Podcast – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 April 15, 1865)
The son of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, Abraham was native to Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky. Continue reading Podcast – Abraham Lincoln
Tag: travel
Podcast – Harmonie State Park
Located on the banks of the Wabash River, the 3,465 acre park features hiking, camping and picnicing in a serene setting a few miles from historic New Harmony. The varied landscape of Harmonie transforms from the flat Wabash River floodplains to the hilly terrain of the campground. Harmonie offers fantastic views of Indiana’s storied river, the Wabash. Sunsets can be spectacular from the Wabash River Picnic Area as the sun sets over the river. Picnicers can choose from seven other picnic areas scattered around the park. Its location about half an hours drive from Evansville and a few minutes south of Historic New Harmony make it an ideal spot from which to explore southeast Indiana. Continue reading Podcast – Harmonie State Park
Podcast – Hovey Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area – Mount Vernon
Native tribes ceded the area to the United States in the Treaties of Vincennes 1803 and Fort Wayne in 1809. This area at the junction of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers was mainly wetland not suitable for farming and received the designation as swampland. The Wabash and Erie Canal Company received the land as a grant from the Congress on March 2, 1827. The canal company failed. A man named Charles J. Hovey received ownership of the land in the 1880’s. Continue reading Podcast – Hovey Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area – Mount Vernon
Working Men’s Institute Museum & Library
Philanthropist William Maclure established the Institute in 1838. The Working Men’s Institute inhabited a wing in the Harmonist Church until 1894. In that year, it moved to this impressive building three-story structure on Tavern Street. The Institute at one time comprised 144 Institutes in Indiana and additional sixteen in Illinois at its height. The Working Men’s Institute has dwindled to this location. This is the oldest continuously operating library in Indiana. Continue reading Working Men’s Institute Museum & Library
Podcast – Roofless Church in New Harmony, Indiana
Jane Blaffer Owen (April 1915 – June 21, 2010)
The daughter of Robert Lee and Sarah “Sadie” Campbell Blaffer, Jane was native to Houston, Harris County, Texas. Her father was the founder of Humble Oil Company, which later became Exxon. She attended The Kinkaid School in Margaret Kinkaid’s home, which is a college prepatory school for children K – 12. She attended high school at Ethel Walker School in Connecticut, graduating in 1933. She later attended Bryn Mawr College and the Union Theological Seminary in New York. She married Kenneth Owen, who was a descendent of Indiana philosopher, manufacturer and social reformer Robert Owen. The couple would have 2 children. Kenneth was from the small Indiana town of New Harmony. Continue reading Podcast – Roofless Church in New Harmony, Indiana
Podcast – Harmonist’s Labyrinth at New Harmony, Indiana
Johann Georg Rapp founded the group that would become the Harmony Society in Iptingen, Germany, in 1785. The Lutheran Church persecuted the members, so they migrated to the United States. They purchased land in Butler County, Pennsylvannia on February 15, 1805. They formed the Harmony Society and placed all of their possessions in common. Continue reading Podcast – Harmonist’s Labyrinth at New Harmony, Indiana
The Cathedral Labyrinth at New Harmony
The Cathedral Labyrinth at New Harmony, Indiana
Visitors will find both a labyrinth and a maze in New Harmony. Though many think they are the same thing, there is a difference in the two. A labyrinth has one winding path leading to the center of the structure while a maze has many paths, some of which are dead ends.
Today I will talk about labyrinths, next week it will be mazes.
Walking on a labyrinth symbolizes a spiritural journey or a quest for self-discovery. It is meant as a sort of walking meditation. Continue reading The Cathedral Labyrinth at New Harmony
Podcast – David Lenz House and Garden
Visitors will find the David Lenz House and Garden on North Street. The house is closed to the public, unless you take a guided tour, but the gardens are open to browse. Construction of the house occurred around 1819 by David Lenz. Continue reading Podcast – David Lenz House and Garden
Podcast – Visiting Posey County, Indiana
County officials first met at the home Absalom Duckworth in the village of Blackford. They moved the county seat to Springfield in 1817. Mount Vernon became the county seat in 1825, where they constructed a small brick courthouse. The current courthouse was built in 1874. The three story Italianate style architecture building features red brickwork with details of Bedford limestone. Continue reading Podcast – Visiting Posey County, Indiana
Podcast – USS Vincennes Monument
Located in Vincennes, Indiana, the USS Vincennes Monument is a granite monument located near the Old Cathedral near the intersection of Main and First Streets. T Continue reading Podcast – USS Vincennes Monument
A Sampling of Indiana Auto Trails
What could be more fun than a cross-country road trip across Indiana? Discover Indiana’s covered bridges, wineries, caves and much more by taking one of the auto tours listed in this guidebook. The book lists over thirty Indiana road trips for Hoosiers to take while they learn the history, culture, arts and natural wonders of the Hoosier State. Fun Indiana Road Trips includes a description of the Auto Trail, contact information, Indiana county tourism sites and a guide to navigating Indiana’s system of back roads. Continue reading A Sampling of Indiana Auto Trails
Podcast – The John Hunt Morgan Trail
On July 8, 1863, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan crossed the Ohio River at Brandenburg, Kentucky and invaded Indiana. His army consisted of two thousand cavalrymen and a couple of cannons. His purpose was to divert Union General Ambrose Burnside’s Army of the Ohio in eastern Tennessee and make them come north. Continue reading Podcast – The John Hunt Morgan Trail
Podcast – Eli Stout Print Shop
Located near the Red House, the last building on the tour is the Eli Stout Print Shop. Mr. Stout served as the printer for the Indiana Territory. He received $500 per year to print the laws passed by the Territorial Assembly. The building originally stood on Second Street before the State moved it to this location. The shop has a printing press similar to the one Stout used. A fire in the print shop destroyed his press. The shop also has a replica newspaper of one he printed, type cases and other tools used by printers of that era. Continue reading Podcast – Eli Stout Print Shop
Vincennes State Historic Sites
The buildings in the State Historic Site include a log barn that serves as a visitor center, a schoolhouse, the old Territorial Capitol and the Eli Stout Print Shop. The State of Indiana has moved all the buildings here from other locations and all are Indiana State Historic Sites. The tour costs a nominal fee and includes all four buildings. It will take about half an hour and is well worth the investment Continue reading Vincennes State Historic Sites
Vincennes Old Cathedral
The Old Cathedral near the Wabash River in Vincennes, Indiana is an inspiring place to visit. The church is open to visitors during the daylight hours. Take care not to visit the church during Mass, as it is an active Catholic Church. The staff does offer guided tours, however, visitors may elect to tour on their own and that is what we did. Continue reading Vincennes Old Cathedral
Sample Chapter – Fun Indiana Road Trips
The Nature Trail Head
The Violet and Louis Calli Nature Preserve consists of 180 acres. The trailhead for the self-guiding trail is adjacent to the parking lot on the same side of the road. The trail is just a bit over two miles long. There is a brochure available in a box at the trailhead that describes 18 stations along the course of the trail. There is also a notepad for you to register, just for fun. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Fun Indiana Road Trips
Fort Knox II
Vincennes was the site of five forts during the colonial, revolutionary and post revolutionary periods of United States history. The French built a fort, Fort Vincennes, in 1731-1732. The French held Vincennes until the end of the French and Indian War. The French surrendered the fort and most of their North American possession at the conclusion of the war, in 1764. Continue reading Fort Knox II
Fun Indiana Road Trips
What could be more fun than a cross country road trip across Indiana? Discover Indiana’s covered bridges, wineries, caves and much more by taking one of the auto tours listed in this travel guide book. The book lists dozens of Indiana road trips for Hoosiers to take while they learn the history, culture, arts and natural wonders of the Hoosier State. Fun Indiana Road Trips includes a description of the Auto Trail, contact information, Indiana county tourism sites and a guide to navigating Indiana’s system of back roads. Continue reading Fun Indiana Road Trips
Podcast – The Mary Clark Decision Ended Slavery in Indiana
The French brought slavery with them when they settled the area that is now Indiana in the early 1700’s. When the British took control after the French and Indian War, the practice continued. At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, there were slaveholders in the area. Continue reading Podcast – The Mary Clark Decision Ended Slavery in Indiana
Happy Birthday, Ripley County
I will start at the county seat, Versailles. Platted in 1819 by Mr. John Ritchie. It was not the first county seat, that honor is reserved for New Marion, which had the first court session in 1818. The court moved to Versailles shortly after and has remained there ever since. Continue reading Happy Birthday, Ripley County
Mossy Feet Books - Author Paul R. Wonning 