Beautiful fountain along Jordan Avenue by the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University…read more Especially wonderful at dusk or early evening when the fountain is illuminated which separates it from the building.

Indiana is a northern state and was never a slave state. But there was still discrimination and…read morethis marker is tribute to a turning point in that, a movement towards equality in college sports. The marker is on the campus of Indiana University and is hard to miss. On the front, "Segregation was rampant when African American Bill Garrett led Shelbyville to 1947 state high school basketball title. At the time, an unwritten rule barred blacks from Big Ten basketball. Faburn DeFrantz and Indianapolis black leaders worked with IU president Herman B Wells to give Garrett a chance at IU. Garrett's 1948 varsity debut directly challenged Big Ten ban." And on the reverse, "Garrett's IU years saw parts of campus desegregated, but in the Big Ten he never played with or against another black player. He graduated in 1951 as an All-American, with IU's career scoring record. His achievements helped create opportunities for other black players in the Midwest. Named coach at Indianapolis Crispus Attucks in 1957, his team won the 1959 state title." The marker was erected in 2016 by the Indiana Historical Bureau and Indiana University. It is marker number 53.2016.1. [Review 20568 overall - 105 in Indiana - 1549 of 2023.]

The Brown County Court House is located in the county seat of Nashville, Indiana. The Court House…read moreis home to the Circuit Court. Unlike other counties in Indiana, there is no grand square with a domed top building. The Court House is a colonial red brick, older building that stands surrounded by beautiful trees and inviting park benches. The current 2-story building was built in 1874 by McCormack and Sweeney of Columbus, Indiana at the cost of $9000. The building replaced an earlier structure that was destroyed by fire at the same location. The court room and jury rooms are on the second floor and general offices are on the first floor. The Court House is part of a series of historic buildings that tourists can visit. A historic log-cabin jail and historic society are among the buildings. A modern addition was added to the back of the courthouse and serves as the new entry, which enables accessibility. In front of the Courthouse is a small war memorial to recognize those from the area that served.

As a history lover, I like to step back in time and wonder through Pioneer Village when I visit…read moreNashville. Pioneer Village is a recreated 19th - century village. The buildings are log cabin structures typical of those of early settlers to Indiana. Most of the structures have been moved to the site and are managed by the Brown County Historical Society. A complete walking tour is available that describes each building and the significance to early pioneer life. Additional docent led tour are conducted on the weekends, complete with period music. The log structures include a cabin, smokehouse, blacksmith shop, doctor's office and jail. The jail is the only building that is original to the site. Each building is equipped with artifacts from the era. The buildings are open Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. thru 3:00 p.m. from May through November. The docent guided tour takes about an hour. A nominal donation ($1.50) is requested. Bench seating is available within the Village. The Village is a perfect place to bring children to learn the history and see the workings of early settlers to Indiana. Street parking is limited, but nearby lots offer $5 parking for the day.

I did not visit the state park. This was simply a visit to check out this pretty darned cool…read moretwo-lane covered bridge that is at one entrance to the park. You don't have to enter the park to view the bridge. It was built in Putnam County in 1838 and was moved 130 miles to here Brown County in 1932. It would otherwise have been demolished to make way for a more modern bridge. This bridge is the oldest covered bridge still standing in Indiana and the only two lane covered bridge. The bridge span is 110 feet and no, it did not have clearance for my Sprinter van. If you're planning on visiting the park in an RV, you need to use the other entrance to the west. There is no pedestrian lane. [Review 20537 overall - 81 in Indiana - 1518 of 2023.]

I came here to visit the famous limestone statue of Joe Palooka that stands outside the Oolitic…read moreCity Hall on Main Street. Oolitic and nearby Bedford, Indiana were thriving communities during the early-mid 1900's due to limestone industry. The quarries in this region produce high quality limestone due to the unique geology. The statue of Joe Palooka is a product of that time. Joe Palooka was a popular comic book hero back during WWII created by Ham Fisher. The Indiana Limestone Association adopted Joe as a mascot as he was considered a "Cornerstone of Freedom" and carved his likeness into 20,000 pounds of limestone. The 10' statue was dedicated by Ham Fisher on June 14, 1948 in the town of Bedford. Over the years the statue has moved around due to vandalism and other factors. Today, he stands outside the City Hall in Oolitic. He wears a boxing cape and has the chiseled features of a 20th century superhero. The statue shows a little damage from hail and vandalism but stands tall as part of Indiana's history. The City Hall is a modest building with a welcoming front porch. Local residents can pay bills and find information here. There is street parking directly out front. The building is accessible through an entrance in the rear. I loved seeing and learning about Joe and recommend a visit.

The Brown County Library is truly special. The modern building sits atop a hill of Brown County and…read moreoffers amazing views of the rolling mountains. The building is filled with the art of renowned local artists. A magnificent Ada Shultz painting hangs over a beautiful fireplace and is the focal point of a cozy upscale reading area. A nearby display of historic Brown County Pottery tells the story of early local clay artists. An artistic stairway is adorned with more local art. Downstairs, photos and short biographies of prominent local Brown County figures hang on the walls. Two community meeting rooms are available for patrons. The library offers a good selection of books, dvds and access to online computers. We were checking into programs for our granddaughters for the summer. A friendly librarian approached me to describe the library services. The Library offers a series of reading and other programs for kids and adults. She also mentioned that historical archives describing local artists are available. The children's area of the library is whimsical and fun. Even small computer workstations are available. Outside of the library is a children's garden with a colorful and playful walkway. The library offers small food bags to those in need in the community. Donations for the food service are encouraged. A lower level parking lot offers covered parking in a garden-like setting. An EV charging station is available. Accessible parking is available near the upper level front entrance of the building. Donations to the library are encouraged. The Library is one of the finest in the State and is aligned with the art theme of Brown County. The setting is exceptional for reading, learning and researching. The staff is friendly, engaging and helpful.

Man oh man, I love a library. In particular, I love this library. The Brown County Library was my…read morelittle place of respite when I was visiting Nashville during the work week. I was in town for an exploratory trip, but I also needed to jump on a Zoom meeting at one point, and also connect to wifi to check emails and do some work. This library delivered! I was able to find a little corner to myself in the downstairs area, where I could work quietly. This library is two stories. (Stories! Get it?) The bottom floor is mostly conference rooms and offices, but there are a couple of tables and couches down there at which to sit. That's where I posted up for a couple of hours. The downstairs is a nice, quiet place to steal some private time, if you need to. Upstairs is everything else: books for children and adults, magazines (lots of magazines, which makes me happy), a cute kids' area, a quiet reading area, and stacks of public historical records. The restrooms are located in the children's area, and there are two. Each restroom is a "family restroom," so you lock it behind you, and you basically have an entire restroom to yourself, not just a stall. If you go outside and walk around to the back of the library and follow the rainbow-colored path, you'll see a children's garden, with some places to sit among the flowers, and signs displaying popular children's books. Around the front of the library, there's a Little Free Pantry full of food. Is there anything this library doesn't provide for the community?

Located in the heart of Nashville (Indiana), this marker points out why there is so much art and so…read moremany artworks here in town. The marker is close to restaurants, shopping, the Brown County Art Gallery and so much more. There is free street parking nearby. It reads, "Attracted by the area's natural beauty and its residents' rustic lifestyles, a group of professional artists began working in Brown County by 1908. The Brown County Art Colony gained renown as its members exhibited regularly, first in the Midwest, then nationally. Many of the artists worked to capture the character of the landscape in an American Impressionist style. The colony prospered during the American Regional Art Movement (1920s-1940s) and fueled economic development of the region. In response to increased demand for their work, the artists and local partners established the Brown County Art Gallery nearby in 1926. In 1954, several of the colony's original artists founded an additional gallery, the Brown County Art Guild." This is marker number 07.2021.1 and it was erected in 2021 by the Indiana Historical Bureau, Peaceful Valley Heritage Preservation Inc., and the Brown County Community Foundation. [Review 20540 overall - 84 in Indiana - 1521 of 2023.]