“When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck.” We know you’ve heard that saying before. Did you know that is a quote from James Whitcomb Riley, know as The Hoosier Poet? Riley was born in 1849 in Greenfield, Indiana. His home is preserved and is open for tours.
Riley’s birthplace in Greenfield
Front door signage
Riley was noted for his down home use of dialect that epitomized rural Indiana. He first wrote under a pen name (farmer Benj. F. Johnson, of Boone) for newspapers in Anderson and Indianapolis. As a boy Riley worked as an assistant to traveling patent-medicine hucksters.
Historic Marker outside the home
Riley is famous for his remarkable volume of poems. He wrote and published over 1000 verses. His most popular are “Little Orphant Annie”, “The Raggedy Man,” “Our Hired Girl,” “A Barefoot Boy,” “The Bumblebee,” “Granny,” and “When the Frost Is on the Punkin.” Many of his poems were aimed at children as well as adults.
Have a seat with Mr. Riley, he might share a poem with you!
Riley’s birthplace and the next door museum provide an most enjoyable attraction in Greenfield. Located on the historic National Road (US 40) the home is east of Indianapolis.
Roadtirement 
There are lots of interesting places to visit in Indiana and you have shown us many of them. Thanks for posting.
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👍😀
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Such a neat place and history! Thanks for the tour. ❤️
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Glad to share, John. Whitcomb is an Indiana treasure.
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Hey
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Pingback: James Whitcomb Riley, The Hoosier Poet – Tonya LaLonde
But that duck could be a Cormorant! Cool place and history.
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Yes, s’pose it could be, now that you mention it…
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Wow!!!
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Thanks!
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I love that old houses had such great porches. Sounds like you had a great time exploring.
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Porches are pretty much a lost art in housing these days it seems. Such a shame as sitting in the swing on the porch is the best. Thanks for sharing. 😀
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I didn’t know. Thanks very much for this, Maj
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I think you would enjoy Riley’s work, Derrick.
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I’ve shared this on Facebook, I thinks it ‘s so interesting.
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We very much appreciate you sharing our post. Thank you so much. 👍😀
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My mother renovated and lived in an old home in Lockerbie Square, the neighborhood Riley lived in in Indy.
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Very nice! Lockerbie Square is one of Indy’s treasures. Do you still have the house in the family?
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Lockerbie was one of the fist neighborhoods in Indy to go through the renovation boom. She bought the home in 1974 and sold it sometime around the early 90s I believe. She was one of the first to get into renovating the old, run-down homes in the neighborhood. She didn’t have a lot of money but did the best with her own hands and the money she had.
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Your mother should be commended for that important restoration. Thanks for sharing her story.
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