I love the history of covered bridges and cherish the opportunity to visit one. The New Brownsville…read moreCovered Bridge has endured 185 years of weather, relocation, fire and restoration. The original truss bridge was completed by Adam Mason in 1840 and spanned the Whitewater River in Brownsville. The bridge was the only surviving example of a long truss bridge in Indiana, measuring 182 feet long. The bridge was dismantled in 1974 and moved to Mill Race Park in Columbus in 1985 under the guidance of bridge zealot, Virgil Taylor. The bridge was shortened to 85 feet to span a small pond in the park. According to a plaque on the bridge, the original structure was destroyed by fire and later rebuilt. Today, we were able to drive across the restored bridge. I also explored under the bridge on the concrete walkways that descends under the bridge. The bridge is a beautiful reminder of Indiana's history. There is no charge to visit or drive across the bridge. There is no parking close to the bridge, but I did finding parking across the park.

Located in a quaint little park, this bridge was actually moved here from the Brownsville area…read more Originally build in 1840 , it had to be restored after a fire. They did great work. While it looks somewhat small from afar, it seems to really grow once you are inside. Very photogenic by itself or as a backdrop for your selfies or even important photo shoots. Don't forget to enjoy the rest of the park as well.

Driving across the Robert N. Stewart Bridge is like driving across a work of art. The bridge is…read moregorgeous during the day and spectacular at night. The bridge was built as part of a project to attract and welcome drivers off the highway into the city of Columbus. Jean Muller, a renowned Chicago architect, designed the cable-stayed bridge, which was completed in 1999. I drove and walked across the bridge today. Driving into Columbus, the bridge frames the lovely courthouse. To walk across, there is a narrow sidewalk on the west side of the bridge. I had to cross several busy streets to get there, but it was worth the challenge. The bridge is breathtaking and view of Flatrock River from the bridge is tranquil. The colors of the lights that illuminate the bridge change on certain holidays and for special events. I recommend a stop in Columbus to experience this amazing work of art. There is street parking near the courthouse.

There are entirely too many boring and uninspired bridges in the world so it's pretty awesome to…read morefind something inspired and beautiful. And the Stewart bridge in Columbus is that. Formerly called the Second Street Bridge, it is a cable-stayed suspension bridge that carries SR-46 over the Flatrock River. The bridge was completed in 1999 with the colored lighting added in 2012 and the name change in 2013 in recognition of the former three term mayor of Columbus. There isn't much parking immediately near the bridge and there is no stopping on it. But it's worth a bit of a walk to check it out. [Review 20524 overall - 70 in Indiana - 1505 of 2023.]

I was excited to visit the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus because the Victorian…read morestructure is whimsical and lovely. The building was designed by Isaac Hodgson completed in 1874. The building is Registered as a Historic Landmark. The building is constructed of red brick and trimmed with limestone. The Courthouse is very much a working courthouse. The building house the Circuit Court and two Superior Courts. A person can get a marriage license, pay property taxes or go directly to jail here. I was excited about going inside and seeing what's in those fabulous towers. However, there is no walking tour and no photos are allowed inside. In fact, you must turn your phone off. The interior has been renovated multiple times removing original details. There was no grand atrium that I have seen in other Indiana courthouses. There is a lovely spiral staircase that goes up to the third floor. The courtrooms do have older style (1930's) chairs and bookcases. Many of the doors are antique as well. The courtyard outside has a gorgeous garden and water fountain. There are several war memorials surrounding the building. The grounds are immaculate. There is free parking around the square. Entrants to the building go through security. The guard was all business. There is an ADA access at a different entrance than the front. The businesses surrounding the courthouse are thriving. I would recommend a visit to the grounds of the courthouse as part of a visit to Columbus.

My second courthouse in Indiana and so far, I remain impressed. This is a beautiful structure and…read morewell worth a visit even if you're not here for court business. Batholomew County was formed in 1821and the count seat of Columbus was originally called Tiptona after John Tipton donated thirty acres for the building. Tipton went on to serve as state representative, Indian agent, and United States senator. The building was designed by Isaac Hodgson and was completed in 1874. It is the county's fourth courthouse and is in the Second Empire style. Constructed of red brick with white limestone trim, the foundation is rusticated blue limestone. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. [Review 20522 overall - 68 in Indiana - 1503 of 2023.]

This Veterans Memorial in Columbus is the most moving war memorial that I have visited. The…read moreartistic structure is composed of 25 dramatic limestone pillars that tower forty feet high. This spectacular monument was designed by Maryann Thompson and Charlie Rose and unveiled in 1997. The monument honors those who lost their lives during WWI, WWII, Korean and Viet Nam Wars. The names of soldiers who sacrificed their lives and their final letters home, are carved in the pillars. Their stories make this memorial personal. As I read the letters to mothers, wives, grandmothers and others, I couldn't fight back tears. At night, lights shoot up through the pillars into the sky. The monument is located on the Courthouse square in Columbus. There is free parking around the courthouse. There are a few benches around the monument. This monument is a must see for anyone.

Located on the grounds of the county courthouse, this set of limestone pillars is impressive even…read morebefore you get close. Arranged 5 by 5, there are 25 of them. And then you get inside them and can read the inscriptions. These are letters from soldiers sent back home and include the date the letter was sent and then the tragic date of the soldier's death. Usually a few days later. "20 September 1943. Dear Grandma, Well, Grandma, it's a rough road but we have to follow. When this is over we will share our love together. Love, Raymond." and followed by "PFC Raymond Scroghines, U.S. Army, was killed in action September 29, 1943 in Italy." And once again, it is very dusty here. Are you cutting onions? Don't miss this. It is a great tribute to those who fought and died for our freedoms and way of life here in America. [Review 20523 overall - 69 in Indiana - 1504 of 2023.]

Columbus has to be the most beautiful city in Indiana. Their city and local businesses have…read moreembraced the arts like no other with amazing sculptures and galleries. The world renowned architecture for a city of only 50,000 is incredible. The city has done a remarkable job of preserving old, while introducing new structures. As I walked through the streets and visited landmarks, I was struck by how easy Columbus is to visit. Parking is easy and there is a flow downtown that suits a walking tour. Most of the buildings are free to visit and restroom facilities were easy to find. People are friendly and eager to describe their buildings and help visitors get around. The local restaurants are really good with and interesting mix of American and International cuisines. I found prices reasonable. The local history is interesting especially the impacts made by Irwin Miller. It would take a week to see everything. Next visit, I will make reservations for some of the tours and exquisite restaurants in advance.

This is a small, but upcoming city located about 45 minutes from Indianapolis. It home to about…read more50,000 residents and is HQ for the engine company Cummins. This town has a good down home family feel to it. My kids really liked the play space in The Commons. I could not believe that it was actually free. Their is also a kids museum across the street called Kids Commons. Columbus is not the most diverse city in Indiana. 87% of its population is white. I really like this town. It is not as crazy busy as Indy, but still has a lot going on. The town host many events such as First Thursday, Holiday Pops!, Festival of lights, Canines and Cocktails and Movies in the Campground. An interesting fact about the town is that it is home to footwear pioneer Chuck Taylor. Taylor is an alumunist of Columbus High School. The town has a very storied history. It is known for its art and architecture. Be sure to check out all the public art and wonderful architecture while visiting. Some notable public art includes: Choas, History and Mystery, C, Heroes, and the Family. Some architectural structures to be on the look out for include: the Irwin Union Bank, Bartholomew County Courthouse, Columbus City Hall, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, and the McEwen-Samuels-Marr House. Additionally, in 1844, the first railroad in Indiana was constructed to Columbus from Madison, Indiana. Additionally, the city's Crump Theatre, which was built in 1889, is the oldest theater in Indiana. This is a nice place to visit and and I like to bring my family here to spend the day sometime on a nice day to take in all of the history and sights.

I am an enormous fan of architecture and public art. I think that celebrating the two by involving…read morean entire town is a fantastic idea. Exhibit Columbus is an annual art event that is for the community. There is Art Basel in Miami, countless museums and galleries in NYC and LA, and street art in large cities. I think it is a great to see that regardless of recognition and size, Columbus, IN celebrates art and engineering! The pieces I saw were in open, outside spaces. I've read that the event is free. Parking was easy and available in every stop I did. The website is a great resource. They provide a map for all the pieces and information about the event and it's artists involved! It is common to think that there is nothing outside of major metropolitan areas but Exhibit Columbus disproves that! Pay a visit if you're within driving distance. If you are visiting Indiana and don't know what to do, come here! You won't regret it.

Exhibit Columbus is a massive design, art and architecture explosion of joy throughout the city of…read moreColumbus. With anything from funky rainbow shape sculptures in a local park to live dance performances and pop-up gardens to soften public spaces, Exhibit Columbus is something to definitely check out. This year (2019), it extends from the end of August to end of December, and will return the following year. There are even a few pieces of public art from past Exhibits that were so well-received that they still stand today. It's free to walk throughout the city and enjoy all of the art, so be sure you grab an info map from the Visitors Center and get going!

Free parking, air conditioning, restrooms, free water, interesting art, and a huuuuge gift shop…read more But more importantly, the two tours we took were excellent. The walking tour starts at the Visitor's center and is an easy neighborhood stroll that includes an explanation of how Columbus became a center of modern architecture and includes entrance to the church that started the ball rolling. The tour of the Miller house also starts at the Visitor's Center, takes you to the Miller house in a van, and shows you this outstanding example of midcentury modern architecture, left just as it was by the family that built it and lived there. The Miller house is otherwise inaccessible - you can't even see it from the street. Both tours were lead by excellent guides and both tours were well worth the ticket price. You don't need a background in architecture to appreciate these tours. Plan ahead and book your tours early.

The visitors Center is an extraordinary resource for anyone interested in learning about Columbus…read moreand it's incredible architecture and history. I only stopped by to get a map, but instead spent several hours watching films about Irwin Miller, his home and the architecture of Columbus. The building itself is lovely with modern artistic areas and a fabulous Chihuly glass sculpture. The staff is super friendly, helpful and knowledgable. One staff member played a film for us (alone) to learn about the local architecture. They offer guided tours of the city and the Miller house. Reservations are required for the tours, which fill up quickly. They have information on their website about the tours so you can book in advance. Their gift shop is filled with art and books about architecture. There is plenty of parking in their private lot. Restrooms are available.

I drove from Indy one day to bring my toddlers who are 2 and 3 here. They had a blast! For the…read moreprice it can't be beat. I felt like it was reasonable priced, wasn't too crowded. We won't come often since it's over a hour away but def something I'll keep in mind for rainy days.

This children's museum was perfect for my 20 month old! The entire building is full of hands on…read moreplay, learning, and craft activities. The staff were all extremely friendly and engaging with the kids. I loved throughout our time they had "5 minute" programs, perfect for a quick learning opportunity and then back to play. Price was very reasonable, especially compared to other children's museums in the Indy area. I felt the interior was clean with a hand washing station available on the 2nd floor. I like that ticket sales are split between morning and afternoon to help with crowd management. Such a fun way to spend a day!

I was in the Franklin area for a work obligation and finally made it over to see the famed "Grave…read morein The Middle of The Road." One of the more unique graves around, this grave nearly always shows up on any list of Indiana's most unique roadside attractions. Of course, this isn't "roadside." It's in the middle of the road and serves as a sort of divider in the road. The grave is for Nancy Kerlin Barnett, married to William Barnett. Fun fact: William was the great great great grandson of Pocahontas and John Rolfe. Nancy passed away on 12/1/31. She was buried here - a place that used to be a hill overlooking Sugar Creek. Over the years, the area became a small cemetery. Eventually, a small footpath was made. Finally, they wanted to put a small county road here. While it's not certain, it's believed that most graves in the area were moved. However, Nancy's grave stuck around as one of the son's protested moving it. Eventually, they wanted to widen the road - this time around, per report, grandson Daniel showed up with a shotgun essentially saying "Over my dead body." So, she stayed again. They built the road around her and a concrete slab was placed over the grave. On August 8, 1912, a historical marker was also placed. To this day, the grave remains and is definitely considered an "attraction." Anyone who visits roadside attractions in Indiana will eventually make it here. It took me way too long. Surprisingly, it's also fairly accessible and the road is really fairly lightly traveled. It's not hard to stop and see it, though given it's a hill you do have to be a bit cautious even with slow traffic. Is this the best roadside attraction you'll ever see? Of course not. It is, however, a cool sort of cultural icon in Indiana and worth a stop for those in the area. It's definitely not what I'd call a destination attraction. Franklin is a great community to visit, however, I'd certainly not drive down just for this unless you're truly a gravesite person.

This was on a list of unusual things to do/see in Indiana so I had to check it out. The story goes…read morelike this. They were developing the road and it was going right through where the grave is. So they decided to dig the grave up, to which the grandson of the deceased said, ohh heck nawww. It ain't going down like that, and he grabbed his shotgun and threatened the powers. to be so bad that they came up with the compromise of incorporating his gam gam's grave into the new road. So, here we are. Down the center line of the road you will find a tombstone covered with pennies and an occasional flower or two. There is also a historical road marker on the side of the road as well, detailing the significance of the spot. This stop is just or brief stop or drive by. There is really no good place to pull over. I had to be creative and pray. To my favor was that the street was not very busy. An occasional car would pass by. Well now, I can check off "seeing a grave in the middle of the road" off of my bucket list. On to the next adventure.

Back in 2017, international artist Kelsey Montague created her signature "What Lifts You" angel…read morewing murals a block north of the county court house. Though looking like simple silhouettes in white on a black background, the pair of angel wings have the detail of landmark Greensburg buildings built into the wing patterns. There are two pairs of wings: One is large enough for adults to stand in front of for taking selfies; the other is much smaller and lower to the ground for taking pictures of pets. The artist hopes that when visitors post their photos, they include their ideas about what personally lifts them up. For me, one of the things that "Lifts me up" is finding new art in unexpected places. This fit the bill quite nicely! Review #2461

Greetings from Greensburg from Michelle and Tony. Greensburg is our favorite place to dine and…read moreexplore. It has beautiful old houses and buildings. The park is one of the best we've ever seen.