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.

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.

The Brown County Court House is located in the county seat of Nashville, Indiana. The Court House…read moreis home to the Circuit Court. Unlike other counties in Indiana, there is no grand square with a domed top building. The Court House is a colonial red brick, older building that stands surrounded by beautiful trees and inviting park benches. The current 2-story building was built in 1874 by McCormack and Sweeney of Columbus, Indiana at the cost of $9000. The building replaced an earlier structure that was destroyed by fire at the same location. The court room and jury rooms are on the second floor and general offices are on the first floor. The Court House is part of a series of historic buildings that tourists can visit. A historic log-cabin jail and historic society are among the buildings. A modern addition was added to the back of the courthouse and serves as the new entry, which enables accessibility. In front of the Courthouse is a small war memorial to recognize those from the area that served.

I've been on a mission to visit all the covered bridges in Indiana because I love the history and…read morestructural beauty of these landmarks. I especially like when the bridge is still original and operational. The Bean Blossom Covered Bridge was built in 1880 by Joseph Baisley. The bridge is on a dilapidated road, Covered Bridge Road, half mile southwest of Bean Blossom off Rt 135. The single lane bridge is a classic single Howe through truss design. I walked across the bridge. I wonder what famous people crossed the bridge back when this was the only route to Nashville. The bridge is in pretty good shape for the age. I noticed some of the floor nails have popped up, so be careful if you drive over it. Unfortunately, vandals have left graffiti inside the beautiful structure. Covered Bridge Road is in disrepair with large holes in the asphalt. The road turns to gravel past the bridge. There is really no place to park except to block the road. Fortunately, we saw no traffic during our visit, so we could study the bridge. You know it's going to be a 5 star because I never met a covered bridge that I didn't like.

Indiana has lots and lots of covered bridges. I've been to a few of them. Bean Blossom is one of…read morethe loveliest. With only a 9 foot clearance, it was too small for the "Free Candy!" van that needs 10 feet but that's okay. I was still able to walk it and admire this fabulous construction. Built in 1880 and with a span of 101 feet, it carries this narrow lane across Bean Blossom Creek. Of course, State Road 135 is nearby if you're also not able to drive across. The road down the valley to the bridge is narrow and after a short while, it is gravel only. A short wider area near the bottom for you to pull over and park. But much of the road is one lane so drive with care. [Review 20551 overall - 89 in Indiana - 1532 of 2023.]

Beautiful grounds, interesting history. Lovely trails we purchased a tour for 11$, totally worth…read moreit! The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and offered plenty of time for questions! The gift shop is super cute as well. Highly recommend.

The staff was very friendly, professional. Young man who was…read morethe tour guide was refreshing. Quite knowledgeable of every aspect of Steele's history. Didnt sound like a script, was very clear and learned, spoke as if in a conversation at your home, but he knew dates, and details of the period of the Steele's legacy. Ive worked at museums all of my life and was quite impressed. We attended in the winter but will return when the weather is much warmer, so to enjoy the grounds.

My spouse and I went on the Columbus architecture tour. The Miller House and Garden is the focal…read morepart of the architecture of Columbus. The architect Saarinen developed plans for only three houses all for the Miller's. Almost all the doorways are handicapped accessible and the house is one level. Although built in the 1950s many of the design concepts are still seen today. if you are going for the architecture tour, this is a must

loved the aesthetic of this house. first saw it on Kogonada's film Columbus and just had to go see…read moreit. the one thing though is the movie makes it seem like you can walk freely through the house, you cannot. it's an informative guided tour. and you're only allowed to take pictures on this particular rug. I'm fine without getting anymore photos, but I would have loved to spend some more time outside exploring the grounds. also I saw pictures of the couch with red cushions, it was definitely more eye catching with those. (big thing: read your confirmation email and show up at the visitor center first)

I did not visit the state park. This was simply a visit to check out this pretty darned cool…read moretwo-lane covered bridge that is at one entrance to the park. You don't have to enter the park to view the bridge. It was built in Putnam County in 1838 and was moved 130 miles to here Brown County in 1932. It would otherwise have been demolished to make way for a more modern bridge. This bridge is the oldest covered bridge still standing in Indiana and the only two lane covered bridge. The bridge span is 110 feet and no, it did not have clearance for my Sprinter van. If you're planning on visiting the park in an RV, you need to use the other entrance to the west. There is no pedestrian lane. [Review 20537 overall - 81 in Indiana - 1518 of 2023.]

Located in the center of the (city? town? village?) of Nashville, this marker points out the artist…read morethat pretty much put it on the map. There is street parking nearby and you should not miss the museum a few blocks away. The marker is on two sides with the front reading, "Photographer, artist, and newspaper columnist Frank Hohenberger moved to Nashville in 1917. Through his black and white, large format photographs, he documented the residents, artists, daily life, traditions, and natural beauty of Brown County. From 1923-1954, he wrote an Indianapolis Star column, "Down in the Hills O' Brown County" that helped popularize the area." And the reverse, "Hohenberger took over 15,000 photographs and negatives during his career, including "The Liar's Bench," one of his best-selling prints. He was commissioned for projects across Indiana and in other states and delivered many illustrated lectures on his work. His internationally popular photographs have been preserved at the Lilly Library, Indiana University." This is marker number 7.2019.1 and was erected in 2019 by the Indiana Historical Bureau, Peaceful Valley Heritage Preservation and Brown County Community Foundation. [Review 20544 overall - 85 in Indiana - 1525 of 2023.]

While this historic building is currently vacant, it is owned by the city and maintained by the…read morehistorical preservation commission. I was fortunate enough to receive a tour a few months back though it has been used for public events in the recent past, which explains a lot of the random supplies and furniture left behind. This was the original location of the Mayor's Office in the city, prior to the construction of the City-County Building a couple blocks away. It's a little creepy being in there now because of a lack of light. No A/C either means it gets pretty toasty in the summer! A few years ago, there were plans to turn the building into a boutique hotel but they fell through. Hopefully the space gets utilized again in the near future, but for now it's a beautiful building to admire.

I have a very deep connection with this building. By that I mean, I think I've seen just about…read moreevery nook and cranny thanks to planning a huge party that required some serious love on my part for the space - ex. hanging lighting, sweeping up crumbling molding, hiding the abundance of old city furniture, installing wifi, and so on and so forth. We reallllly got to know one another during the month of December 2013. In the time that has passed since Yelp's Totally Bazaar, The Hall has received some serious love thanks to People For Urban Progress and the bright and the creative minds that now call this space their "place of work". Here are a few reasons I recommend you revisit the building that once served as the Indiana State Museum, public library and Yelp party pad: -new benches and flowers added to the exterior of the building - great lunch or work spot -exhibit showcasing the future of transit in Indianapolis -event space in the foyer - perfect for weddings, meetings, screenings -side rooms that also serve as great spaces for working throughout the day or hosting meetings in a unique space Hall, you gave me one helluva ride in December but I'm so happy I chose you to showcase the best of Indy's local biz scene. It was truly your shining moment. **special shout out to Tiffany Benedict Berkson with Historic Indy for connecting me with the building back in the summer of 2013.

Located in the heart of Nashville (Indiana), this marker points out why there is so much art and so…read moremany artworks here in town. The marker is close to restaurants, shopping, the Brown County Art Gallery and so much more. There is free street parking nearby. It reads, "Attracted by the area's natural beauty and its residents' rustic lifestyles, a group of professional artists began working in Brown County by 1908. The Brown County Art Colony gained renown as its members exhibited regularly, first in the Midwest, then nationally. Many of the artists worked to capture the character of the landscape in an American Impressionist style. The colony prospered during the American Regional Art Movement (1920s-1940s) and fueled economic development of the region. In response to increased demand for their work, the artists and local partners established the Brown County Art Gallery nearby in 1926. In 1954, several of the colony's original artists founded an additional gallery, the Brown County Art Guild." This is marker number 07.2021.1 and it was erected in 2021 by the Indiana Historical Bureau, Peaceful Valley Heritage Preservation Inc., and the Brown County Community Foundation. [Review 20540 overall - 84 in Indiana - 1521 of 2023.]