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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| Handstand in the Bandstand |
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| 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!).
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| Artifacts in Heth House |
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| Cabinet made by Squire Boone - another great local (Daniel Boone's brother) |
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| Oldest home in Corydon |
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| Constitution Elm |
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| 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!
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| 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
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