Indiana State Parks|Travel

4/24/2021 Quickly in the car and, still in Clarksville, down to the Ohio river following the Lewis & Clark NHT auto route to Falls of the Ohio State Park. Weather was overcast and threatening, but luckily the forecast rain held off until we were heading back to the airport later on. We had been here years ago, but without the landscaping and visitors center that is here now. We were here this time to see the statue of Lewis and Clark, a spot on the L&C NHT [IN]. Lewis traveled down the Ohio from Pittsburgh to meet up with Clark, collect a team and supplies, and set out on their exploration of the West.

On the L&C NHT on the way

Lots of signs ...

... including the NSB

A 360 of the park

L&C monument statue

A little closer

A blaze for the NHT

Setting out to explore

A handshake to make it official

A look at the falls

Ken, me, and L&C

4/24/2021 Last we went to Lanier Mansion NHL and SHS. Completed and occupied in 1844, it was the home one of Madison's pioneers, a lawyer and banker, becoming the president of the Madison Branch of the State Bank of Indiana and a major investor in Indiana's first railroad. The striking mansion is on a large property with gardens and open field behind it. We spent some time with photos, including a new walking 360° video.

The park sign

A couple of looks ...

... at the mansion

Ken and me out front

Some architectural detail

The mansion is on ...

... the NSB

Heading down towards the river

A view from the garden

6/2/2017 In Richmond we took a detour 10 miles north off the NR to Fountain City and the Levi Coffin House NHL and State Historic Site. The home became known as the "Grand Central Station" of the Underground Railroad because it was where three of the escape routes converged and the number of slaves who passed through it. Just photos here, then headed back to the NR ...

One view of the house ...

... and another

information sign

A look inside

Ken photoing ...

... the NHL plaque

Me on the Railroad

A view from the back

5/31/2024 Spring Mill Pioneer Village (DH). Although we couldn’t get to the DH-era Spring Mill Inn due to construction, we enjoyed a nice walk from the parking area along a stream to a village of historic structures. We spent some time in the massive grain mill viewing the inner workings and checking out some historic displays. Back in the car we continued on the park one/way road to the parking area for Donaldson Cave. ... Donaldson Cave and Woods NNL. This is a tract containing 80 acres of prime virgin forest and a cave system associated with the Indiana karst (landscape underlain by limestone which has been eroded by dissolution, producing ridges, towers, fissures, sinkholes and other characteristic landforms) region. It was a pretty strenuous hike down on a gazillion boardwalk steps, followed by a railed stretch of path. At the end, though, is a pretty cool cave opening where one could walk in and follow into the darkness. Being unprepared with flashlights (although a couple people made do with phone flashlight) but also behind in time we just went a tiny bit in before making the sweaty climb back to the car.

Apothecary and Mercantile

The grain mill ...

... and waterwheel

Ground level workings ...

... with me and Ken

Cool gears small ...

... and large

One of the many museum exhibits

Living area ...

... with one of the residences

Sign to Donaldson Cave

Ken at the start of ...

... along walk down

Me at the cave entrance

Me setting up for ...

... a photo of Ken and me