Indiana attractions
Unique metal 1890’s tombstone appears new
Usually a tombstone from the 1890’s shows a fair amount of weathering, often to the point making it hard to read. We spotted a family plot at the Rushville, Indiana East City Cemetery with a marker date of 1896 that looked nearly new.
These monuments were all custom made from 1876 to 1914. Sold as “White Bronze” they were actually made of a zinc-tin alloy. Cast in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the parts were shipped to the cemetery for assembly. Click here for our post detailing the history of these unique monuments.
Indiana prepares for the total solar eclipse
Central Indiana is fortunate to be directly on the route of the long awaited total solar eclipse. Small town Shelbyville is pulling out all the stops in preparation for this exciting event.
On the town square
Announcing the eclipse
Downtown store front decorations
Statewide excitement about the eclipse
Shelbyville is directly in the perfect viewing path of the eclipse. Hopefully the skies will be clear on April 8th. If not, you will have to wait until 2044 for the next eclipse viewing!
Exciting “Wheel of Death” at the Cirque Italia
Another Circus video
Batesville’s Bison-tennial statue
Indiana’s Bicentennial was celebrated in 2016. As part of the celebration, fiberglass statues of bison were made available to each of Indiana’s counties. Local artists decorated them with themes and scenes of the local area and features. We have seen several of these during our travels around the state, and our trip to Batesville today was no different.
We found the familiar shape of one of 92 Indiana county’s bison statues in front of the Batesville City Admin and Police Department Building. “Braun” sure makes a striking appearance on this admin office lawn!
Greenwood Indiana Civil War vets cemetery section
It was sunny and cold today, but still a nice day for a short trip. we found ourselves t a large city cemetery in Greenwood, Indiana. We saw short wall, behind which were a couple of cannons.
Old Glory in the breeze
Great ID Plaque
It became obvious that this was the location of the Civil War Veteran’s cemetery, complete with a prominent flagpole.
A beautiful, serene setting
An interesting touch for this section
Rest in Peace
Know that Veteran’s Sections in cemeteries should always be considered sacred ground.
Pioneer graves in Greenwood, Indiana Cemetery
Pioneers who were first buried in the Presbyterian and Baptist Cemeteries were reburied in this plot. This info is from the plaque, photo below, that is onsite at the Greenwood Cemetery in Greenwood, Indiana.
We found this as we were in the cemetery looking at interesting grave markers.
Very interesting and it is so nice knowing the graves were moved and not forgotten.
Thomas A. Hardman covered bridge
Wendall Willkie, Rushville’s pride and joy
Rushville, Indiana is a typical Midwestern small town. It became home for one of the Hoosier state’s accomplished politician, Wendall Willkie. Willkie, born in 1892, was a successful lawyer, businessman and ran for President of the United States against Franklin Roosevelt in 1940.
Willkie changed his party registration to Republican in 1939, however he did lose to FDR in the election. After the election, as Roosevelt’s informal envoy, he made two foreign trips during the height of WWII. Willkie died in 1944 while he was considering forming a new political party with Roosevelt.
Willkie Family Plot
A nice remembrance plaque
Rush County Courthouse
Wendell Willkie was loved by many, and his Presidential run in 1940 was organized and executed in Rushville in what was then the Durbin Hotel and Restaurant. He and his family are buried in the large Rushville cemetery.
Same brewery, same craft beer, different location
We were in Indianapolis a couple of days ago and went to a craft brewery to fill a growler with one of our favorite craft beers. A growler is a 64 ounce brown glass jug utilized by most craft beer breweries to allow patrons to have a carry-out on tap beer. Typically the brewery name/logo is on the bottle, and they will fill growlers other than their own. We brought our own with us.
The entrance
Seating, bar in back right
Craft beer taps and menu board
Anyway, we had recently visited the Bier Brewery establishment in Carmel, Indiana, about a half hour north of where we were. There Sher found a beer that we both really enjoyed. We had looked up other Indy Craft Pass members, and found another Bier Brewery location nearby.
Poster with our beer!
The 64 oz growler we got in Texas
The Bier Brewery was on the end of a strip mall, and was not very large at all. The small cozy space looked and felt like a great neighborhood bar. There were a handful of folks enjoying he place when we went in. The bartender was super, and even gave Sher a free Bier Brewing glass with the purchase of the growler fill. A short, but fun, beer buying stop.
Roadtirement 