I 100% recommend it.

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.