Strawtown Kotewee Park

Hamilton County  has many beautiful parks, but perhaps none so peaceful and as Strawtown Kotewee. Set along the White River, the park includes forest, prairie, and green space for all to enjoy.  There are lovely hiking trails along the river and through the different areas, along with horse trails for those who bring horses.  There are bike trails, a canoe launch, fishing and an archery range.

This park is made better by the history of the area.  People have lived along the White River in what is now Strawtown for thousands of years.  Left behind are fascinating artifacts, and the park has been the home to many archaeological excavations in the past.  Today, artifacts can be viewed in the Nature Center or through their many public and school programs.  A recreation of historic sites is found in the park, showcasing the many types of structures built by the area's Native American residents. 

The Nature Center is very nice, including actual artifacts, information on area animals and plants, and activities for kids of all ages.  In addition, the nature center offers many public programs, so check out the website for something coming soon!

We were fortunate to visit during Archaeology month (September) during a school visit, and the interpreters invited us to listen in. 

What a lovely park!

Details:
12308 Strawtown Avenue
Noblesville, IN 46060
(317) 774-2574
 http://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Strawtown-Koteewi-Park-11

Hours and Admission:
 FREE
Park hours: dawn to dusk 
Taylor Nature Center Hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m

Victorian Indianapolis - the Lockerbie Home of James Whitcomb Riley

Nothing like a walk in the city on a beautiful autumn afternoon! Our family decided to spend a beautiful Tuesday a few weeks ago in downtown Indianapolis, walking around and enjoying the sites.  We headed from downtown over to the Historic Lockerbie Square area, a short 20 minute walk north east of Circle Center Mall.  What a beautiful, quiet and stately area!

Our destination was the former home of James Whitcomb Riley, beloved Indiana poet. Riley moved into this home in the Lockerbie Square area, owned by friends, later in his life. It is the last home he lived in, and the Visitors' Center shows a wonderful movie explaining his life and showing footage from his time in the Lockerbie home. 

In addition, the home is excellently preserved, purchased by a family friend after the death of the original owners.  It still contains all of the furnishings and decor from the his time there.  A beautifully preserved late-Victorian home, this historic landmark is well worth a visit.  The small tour group size vast knowledge of our tour guide brought the home to life let us focus on the areas that most interested us.

Be sure to walk around the neighborhood seeing other historic homes (privately owned) and to get a feel for the area.  It is a peaceful oasis very near to the high rise buildings of downtown.  Glad we spent a day there!


Details:

528 Lockerbie Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: 317.631.5885

Hours and Admission:
Tuesday–Saturday: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sunday and Monday: Closed
Closed on holidays and the first two weeks in January.
Reservations are requested for groups larger than six.

Swiss Heritage Village and Museum - Another part of Indiana history

I grew up about half an hour from Berne, Indiana, and I didn't hear about the Swiss Heritage Museum and Village until I read about it in preparation for our year of exploring locally.  We've been to many historical homes and historic areas including Conner Prairie, the Huddleston House and the Levi Coffin House in Indiana,  Williamsburg (VA), the Hermitage (TN) and many others.  So, I expected the Swiss Heritage Village to just reiterate what we already knew about our colonial history.  I was pleasantly surprised!

When we arrived at the Swiss Heritage Museum, we were greeted by a costumed guide who led us on a tour of the property.  A fascinating 84 year old volunteer (who has been there since 1999), our guide was able to expand on the story of the artifacts and structures we encountered with stories from her own life using these tools.  Our tour group included our family (me, the kids, and 2 grandparents) along with a couple visiting from western New York.  He, too, grew up using many of these now outdated items.  What a great discussion!

Cheese Press

The history of Adams County, Indiana, is different from the area closer to us.  Mostly settled by Swiss immigrants who came to the area seeking to escape from religious persecution, they brought distinct cultural and religious traditions. Many of these immigrants were Mennonite or Amish, and today Berne is home to some of the most traditional Amish in the country. This unique history is similar and yet very different from other immigrant groups. This area was settled in the 19th Century, when several families moved to the area and recruited the first cheese maker away from his community in Ohio.  The cheese shack was the first I've seen! It was interesting to see the cream separator and the cheese-making tools.

Cream Separator

A Mennonite Church

We were able to see a log cabin (1839), a farm house (1856), an historic barn (1900), an early Mennonite Church (1860), a doctor's office, and several other buildings. Every building is furnished with beautiful furniture and other artifacts original to the area and the period.

The school (built in the 1860s) was fascinating, showing the pledge written on the board (as it was written then), the flag showcasing all 45 states at the time, and a small library of period books.  We saw the tools for washing throughout the years (from a washboard to very early washing machines), early strollers, toys and handcrafted cabinets. 

Cider Press Building

Another highlight on the tour was the world's largest cider press, a fascinating, hand designed and hand built cider press. We definitely plan to come back the 2nd week of September next year when the Cider press is operating. I can't wait to taste the cider!

Working the Cider Press

In addition to the Village itself (a 60 minute tour, so worth a tour without all the extras!), the property includes a 6-acre nature center with a forest, a pond and wetlands.  There are many native trees and plants to view during your peaceful stroll through the woods. The Museum is also worth a visit with beautiful handcrafted furniture, historic mail trucks, washing tools, and other artifacts that tell the local story. 

Hay Bale Equipment

An old Stove

The Doctor's Office

I loved loved visiting the Swiss Heritage Village and Museum, and my kids loved comparing this history to the history at Conner Prairie. For example, the gardens at Conner Prairie (1836 Hamilton County) have weeds in them whereas this garden was immaculate.  Our tour guide once asked the expert locals why they had to keep their gardens weed free.  They said, "no, the Swiss would never have allowed weeds in the garden!" The families in Prairietown did not feel that way. Different culture, different ideas. We definitely plan to go back for one of their special events next year so that we can see the village in action.  Well worth a visit!

Details:
1200 Swiss Way
Berne, IN 46711
www.swissheritage.org
260-589-8007

Open Hours - May, Saturdays only 10-4, June-October, Monday-Saturday 10-4

Special Events: Berne Swiss Days last Friday and Saturday of July, Heritage Festival, 2nd Saturday of September

Greek Fest - a slice of Greek Life in the Middle of Indiana

Last year we visited Greece as part of our first family trip to Europe, and we fell in love with Athens!  We love Greek food, Greek culture, Greek landscapes. And, we loved the Greek Orthodox churches and ancient Greek buildings that we encountered.  We were thrilled to learn that there was a large Greek Festival in the northern suburbs of Indianapolis!

The Indy GreekFest was held at a local Greek Orthodox church.  With amazingly delicious Greek food of all varieties and a bakery of freshly made Greek pastries, we were taken back to our time in Athens.  We also enjoyed Greek dancing by local kids of all ages.  Greek music played, and Greek culture was celebrated. In addition, there was a Greek Marketplace where you could buy the goods you learned to use in the Greek cooking demonstrations.

You could guess the number of olives in a jar or make a laurel wreath or Greek Flag in the family tent. Puppet shows were offered every 90 minutes, and they offered props and backdrops for cell phone selfies all day.

The highlight for us was the tour of the Greek Orthodox Church, and an introduction to Greek Orthodox beliefs and worship.  We've toured many churches in Greece and read much about the religion before visiting Greece, but this talk by the church's deacon was very helpful in our understanding.

All in all, the Indy Greek Fest was a great introduction to Greek life, a way to connect with your Greek roots, or a reminder of the good days of a trip to Greece.  I highly recommend it!











Details:
Indianapolis GreekFest
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
3500 W. 106th St., Carmel, In 46032
http://indygreekfest.org

2017 dates - August 25-27, 2017

A Return to Simpler times at the Grabill Country Fair

This year we visited Grabill, Indiana for the first time and enjoyed the Grabill Country Fair.  Grabill is a town of 1,000 people just outside of Fort Wayne with a long Amish heritage.  It is a peaceful town full of antiques, crafts and a country store.  Their Country Fair attracts 100,000 visitors annually, in a festival that is reminiscent of days gone by. 

Lots of people out enjoying the festivities - even in the rain

What a peaceful day of family time and fun.  Although county fairs are often fun, we immediately felt the difference of the fun, simple and peaceful family atmosphere in Grabill.  Without all of the amusement rides or the streets lined with carnival games and food vendors (there is plenty of food there!), it was quieter, cleaner and simpler than other fairs. 

Apparently seed spitting is a learned skill!

There were buggy rides and parades.  The streets were lined with local crafts people selling their beautiful woodwork, knitting, sewing, soap and candle making and other projects. It was an old time country fair, straight out of Little House on the Prairie.  Throughout the day, there were bible questions read aloud for free tickets to buggy rides or other attractions. Live music is performed every evening (bluegrass, gospel or country). We watched quilters at work, enjoyed weaving demonstrations, and watched teens, families and  and meet to enjoy the festivities. 

The one modern attraction was a pool containing 5 inflatable balls in which kids could get inside and enjoy themselves.  Our kids loved it!

In addition, we visited the Grabill Historical Society museum and learned more about the history of the area.  All free!

While in Grabill we visited Souder's General Store and a flea market/ice cream shop. We met the local quilting club, and

All in all, it was relaxing, family-friendly and all around enjoyable day.  Everyone should visit the Grabill Country Fair!












Details:
The Country Fair is held the weekend after Labor Day every year, Thursday-Saturday
260-627-5227, Ext 5, info@grabillcountryfair.com

The Ball State Orchid House - a fascinating tour of orchid life

The orchid roots hanging down into the open air

I admit, I've been to green houses before, and I didn't think they were anything special.  But this time, we went with a guide to the Orchid Greenhouse at Ball State University.  What a fascinating experience!  Ball State has the largest orchid collection (variety) of any university in the country - all right here in Indiana.

Lobster Claw Orchid

First, we learned that orchids are not grown in soil. Their roots gather everything they need from the air.  Who knew! Before our visit, I thought that all orchids looked roughly alike, but that couldn't be more false!  We saw orchids or all shapes and sizes.  Some were so tiny that we could barely see the flowers while others were very large.  Some orchids that we saw looked like lobster claws.

Lady Slipper Orchid

Some were had the coloration of a bee to attract bees to them (thinking they could mate) to help spread their pollen. One has a long and very narrow part to hold the nectar, ensuring that an insect would have to be there quite awhile to get to it (gathering more pollen). Fascinatingly, there is a moth with an especially long mouth that seems perfectly matched to this orchid!  Some were shaped like a lady's slippers, some like birds. So many colors and designs!

Pitcher Plant

While at the Orchid Greenhouse, we also saw carnivorous flowers including the Venus flytrap, but also including the unique pitcher plant, which collects water to attract insects, trapping them inside as the water mixes with the enzyme produced by the plant to break down their prey.   We also learned quite a bit about ferns and how they reproduce since they do not produce flowers (spores on the underside of the leaves rather than seeds). 

Our excellent guide

We had a great tour exploring the fascinating diversity of the plant world. We are looking forward to going back regularly to see what is in bloom.





 Details:
Wheeler-Thanhauser Orchid Collection and Species Bank
Field Station and Environmental Education Center
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306

765-285-8839
bsu.edu/academics/centersandinstitutes/fseec/properties/christywoods/greenhouses/orchidgreenhouse

Hours: M-F 7:30-4:30, Saturday 10:00-3:00. Assistance from the curator available Monday-Friday by arrangement. 

Corydon - Indiana's First State Capital

Indiana's Original State Capital Building

We spent a lovely afternoon and evening in Corydon, Indiana, our capital from 1813 (territory) until 1825 (when it moved to Indianapolis). What a nice town with so much history!  Eight of the original buildings from that time period still remain including the original state house, the home where Indiana's constitution was written (actually, it was written under Constitutional Elm out front), the governor's mansion, the state office buildings and William Henry Harrison's house.

Model of historic buildings in Corydon

We began our time in Corydon with a walk around town.  It was great to read all of the plaques, see all of the buildings, enjoy the little shops, and generally get a feel for the town and it's history.  There is lots of information available for visitors on signs and plaques around town.  In addition, the visitor's center is well staffed with knowledgeable   people who are happy to provide additional information and recommendations.  From the Visitor's Center we received a walking map with additional information on many of the buildings in the area.  Great place to stop!

Sitting with Governor O'Bannon

We toured the original State Capital building and got a sense of how small Indiana was at that point.  We visited the town square and enjoyed the Governor Frank O'Bannon Monument and the town bandstand (although our little gymnast thought we said "handstand", and then had to do a handstand in the bandstand : )). The Governor's Mansion and State Office Buildings were closed during our visit, but we were able to enjoy them from the outside.

Handstand in the Bandstand

Heth House

In addition, we met Karen Gleitz, one of the highlights of our trip.  She is the Director of the Historical Society in Corydon, and a lover of William Henry Harrison and the history of the area.  She really made everything come alive!  In touring the old Branham Tavern, now called the Heth House, we learned so much! This old building houses a number of wonderful artifacts from various periods in Corydon's History, and Karen has a story for all of them.  She also pointed us toward Constitution Elm (killed by Dutch Elm disease, but the trunk has been preserved) and toward the Historical Society's other property, the Posey House (which she gave us a private tour of!).

Artifacts in Heth House

Cabinet made by Squire Boone - another great local (Daniel Boone's brother)

Oldest home in Corydon

Constitution Elm

Site of Battle of Corydon

In addition to Corydon's early Indiana history, it is also a site of one of Indiana's few Civil War battles when General Morgan crossed the Ohio River and battled the town.  We visited the Civil War site and got a great feel for the experience.

We were fortunate to find Zimmerman's Glass open when we walked by, so we got to observe one of the glass makers at work.  He was fascinating making a beatiful hand blown piece, and he did such an excellent job of explaining the process.  We are so glad we got to see him at work!

Posey House

In addition, Corydon is lined with shops and restaurants and is a great place to spend a couple of hours learning about our state's history and enjoying small town Indiana.  I highly recommend it!








Details:

Corydon State Capital Building
126 E. Walnut
Corydon, IN 47112
812-738-4890
corydoncapitalshs@indianamuseum.org

Hours: Tu-Sa 9-5, Sunday 1-5 (closed Sundays January-March)

Cost: $6 adults, $5 seniors, $3 children, $2 students - Indiana State Museum Members free (includes entrance to Governor's Mansion and State Office buildings, hours vary, so call for more information)

Zimerman's Glass
300 E. Chestnut Street
Corydon, IN 47112

Hours: Tu-F 9-5, Sa 10-4