If you travel around the country taking time to look for historic sites and monuments, then you may…read morebe familiar with Spirit of the American Doughboy. This bronze was added to the courthouse lawn in Winchester in 1928 and restored during the 1990's. Although it is not the original, it is a casting of the original which was created by artist/sculptor Ernest Moore Viquesney who was born in Spencer, Indiana. Viquesney's sculpture was so famous that it became the most replicated statue for World War I. The term Doughboy is meant to designate an American Soldier, particularly from the World War I era. There are several origins of the term without any definitive answer. The bronze carries a rifle in its left hand and is holding a grenade (I think) aloft in its right hand. Review #2590

If you are a history buff or someone who appreciates artistic talent, then stop by the courthouse…read morein Winchester to check out this monument on the northeast corner. This is the oldest Civil War monument in the entire state of Indiana! It is second in height only to its namesake in Indy. I also like that there are plaques about how the monument was funded and who the artist was that contributed the bronze work. Lorado Taft was a famous sculptor from Illinois who completed these numerous bronzes in 1892. There are four corner figures including Artillery, Navy, Cavalry, and Infantry. There is a flag bearer positioned on the top. There also is an encircling bronze ring above the base that is an action diorama. The monument was designed by Indy architect A A McKain. It is made from ornate granite. Review #2589

I had the good fortune of visiting The Asylum early in its current manifestation as a key…read moredestination spot for those seeking paranormal investigations and opportunities to visit a location said to be Randolph County's most haunted spot. As I arrived at my 666th review here on Yelp, I began contemplating what I could possibly review that would be worthy of such an occasion. Having a dark sense of humor, I began contemplating both my past and present journeys through Indy's more haunted spots and locations with a history of evil and, in most cases, either found them not appropriate for Yelp or inappropriate review. While I briefly contemplated either a review of an Indiana Satanic church (Yes, we have them!) or a visit up to Hell, Michigan, I settled on a revisit to this location that turned the old Randolph County Infirmary/Asylum into one of Winchester, Indiana's few touristy spots. If you know me, then you know that while I do review most businesses for accessibility I'm also a pretty adaptable wheelchair user who regularly does long-distance events and who joined Yelp down in the incredibly not wheelchair friendly Catacombs. In other words, I tend to go where I want whenever possible even if it's not wheelchair friendly. The Asylum is not actually wheelchair friendly, though it's better than you might expect. If you have mobility issues, you might want to contact them in advance or ensure you have a companion with you for assistance. As a building built in 1899, it is exempt from ADA laws. In its early days, the nearly 50,000 square foot building housed six wards, several private rooms, a kitchen, laundry facilities, and separate dining rooms for men and women. It also had several other features on the adjacent property including a cemetery 230 yards northwest of the "home." Over the years, the facility served different populations including the poor, orphans, physically and cognitively disabled, single mothers, and the elderly. In 1994, the facility was bought from the county and turned into the Country Care Center. Around 2008-2009, Country Care Center closed and the facility was used for county storage until current owners came along in 2016 with the stated intention of using the facility as a paranormal attraction. I mean, seriously, do you know a single old asylum that isn't haunted? The treatment in these facilities was typically quite lacking - even in this type of setting, which certainly wasn't a Central State type place but still had its share of tragedy. The current owners have done a nice job of creating a functional setting for paranormal investigations, several videos from which are located on The Asylum website. The website features a wealth of information about the history of the facility along with current information about visits for investigations - this allows for overnight visits. While it's certainly not inexpensive, this is frequently done in groups and that certainly helps defray the costs. The Asylum, to my understanding, is still currently under a contract which means that actual production companies cannot be accommodated. The facility also does not have heat at this time, though they are working on this issue and that may change in the future. I should note that they do occasionally have special events that may include productions - look under the events tab of their website for more info. They even had a Christmas event this past holiday season. I really respect what they're doing here and the fact they've been respectful to the cemetery within the area. There's also said to be unmarked graves. While The Asylum is being utilized for paranormal, the team behind all of this truly is respectful of historical buildings and that makes it all a little more special to me. I've been through Winchester, Indiana a couple times on fundraising events and, indeed, all of Randolph County is pretty sparse in terms of tourist options. However, you have the Randolph Inn where you can stay and enjoy yourself in a small, friendly county and this pretty remarkable setting where you never quite know what you'll encounter!

Had the pleasure of meeting both Dann and Ted during our visit. They were both some of the nicest…read morepeople I've ever met and had a fantastic time talking with them both. Both are very genuine and knowledgeable with a good sense of humor (especially Ted). The building is very active and becomes very alive at night, lots of moments that make you stop in your tracks. Thank you Ted and Dann for letting us spend the night and everyone please go support saving the old properties (Stop).

I think the idea of this place is cool, but it really needs some money put into it. I'm glad we…read morewent on a Free day because I would have been upset to pay an entrance fee for what is there. There is a super small inside gallery area. A bunch of exhibits were covered so you couldn't see them. The outside is a small village with two structures. It was cool to go in and see you those looked like. There are plaques with what is around the circle area and you can either scan the QR code to get that information or borrow one of their books to learn about it. I think that's pretty cool. I think there is massive room for improvement and making things just look nicer. I think those in charge could learn a lot from how the Great Council State Park was done. Lots of room for more hands and interactive things to keep the kids interesting in learning about our past. This could also spell more revenue from schools for Field Trips.

Not much to see. Wasn't impressed with the whole area. The Indian huts were the most interesting…read morething about the whole place.

Peaceful spot for hiking, leaf collecting and exploring nature. Growing up, this was the spot…read moreeveryone visited to build their leaf collections for school. They have paved and non-paved hiking paths along with an outdoor chapel and nature center. Overall, a lovely and free experience tucked begins the hustle and bustle of department store chains in Richmond.

This place is wonderful! Multiple trails to walk, a nature center to visit and even a trail to…read moredrive though. So many trees, just so relaxing. They allow dogs and we really enjoyed the quiet. Such a wonderful place. We wished we lived closer so we could visit more often.

While the current health pandemic has certainly impacted my social life and ability to try out a…read moreton of new businesses, it's also served to help me work on some projects that have needed my attention. I've had my vision set on establishing a memorial here in Indiana for quite some time, though I'm still exploring locations, acquiring land, and design options. As a result, I've been researching and exploring Indiana's monuments, old and new, and in the process learning about Indiana history. If you know me, you know that I'm a bit of a peacenik. I do a lot of work in the area of non-violence and am pretty much drawn to anything that promotes peace. I was unaware of Decatur, Indiana's Peace Monument until I began doing some research regarding Indiana's memorials. Located at the Adams County Courthouse, the Peace Monument was dedicated on October 30, 1913 and is a cenotaph made of Indiana limestone and metal. As a fun fact, the limestone came from the same quarry as downtown Indy's Soldier's and Sailors Monument. The front of the monument is an allegory for peace represented by a woman. As another fun fact, the model for Peace was a Chicago resident named Margaret McMasters Van Slyke, who'd once been called "the best and most perfectly formed woman." The cenotaph used to house a fountain, though the fountain is no longer in place. There's a metal tablet installed on the cenotaph. As yet another fun fact, the metal came from the USS Maine. There are two urns in front of the cenotaph designed for plantings. In 2014, Boy Scout Troop 70 and Elks Lodge 993 embarked on a project to develop a directory of the names listed on the Veterans Wall of Honor. While the cenotaph is a general war memorial, it emphasizes the importance of peace and the role of women. The memorial was designed to specifically memorialize the Civil War, Spanish-American War, Mexican-American War, and the Revolutionary War. There's a small plaza directly adjacent to the memorial with a tastefully created picnic table that allows you to simply sit there and really take it all in. It's quite beautiful and the memorial has had some renovation and updating done over the past few years. Owned by Adams County Commissioners, the Peace Monument was sculpted by Charles Mulligan and carved by Charles Dodd. This is definitely worth a visit and with Berne, Indiana nearby it's a terrific day trip.

Y'all!!!! I am not a frequent flyer at places like this but my son wanted to go with some friends…read morefor his birthday so we did. Things were pretty quiet until about 1:30 in the morning. Around 2:51 (haha "around" and then I post the exact time) we all RAN out of there and drove home - an HOUR tired, hungry, and freaked out! Blackford County Jail does NOT disappoint and the owners are awesome!!! MUST GO!!!

Only rated 1 as we drove especially to visit this museum and there were construction fences all…read morearound it. It notice on website about it being closed. Great if they would post this.

Troy is so lucky to have such an historic building! Benjamin Overfield built his tavern over 200…read moreyears ago next to the Great Miami River on the Ohio Frontier. The logs from those huge old trees still hold up this 2-story building. Once you step inside you'll feel as if you've gone back in time. It's definitely worth your while to stop in a few times every summer to see the new exhibits and attend seasonal events. Admission is only $2, however, the museum accepts larger donations also!

I was glad to find this historic gem on a recent visit to Enon. The Enon Adena Mound is the second…read morelargest in Ohio and is owned by the City of Enon. This mound is approximately 40 feet high, encompasses over one acre and is 574 feet in circumference. It majestically sits in the middle of a neighborhood of middle-class houses. The road completely encircles the mound so you can drive to look at it from all sides. If you're into the history of the Native Americans that lived here before we did, it's worth a stop. 5 Stars