Podcast – Sir Humphrey Gilbert And His Ill Fated Attempt To Settle Newfoundland

Sir Humphrey Gilbert Ill-fated Attempt To Settle Newfoundland
Native to Devon, England, Sir Humphrey Gilbert attended Oxford where he received training in the military and navigational arts. He joined the British military and served at the siege of Le Havre on the French coast where he was wounded. He and Sir Walter Raleigh were half brothers. Continue reading Podcast – Sir Humphrey Gilbert And His Ill Fated Attempt To Settle Newfoundland

Podcast – Coronado’s Search For The 7 Cities Of Gold

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado’s fleet departed San Miguel de Culiacán on their quest to explore what the area of the Colorado River on April 22, 1540. Hernando de Alarcón would depart by ship in May. The plan was for Alarcón to find the mouth of the Colorado River, sail up it and rendezvous with Coronado’s overland expedition. Continue reading Podcast – Coronado’s Search For The 7 Cities Of Gold

Podcast – Versailles State Park

Versailles State Park, located east of Versailles Indiana on US Route 50 is Indiana’s second largest state park. It includes 5905 acres, the 230-acre Versailles Lake, a public swimming pool and one of the finest campgrounds in the Indiana State Park system. The northern area of the park features an extensive Mountain Bike trail system. Horse trails occupy the southern reaches. Continue reading Podcast – Versailles State Park

The Ladders Trail at Turkey Run State Park

Suspension Bridge
The Suspension Bridge crosses Sugar Creek, connecting Trail 1 on the south side with Trails 3 and 4 on the north side. Completed in 1918 the bridge was constructed by the Lafayette Engineering Company. It replaced an earlier suspension bridge built on the site. The bridge is 202 feet long. Steel cables support the 4-foot-wide deck as they carry foot traffic across Sugar Creek. The 70 Steps Concrete staircase to the bridge was built in 1921. The cables are anchored in a fifty-ton concrete base. Continue reading The Ladders Trail at Turkey Run State Park

Versailles State Park

Versailles State Park is a prime destination for those that enjoy mountain biking, hiking, camping and picnicking. Over 30 miles of mountain bike trails that double as hiking trails and 6 miles of dedicated hiking trails, those seeking a nature adventure will find a mecca of enjoyment. The 226-site electric campground offers a wonderful, relaxing way to spend time in the great outdoors.
The book Versailles State Park book also serves as a tourism guide for Ripley County, Indiana as it includes an extensive listing of local attractions like museums, movie theaters, golf courses and many other fun day trip ideas. Continue reading Versailles State Park

Sample Chapter – A History of Switzerland County

The Indiana Territorial Assembly created Switzerland County two years before Indiana became a state in 1814. The legislature named the county for the native land of many of its early inhabitants, Switzerland. The first commercial wineries in the United States were located here, and the county considers itself the birthplace of commercial winemaking in America. Residents celebrate this heritage yearly during the Swiss Wine Festival in late August. Continue reading Sample Chapter – A History of Switzerland County

The Lenape Tribe in Indiana

The Lenape, or Delaware, Indian tribe was native to the Eastern Seaboard, however pressure from European settlement forced them west, first to Ohio and then to Indiana. On the eve of the War of 1812 the tribe occupied several villages along the White River what would become the East Central region of the State of Indiana. They had migrated into the area in the mid 1790’s and would remain until about 1818 when they were forced further west. The Lenape Tribe in Indiana relates their history, mythology, lifestyle as well as the chiefs that lived in Indiana during this time. Continue reading The Lenape Tribe in Indiana