In the middle of the ISU campus is a collection of "bench people" on the east side of Reeve Hall…read more Artist Madeline Weiner created this collection in 2015 out of Dolomitic limestone. There are five pieces to the collection: two are stacks of books, two are people lounging back, and the final piece is someone reading a book. All five pieces may be used for seating for anyone wishing to take a break and relax. Review #1483

This mural is only 12 x 12 but features a local celebrity known for his loyalty and dedication…read more Stiffy Green was a British Bulldog who followed his owner everywhere. When the owner passed away Stiffy found his owner's mausoleum and stood guard . Eventually the loyal pet passed away on his own and to protect the loyal pet from damage/vandalism, he was stuffed and now resides in the Vigo County museum. I am sure there is a lot more to the story, but you can research that on your own. If you are driving north on 7th, you can easily spot his mural on the side of the building. I find it delightful that there was such a bond between a man and his pet. Whenever you are in the area, be aware of the multiple images of Stiffy hat can be found around town including having his own beer! Review #3972

It might be the fact that I'm a diehard basketball fan that explains why I'm inclined to give the…read moreHulman Center's Larry Bird Statue a 5-star rating. It's not a particularly complex or awe-inspiring statue, though it does capture the NBA legend's shooting style and does bear a strong resemblance to "the Hick from French Lick" who would ultimately become the only person to win NBA MVP prizes as a player, coach, and NBA Executive. This 15' bronze statue was dedicated in November 2013 and sits on the south side of Hulman Center (Indiana State University's stadium for both performing arts and multiple teams - and yes, for those who don't know Bird attended and graduated from Indiana State). The statue was crafted by Vigo County sculptor Bill Wolfe, who'd planted the seeds for several years before finally getting the chance to bring it to life. Bird attended the statue's dedication. While Bird played his professional ball for Boston's Celtics, he's always maintained a strong connection with Indiana and, of course, would follow his playing days by becoming a Pacer coach, team exec, etc. He continues to be a consultant. Larry Bird fun facts: He's appeared in three films - Blue Chips, Space Jam, and Celtic Pride. Until July of 2023, the Twitter bird logo was named Larry. Wolfe intentionally made Bird's statue taller than Magic Johnson's statue that sits on the Michigan State University campus (Johnson's is 12' high). While the Larry Bird statue is likely only a destination spot for diehard Bird fans, for all fans of basketball it's a place to stop while in the Terre Haute area as it's a reminder that smalltown boys can become legends and even those players from smaller colleges can make their dreams come true.

The Larry Bird statue is symbolic of the phenomenal success that Indiana State and Terre Haute had…read moreduring those years when Bird played basketball here. Terre Haute had been through some tough years and has been on the rise for awhile. Indiana State reached all the way to the National Championship game while Bird played forward for the team. The statue is a bigger than life sculpture of Larry Bird. There is a 2' pedestal that lifts the 15' statue so high that it would have to look downward at a standard goal! Local artist Bill Wolfe who has created many public sculptures and some paintings in West Central Indiana, made the statue in 2013. The likeness is clearly identifiable as Bird and he wears his #33 jersey while taking a jumpshot. The statue is on the south west portion of the green in front of the Hulman Center. Review #1490

Although this mural is attached to a parking lot with an Ohio Street address, the actual Crossroads…read morePlaza is on the north side of the building along Wabash Avenue. In 2018, local artist Becky Hochhalter added this large mural over the entryway to honor the Wabash Valley Musicians Hall of Fame. In the mural, you can find horn players, guitars, violin, a vocalist, piano keys, musical notes, and a harmonica player . Here are some notes from the artist: "There is some fun symbolism included in this mural design. The Staff flowing throughout symbolizes the Wabash River. The notes on the staff are the beginning of Paul Dresser's iconic song, 'On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away', that was adopted as the state song of Indiana in 1913. Sycamore leaves (on the left of the mural) are also mentioned in this song. The angel and clouds in the background are representation of the artwork from the cover of the sheet music for the last song that Dresser wrote just three days before he died called 'The Judgement Is At Hand'. The blues singer (on the right of the mural) is drawn from a photo that was taken of Blind Mississippi Morris playing at the Blues Fest in downtown Terre Haute. The crow, of course, is an infamous part of downtown Terre Haute and the Wabash River." For an idea how large the mural is, the guitar is 24' long! It is very cool to see what was once a drab entrance now brimming with color to brighten up the plaza. Review #1728

"Turn to the River" is a revitalization project in downtown Terra Haute to connect downtown with…read morethe iconic nearby Wabash River waterfront. Part of the project includes this unique sculpture and water feature that lies at the west side of the Vigo County Courthouse and east of City Hall. The black granite sculpture was designed and constructed by Brad and Diana Goldberg. The project, which includes the surrounding green-space, was paid for in part by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and other donations. Honestly, who doesn't think about Indiana when you think about the Wabash River? I found the water feature both peaceful with the flowing water and educational, depicting the natural turns of the nearby Wabash River. Visitors sat nearby, enjoying lunch or coffee. A unique feature of the sculpture is that the water flows in both directions. Parking is limited. I found street parking across the street. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

Swope Art Museum, officially known as the Sheldon Swope Art Museum, may not have all the…read morerazzle-dazzle of Indy's Newfields, however, this is an impressive regional museum and a source of pride in Terre Haute. The Swope Art Museum has a collection of nearly 2,500 works of American art including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from the 19th century to the present. Changing exhibitions from the permanent collection include selections from American Scene Painting of the 1930s and 1940s, 19th century American art, early 20th century modernism, Indiana art, and Post-World War II figurative and abstract art. The museum is particularly known for its American Scene Painting collection with artists including Thomas Hart Benton, Charles Burchfield, Reginald Marshall, Grant Wood, and Edward Hopper. 19th century American art movements include William Merritt Chase, George Inness, Frederick MacMonnies, Mary Fairchild MacMonnies, and Tompkins Harrison Matteson. 20th century art includes works by George Bellows, Arthur B. Davies, Manierre Dawson, Jack Levine, George Luks, and Fairfield Porter among others. Indiana artists are also represented here quite extensively - J. Ottis Adams, William Forsyth, Theodore C. Steele, C. Curry Bohm, Otto Stark, Carl C. Graf, Genevieve Goth Grath, and Terre Haute natives like John Rogers Cox, James Farrington Gookins, Janet Scudder (who is directly related to the physician who delivered me!), Caroline Peddle Ball, and Gilbert Wilson. Finally, more contemporary artists like Robert Indiana, Andy Warhol, Paul Jenkins, and Robert Motherwell also have art works here. You can schedule a guided tour here that lasts about an hour. In terms of accessibility, the Swope is on two floors. There is a small elevator that can accommodate most wheelchairs/mobility equipment. They also have a wheelchair that can be utilized in case yours doesn't work (assuming you can transfer). There is 2-hour street parking around the museum (it is watched, so watch the time to avoid fines). For special events, visitors can use the Old National parking lot. This is a 1901 building - so efforts at accessibility are appreciated. Admission is free, however, I'd check the website as there are somewhat limited hours. While Swope is certainly not a national museum, it's a much nicer than expected regional museum with a lot of impressive art and genuinely warm staff and volunteers. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Terre Haute has quite a bit to visit and a stop at the Swope should be a part of any weekend getaway.

It's a small museum, but if you can accept that, there is an interesting mix of Indiana artists,…read moreand others from different areas of the US. Heavy in landscape and 1800+ portraiture, it has several interesting galleries. Go now before June 2025, when it will close for six months, re-opening again in early 2026 after serious renovation. There is only a suggested donation as admission currently; that will likely have to change. It's a volunteer-driven organization, and they're quite helpful. The only downside is bad lighting; perhaps the renovation will pay attention to that. Worth a visit; free parking for 2hrs downtown nearby. Largely ADA accessible; if at standing-observation height.

Local artist/muralist Becky HochHalter was asked in 2021 to add some murals to the patio walls of a…read morelocal Terre Haut pub. The patio without the murals is rather drab but with the addition of several murals to the inner walls of the patio area, the dining/seating area becomes more festive and is a lot more colorful.These murals are smaller in size than many of Hochhalter's works. They fit the scale of he patio. The murals vary from water scenes, to local celebrity Stiffy Green to simply adding the name of the pub in bold lettering. Review #3971

In 2018, Crossroads Plaza got a new addition honoring the Wabash Valley Musicians Hall of Fame…read more Artist Mark Nicklasch created a brick piano near the sidewalk at the front of the plaza. He then cut stone to form the 88 keys that a full size piano would have. The upright style of piano replaced the traditional wood structure with red brick and topped the piece with stone. He also added a bench of brick and stone as well. On the side of the piano is the commemorative plaque. Review #1727

Prometheus was the mischievous titan (brother of Atlas) in Greek mythology who used his wiles to…read moresteal fire from Zeus and give it to mankind. On the southwest corner of the main science hall on the ISU campus, this statue stands. The sculpture is over 7' in height and provides an abstract human form reaching upward to grasp a disc that I'm guessing portrays fire. With a bit of imagination, I can visualize a human torso with head and arms stretching upward. The piece was created by John L Laska back in 1963. Review #1480