My favorite Richmond museum. They always have something interesting on display. Special exhibits…read moreare top notch, and support for the local art scene is amazing. Their permanent collection is bigger than they have room to keep up so they're always rotating their displays. Definitely worth multiple visits.

As someone who has only recently devoted time to appreciating art, I am truly glad that the…read moreRichmond Art Museum (RAM) exists. The more research I put into local artists, the more I find source material from the Richmond area. That includes numerous artists that are from the Golden Era of Indiana Artists as well as the book written by the RAM curator Shawn Dingwerth. This free museum is open on Tuesdays through Saturday from 10 to 5. Parking is free in the lot on the north side of the building and on the street. The museum is attached to the school, so it has made due with size constraints and old building problems, but will be undergoing some large construction/renovation in 2017 to ensure better lighting (the current UV emitted by old lights is damaging) and climate control so that when space becomes available, more paintings will be able to be displayed. On my visit, the staff was very helpful and I had the opportunity to talk with the curator which I found quite interesting since I had read his book about the Richmond Group (local artists from the late 1800's to early 1900's) the week before. There are several galleries that have a theme for each: Ceramics, Contemporary, "Golden Age Artists", Portraits, and an exhibition hall. The lobby holds some of the large sculptures and paintings as well. The museum has an extensive program to reach out to local children to give them the opportunity to see the art first hand and learn. Programs are tailored to the age levels and focus on introducing different styles and cultures with each visit. The works themselves are truly representative of the different styles of art and serve as a time capsule of local artists that may be under appreciated by the current generation. Along with the Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute and the Haan Mansion Museum in Lafayette, the RAM has preserved our State's cultural best. I look forward to returning to see the improvements and the new exhibits. Review #233

This was such a fun little pitstop. We've been mixing up our drive between Indy and my hometown and…read morethis is one of many treasures we've discovered innThe New Parks area. It was the pictures of produce, pumpkins and donuts on Yelp that drew us in. We picked up some made in-house sour cream donuts, beets and an apple cider slushy during our visit. They had a wide selection of pies, food items, and produce to choose from. The spot feels like it would be especially fun to visit in September and October when the pumpkins are in full season as well as the apple trees and other offers that the property offers. They have a fun little train set up and large natural slide for kids as well. One of the things that stood out the most to me was their beautiful Xenia flowers on the front porch welcoming everyone in. The staff was all very friendly and helpful. Look forward to future visits here!

Hubby pulled into this place because they have signs advertising donuts & ice cream. It was our…read morefirst time to shop here. When I checked in on Yelp, I got a free apple cider donut. I shared it with hubby & it was YUM! I bought some fresh green beans & peaches. Cute place to stop just off I-70. We'd shop here again when in the area.

Centerville, Indiana has an alternate name: "City of Arches". Along West Main and on South…read moreMorton, a number of buildings have arched entrances to breezeways/passages from front to back. So, it seemed fitting to become the theme during the 2015 Festival of Murals in Wayne County for this piece. Artist Mark Gardner created an image of portholes on the side of the building with a ribbon spiraling through them. The ribbon lists facts about the town and also the location/names of the arches. Reflecting the size of the arches themselves, the mural is smaller than many of the other entries in the Festival. Review #1239

During the 2015 Festival of Murals in Wayne County, this remote site north of Centerville was…read moreselected to include a mural. Just south of I-70 on Centerville Road is the entrance to a small strip mall that includes Warm Glow Candle Outlet and The Watering Can. On the north side of the building, a cool pastel blue tree, leafless as in winter, is silhouetted on the wall. Among the branches and in the air surrounding the tree are silhouettes of red cardinals which often winter in Indiana. "Indiana Natives" was painted by Joe Thompson for the festival and celebrates the cardinals for bringing color all year to what can be a cold and drab winter scene. Cardinals are the official state bird of Indiana. Review #1240

I was deeply moved by my visit to the Coffin House in Fountain City. Levi and Catharine Coffin were…read morepart of the Underground Railroad. They housed nearly 1000 freedom seekers (run away slaves) before the Civil War. They developed a network of people to help clothe, feed, provide medical attention. and transport the runaways through town to safety. Today, their immaculately preserved home and adjacent Interpretive Center tell their story to thousands of visitors. The home and Interpretive Center are part of the Indiana State Museum system. We arrived on a Friday, not realizing that tours of the home began at certain times. The morning tour had left. We were lucky that Joanna, one of the guides, took us through the house despite our late arrival. Joanna was knowledgeable and passionate about the Coffin story. We learned a great deal. Joanna went above and beyond to provide us with this tour. The interpretive center has interactive story boards, artifacts and a theater. In the theater, a short film paints a picture of the challenges of the Underground Railroad. There is also a gift shop with some great books. Restrooms are also available. Parking is free. There is an admission charge, but we had museum membership, so there was no additional charge. The Interpretive Center is fully accessible, but the house has limitations. This is a must visit for school age kids and anyone interested in history. Be sure to visit the web site and arrive in time for tours. You will want to reserve space in advance. Plan two hours.

I will confess that for the longest time I confused the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic…read moreSite with the Huddleston House. I'm a nice guy, but I'm not always the brightest. The Levi and Catharine Coffin House in Fountain City is one of those rare historic sites that lives up to the "must see" label. Quite honestly, it's one of Indiana's quiet icons. This 1839 home looks like your usual Federal-style brick home at first glance. It's certainly been beautifully restored. However, looking at the house doesn't begin to give you the true history of the place. Once recognized as "The Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad," this eight-room home served as a safe haven for over 1,000 freedom seekers on their journey toward Canada. Levi and Catharine Coffin were Quakers and spent their approximately 20 years in Newport, now called Fountain City, providing food, shelter, clothing, and transportation for the over 1,000 freedom seekers who would learn that their arrival at the Coffin House was to be met with true hospitality and fierce determination. The Coffins would eventually move to Cincinnati and over the course of their lives they helped approximately 3,300 freedom seekers. The Coffin House has been ranked by The History Channel as one of the nation's "Top 25 Historical Sites." In 2016, the Smithsonian named the Coffin Interpretive Center as "One of 12 new museums around the world to visit." The Indiana Office of Tourism Development has, unsurprisingly, also called it one of Indiana's top museums. There are so many amazing experiences to be had here - simple yet profound. The Interpretive Center is sublime. While the house is, of course, not completely accessible there's much here that is and that can truly be experienced. The home is now a National Registered Historic Landmark. Fun facts: Every person who traveled through the Coffin House is known to have reached freedom. While the Coffins were by far the most active in this community, the entire community was known to be supportive and would often serve as lookouts to give the Coffins warning if bounty hunters were about to arrive. While Levi Coffin's reputation as a leader of the abolitionist movement was well known, the house was never searched. Admission is affordable - members get in free, children under three are free, children ages 3-17 are $5, adults are $10, seniors are $8, and they offer a variety of event, tour, and field trip options. The pandemic is currently influencing tours and they are scheduled and timed. This site is truly one of Indiana's gems and worth a day trip out to Fountain City. The area also has a nearby Amish population making this an ideal day trip for those who enjoy historical sites and cultural awareness.