On a holiday morning, the Fayette County Courthouse in Connersville was fully locked and secured,…read morewhich made for a surprisingly good visit because it let me wander the grounds without any courthouse traffic. The building dates to 1892 and was designed by A.W. Scott & Sons of Cincinnati, a firm that didn't leave a big footprint in Indiana but delivered a solid Richardsonian Romanesque courthouse here with its heavy stone base, rounded arches and a tower that gives the whole structure a grounded, almost fortress-like castle feel. The war memorial out front, the broad parking lot and the quiet square all add to the sense that this courthouse has been anchoring the center of town for well over a century. Connersville itself goes back to John Conner, the frontier trader and interpreter who laid out the town in 1813 while running a trading post along the Whitewater River. Look for the statue honoring the man nearby. The county was formed a few years later in 1819 and named for the Marquis de Lafayette, the French general who helped the United States during the Revolution. Walking the courthouse grounds on a quiet holiday morning, with no access inside but plenty of architectural details to study, you get a clear sense of how the town grew outward from this spot near the bend in the river and how the courthouse has remained the symbolic center of Fayette County life. [Review 1006 of 2026 - 213 in Indiana - 26185 overall]

The Historic Franklin County Courthouse is located in Brookville, Indiana on a small public square…read more There are several historical markers that indicate that the current courthouse is the third courthouse and was remodeled to the present day neoclassical structure during 1910-1912. The original third building was designed by Edwin May, the architect that designed the Indiana State House. Arthur Dunlap and Marshall Van Arman were the architects that redesigned the courthouse in 1910. The redesign improved the roof, enlarged the complex and modernized the building. Additional modernization has occurred since 1912. The entrance of the building is decorated in mosaic tile. The stairs and walls are covered in marble with brass railings on the stairs. Some of the original oak woodwork is still in place while many doors and woodwork have been modernized. The art of Indiana artist, Dan Woodson, is displayed throughout the courthouse. A bust of Benjamin Franklin, the County namesake, stands in honor outside the courtrooms. Oddly, there were no people in the halls and all county offices were behind closed doors. There was a single case of historical memorabilia on the first floor. Outside the building is a statue of Lew Wallace, born in Brookville. Lew was a Civil War General and author of Ben Hur. On the base below the statue, are plaques honoring those who served in all Wars since the Civil War from Franklin County. Additionally, a nearby memorial honors first responders from the County. Free two-hour parking is available around the square.

This marker is on the grounds of the Union County Courthouse and celebrates a local citizen who…read morewent on to great things. It reads, "Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, 1824 - 1881, Born in Liberty, Indiana, Ambrose E. Burnside invented the breech-loading rifle in 1856. Commanded a brigade at First Bull Run and the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg. He was commander of the Army of Ohio when Morgan's Raiders were captured." It is marker number 81.1963.1 and it was erected in 1963 by the Indiana Civil War Centennial Commission. I have encountered Burnside a few times including a park and monument named for him in Providence Rhode Island (he served as governor of the state), and a marker in Kinston NC from the Civil War, Burnside was noted for his unusual beard, joining strips of hair in front of his ears to his mustache but with the chin clean-shaven; the word burnsides was coined to describe this style. The syllables were later reversed to "sideburns." [Review 998 of 2026 - 205 in Indiana - 26177 overall]

The Historic Longwood Covered Bridge is one of those quiet Connersville landmarks that rewards…read moreanyone who takes the time to wander out and see it, built in 1884 by Emmett L. Kennerdy of the well-known Kennedy family of Indiana bridge builders. It was later moved to this spot in 1984 after decades of service on Longwood Road, and standing here now, you can still feel the craftsmanship in the latticework and the way the timers catch the light, the setting is peaceful with just enough isolation to let you appreciate how much history is packed into a single span. Even though it's no longer in its original location, the move preserved something genuinely worth keeping, which makes it one of those places that feels both rooted and rescued at the same time. [Review 1002 of 2026 - 209 in Indiana - 26181 overall]

Smith Covered Bridge turned out to be just as interesting and just as cool as the Norris Ford…read moreBridge that I had just visited, another of those quiet Rush County spans that still feels like a working piece of history rather than a museum piece. Built in 1904 by A.M. Kennedy and Sons, the same family firm that left half of Indiana dotted with Burr-arch covered bridges. This one sits over the Little Blue River with the classic Kennedy clipped portals and timberwork that make it instantly recognizable. It is still open to traffic and posted at 12'6" so my Sprinter cleared without a second thought. As I'm traveling east to west today, I got to go through the bridge and then return. Two trips through this historic bridge! The bridge went through a full restoration in the early 2000s after locals pushed back against the idea of replacing it with a modern span, which gives it that mix of old‑timber charm and careful upkeep that makes stopping here feel like stepping into a piece of Rush County's long covered-bridge tradition. [Review 1010 of 2026 - 217 in Indiana - 26189 overall]

Tony Vanoy and I visited this covered bridge yesterday on our road trip in Indiana. If it wasn't…read morefor our GPS Google Map app, I would never have found this lovely old covered bridge. Built by Kennedy & Sons in 1877, white with Black ornamentation. It is 121 feet long, spanning over Flatrock River. If you get a chance you should check it out. There is also three other covered bridges in the area., and in Rush Co., Indiana. Several of them was built by Kennedy and Sons

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.

I stopped into the county building to check out the courthouse because we have an assisted living…read moreassault case going to trial in Judge Powers's courtroom. The staff was super nice and unlocked the courtroom so I could check out the space. Projector--built in, ceiling mount--and screen, mics, plenty of space, really nice place to try a case.