The Gennett Records Walk of Fame has been completely revitalized and just had their ribbon cutting…read moreto showcase the all brand new plaques. Previously the Hall of Fame records were showing wear and destruction from vandalism and weather, but they have all been restored, and even lifted up off of the sidewalk on concrete stands. Talented musicians like Hoagy Carmichael and Louis Armstrong all became famous and recorded their records here in Richmond at this site. It's a really cool, free, and historic sight to see in Richmond. And it documents the history of Gennett Records, where the actual buildings once stood. There is one building that still remains, and it is used for the winter farmers market and other community events.

What a cool head in treasure in Richmond, Indiana. Who would have had any clue that some of them…read morethe roaring twenties greatest musicians came to Richmond and recorded in Richmond. I was totally amazed and I had a better understanding when I went to the firehouse barbecue restaurant in town and they had quotes from different famous musicians from led Zeppelin, to Bob Dylan to The Beatles who are all influenced by these musicians from the 1920s. The Walk of Fame is really cool because they had tile colored tile mosaic pictures of the famous musicians and then biographies about what they did and when they came to Richmond, Indiana to record at the Gennett studios. They also have the remnants of the recording studio and Gennett piano factory. What was disappointing was that there wasn't more information on the piano factory itself or the recording studios or any photographs which would have been really cool. And with today's society there's many retired people who love volunteering their time to set out a welcome center and help educate the younger people about the past. The musical history that came from Richmond Indiana is timeless to the point where my son who is now 18 and I listened on our cell phones some recordings of some of these famous musicians.I would definitely recommend anyone who wants to truly understand the origins of today's country music, blues, jazz, Texas blues, and soul to visit this place even for a couple hours just to read the information and soak up where they came to record their music. I felt that with a little bit more information about the studios and the piano factory maybe a welcome center and some photographs is definitely would have been a four or five-star attraction.

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

Stumbled on this when in town to visit the county historical museum. Google or Apple or someone…read moreknows I am a history buff, and this popped up. Fit it in when I could. Pull up to the building on the hill. Nice parking area. But it turns out that is the smaller, annex building, really. Head down to the row of shops across the street, and you will enter a world full of Model Ts. Beautifully restored and displayed, with good explanations of their backgrounds, and often a copy of the group's magazine in front with an article about that particular car. Superb staff, friendly and knowledgeable. Tons to see. When you finish here, there are more cars (and a plane) across the street. They have events, and it's really worth a visit if you are anywhere nearby, are at all a car buff or history buff. Or just curious. A few cars for kids to sit in, etc., and they'll have fun too.

A fun and interesting diversion, but I think unless you're really a car buff, the $7 admission is a…read morebit stiff. Fascinating to see actual 100-plus year old vehicles arranged in such a way that you learn about their development. Interesting how they were really toys for the very wealthy until about the early 20s when the assembly line started to bring the prices down. It's housed in two buildings, the second one really had much more to see than the first. The docent/tour guide was full of knowledge and enthusiasm and would probably talk for hours if you were willing to listen. A couple visitors who were there were major car buffs, looking closely under hoods and discussing valves and pistons at great length. The guide did a good job balancing between them and those of us who were really more interested in the historic aspect and a somewhat shorter tour. Along with the cars, tractors, trucks, you can see antique office equipment, tools, car accessories, vintage advertising and mannequins dressed in period costumes. Most of the vehicles have been restored with fresh Ford paint jobs, but a few are on display in all their ancient, rusty glory. Be prepared to spend the entire visit on your feet. As with most antiques, the general rule is 'look but don't touch' but they are not obsessed with this and didn't seem to mind some careful, respectful touching of the restored vehicles. Perfect activity for a Sunday afternoon.

The East Main Street-Glen Miller Park Historic District in Richmond, IN. comprises an almost…read morenine-tenths mile length of East Main Street between 18th and 30th Streets, including the 175 acres of Glen Miller Park. This area is also known as Indianapolis's "Millionaire Row." The overall character of East Main Street is that of a broad tree-lined residential street--with some fine homes. The park district recognizes the historical significance of East Main as a major entrance to Richmond and the Richmond Tourism Bureau has free public access walking tours, if you are interested in a closer look. I was very impressed with the lovely, sturdy brick houses, circa 1880, that reflect the early existence of the street as part of the National Road. There are larger, ornate residences such as those of architect John Hasecoster, piano and phonograph manufacturer Henry Gennett, and lawn mower manufacturer Elwood W. McGuire that "attest to the prominence of the street in the decades around the turn of the century," said www.waynet.org, These distinctive homes have been referred to as "Millionaire's Row". Not every home here is a mega-mansion here but the street and residential area has a well-tended attractiveness that cannot be denied. Glen Miller Park was originally owned by John Miller, an executive with the Pennsylvania Railroad. The city purchased the land from Miller and named the park in his honor, opening it in 1880. The park is still owned by the city and maintained by it. Glen Miller Park is proof of the relationship in the past century of parkway and housing development. Two features once characteristic of many American cities - the large outlying park, and the grand residential street leading to and from the center of town - are here and remarkably well preserved. If in the Richmond area, I would certainly go admire and appreciate this beautiful Historical District and Millionaire's Row.

During my seminary years, I spent quite a bit of time at Richmond, Indiana's Glen Miller Park. It's…read morea 194 acre park on Richmond's eastside directly off Main Street. Glen Miller Park also houses the administrative offices for Richmond Parks. Glen Miller Park opened on June 6, 1885. It's named for Colonel John Ford Miller, a railroad executive who'd bought the land specifically to establish a park and ended up selling it to Richmond five years after acquiring it. One of the things that attracted Miller to the Park was its freshwater springs. He had them tested and they were noted as being high in iron (which was believed at the time to be good for your health - people still fill water jugs here). In 1890, Glen Miller Park established a zoo within its grounds and it grew in 1908. By 1964, it had 250 different birds and animals. Unfortunately, it started to decline and by 1984 was named by Parade Magazine as one of the nation's 10 worst zoos. It closed in 1986 and all the animals were relocated. The entrance to the park is marked by the Madonna of the Trial Monument - it's one of 12 monuments built by the Daughters of the American Revolution along U.S. 40 dedicated to the spirit of pioneer women. The Richmond Rose Garden is also housed here. At one point, Richmond was known as The Rose City as it served as home to three of the nation's premier growers and marketers of cut roses. Park amenities include a band shell, concessions, fishing, the Rose Garden, golf course, nature area, picnic areas, an ADA accessible playground, restrooms, both open and closed shelters, an 11,000 square foot skate park, splash pad, and tennis courts. You can, of course, rent the shelters for your events. As the most popular park in Richmond, Glen Miller Park hosts a lot of the city's special events. It's had occasional issues with crime, but I've been here many times during my weekends in Richmond and have never had any issues. Because it's on the main drag through Richmond, police presence is not uncommon here.

I have comical memories of busting my butt on one of the old metal slides at Glen Miller Park in…read morethe early 90s. Despite only being in preschool, I will never forget slamming off the end of that slide. Ha, now days the slides are plastic, lower to the ground and padded more at the bottom for soft landing. Fast forward 27 years and I found myself at Glen Miller Park to swap Christmas gifts with my mother in the parking lot. Funny enough, we weren't the only ones swapping gifts outside for the holidays. 2021 Glen Miller Park features a music garden with hands on instruments, ponds filled with ducks, extensive playscapes and walking trails. The bathrooms were closed during our December visit. Overall, a pretty straightforward but spacious park a stone's throw from Richmond's shops and restaurants.

I was in the area for a friend's wedding and had some time to kill, so I opened up Yelp and saw…read morethis rose garden and decided to swing by. Definitely a small attraction, but beautiful nonetheless. Would be a great spot for a picnic or some family photos. Be forewarned: the grounds don't seem to be monitored well. There were some empty alcohol bottles and unfortunately there is a substance abuse issue in the area. Someone under the influence was there walking around and seemed agitated, so we didn't stay long. I wouldn't advise visiting here alone, but if you have time and company, it's worth a stop!

We visited Richmond in early July and were kind of underwhelmed with our time there. I was feeling…read morekind of disappointed on our way out of town when all of a sudden I notice us passing this beautiful rose garden. I immediately made my husband turn around so we could visit. I spent a great deal of time admiring the many different colors and varieties, so much time that my husband started to get annoyed. I so much wanted to take a picture of every flower I saw, the garden was just too beautiful not to fully appreciate. I tip my hat to the people who care and maintain this wonderful little gem in the city of Richmond, Indiana.

Swicker Park is located on the south side of Richmond. The block sized park has a gazebo type…read moreshelter in the middle and numerous mature trees throughout the park. Parking is limited to street parking along 7th Street. Without playground equipment, the park doesn't seem to attract many young visitors, but does offer a well managed green area for neighbors to enjoy. Review #1027