The historic Blackford County Courthouse is a fabulous Richardsonian Romanesque structure designed…read moreby architects, LaBelle and French of Marion, Indiana. The building was opened in 1895 and has served as the second county courthouse for 131 years. The limestone facade was quarried at nearby Montpelier Quarry. The clock tower is a prominent feature with original clock that has been updated with electric power. Meagan, the building manager, gave us a fabulous guided tour of the Courthouse. The courthouse was recently renovated to replace windows and lighting, improve security and restore the roof. Care was taken to maintain the historic integrity. Meagan took us through the Circuit Court, which retains original 1890 furnishings. The jury room has the original tin ceiling. The original iron staircase is grand and ornate. We visited the original safe for the treasurer. Most of the furnishings are original. Outside, we observed the intricate hand carved stone details around the building and the cornerstone. On each corner of the Square outside are war memorials to commemorate local veterans. A historical marker stands near the front entrance of the building. The landscaping is impeccable. This is one of the best courthouse visits that I have had in Indiana. The building is magnificent with tons of history and the staff is over the top friendly. We found easy parking around the Square.

The Grant County Courthouse in Marion, Indiana was built in 1881 as the third Courthouse of the…read moreCounty. The granite building is surrounded by many memorials honoring those who served in wars from Grant County. The Courthouse, designed by E. E. Myers, is a replica of a structure in Elyria, Ohio. Originally, a large dome with a statue of Lady Justice topped the Courthouse. The dome structure and statue became unstable and began to fail in the 1920s and dropped debris into the streets. The dome was removed during the 1940s. The statue stood in a local park, where vandals eventually destroyed her. Today, the head has been salvaged and resides at the Marion Public Library. No mobile phones are allowed in the Courthouse, so I was unable to take interior photos. The original woodwork has been painted gray and very little original detail of the original building has been retained. All courts were in session, the Courthouse is fully operational as it has been for nearly 150 years. The deputy told me that there is some original detail in several of the courtrooms. I saw original folding seats in one courtroom had been painted. I saw no artwork in the courthouse. There is public parking around the square. The building is accessible. There is no historical information within the courthouse. Overall, not worth a visit unless you have business to conduct.

Gas City, originally Harrisburg, got its name because of the natural gas that was found here. At…read morejust over 4.5 square miles, it is a pretty small city. It is accessible at exit #256 of I-69 north & south bound. Most of my experiences in Gas City occur along Indiana State Rd 22, probably like the rest of the non-locals, just passing through from Kokomo to I-69 and back. Most of the business are located on or just off of Indiana State Rd 22. The most exciting thing for me here is the Starbucks; believe it or not, I was thrilled when they built it because it gave me a good place to take a road trip break. Other than that, I've only ever gassed up (no pun intended) or stopped at K-mart. I like to think of it as Quiettown, America. I have yet to hear, see or experience anything negative here so Gas City is A-OK with me.

Historic Forks of the Wabash is a historic museum park near Huntington, Indiana, that features…read moreseveral historic buildings, trails and remnants of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The location was the signing location of the historic Treaty at the Forks of the Wabash in 1838. The park is located along the Wabash River. They offer tours, educational programs and events throughout the year. When we visited in October, we noticed that their Haunted Trail was taking place. We were there for a Wedding Reception in their event space. The space had everything required with space for tables, as well as a DJ booth in a rectangular area with a kitchen that could be closed off as needed at one end. The restrooms were not large but were adequate and clean. Parking outside was shared with the public using the trails and park area but seemed to accommodate both well.

It's a great place for a picnic by the river. A really nice riverside park with a few miles of…read morehiking trails. There is a museum, too.

Weiler Plaza is a small community gathering park across from the Blackford County Courthouse in…read moreHartford City. The green space is filled with several covered picnic tables, benches and a brick stage. The space is ideal for bringing lunch and meeting friends. Most notable, are several metal sculptures by the late local artist, Pat MacAtee. "Dancing Man" is an animated sculpture that light up and dances. "Goliath" is a huge rust covered guitar. And "The Globe" is a wire and metal sculpture of planet earth. The site is host to holiday and community celebrations. Street parking is available around the park.

James Dean is an Indiana legend who captured hearts and was taken too young. This small memorial…read morecommemorates the site of an apartment (now gone) in which he was born in Marion, Indiana. I happened upon the memorial while looking for a place to eat. There is a large sign pointing to the memorial and a historical marker at the memorial. A large granite monument with impressions of Dean is surrounded by benches to sit. Dean died in an automobile accident at the age of 24. He is bury in Fairmont, Indiana, where he grew up. He had made three movies depicting life in the early 1950's. While he died before I was born, I remember watching reruns of his movies with my mother. I think of her as I see the memorial. There is limited street parking near the memorial and no amenities.

What a nice tribute to James Dean! I was so excited to see that Marion, IN, gave quite the upgrade…read moreto their memorial in honor of Dean's birthplace. This is a small but nice park with a gorgeous memorial. Lots of free parking right next to it.

This is a beautiful branch library! There is great selection of book and the staff is super…read morefriendly! There is plenty of parking and there is plenty of seating. If you get a chance, stop by Heyerly's to get a yummy donut and purchase a cup of coffee at the library coffee cart while reading the newspaper!

Last Friday, I had my driving exam at the BMV in Marion, IN, and I can honestly say it was one of…read morethe best customer service experiences I've ever had. Jessica, who administered my driving test, was incredibly friendly, understanding, and professional. Even when we ran into some issues with my international documents (as I'm new to the country), she went above and beyond to help me through the process and made sure everything worked out. Her calm and kind demeanor made a stressful moment feel manageable. Although this BMV location is about 1 hour and 30 minutes from where I live, I'm truly glad I chose to take my test here. Thank you so much, Jessica -- you made a big difference and you deserve the best!