11 Most Peaceful Small Towns In Indiana
Indiana is called the crossroads of America due to the sheer number of highways that go through the state. Despite this, the state has its fair share of peaceful places, free from the loud noises of modern life, with gentler attractions designed to soothe the mind and body (along with a few thrilling ones for the more adventurous).
By visiting these peaceful small towns, one can see old utopian communities, one of the largest historic districts in the state, the shoreline of Lake Michigan, a world-famous hotel, and even the boyhood home of Abraham Lincoln.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is one of the most peaceful and quirkiest towns, not just in Indiana but in the entire US. A local legend goes that the town's residents were gathered in the local church around Christmas, trying to decide on a name, when children began yelling that they heard Santa's sleighbells just outside, and so they chose the name Santa Claus. Whether the story is true or not, Santa Claus wears its holiday spirit on its sleeve from its historic Santa Claus Village & Museum, where children can write Santa a letter at the post office, to the Santa Claus Christmas Store and beyond.
Its most famous attraction is Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, an amusement park that has a more traditional style with wooden roller coasters and free soft drinks. The area around Santa Claus was influential in the life of Abraham Lincoln as he spent his boyhood years in what is now the nearby community of Lincoln City. Residents and visitors alike can learn about his life at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.
New Harmony
This town is one of Indiana's best-kept secrets. New Harmony was founded in 1814 when a group of German religious separatists called the Harmony Society settled here to set up a religious utopia. Ten years later, they sold the town to Robert Owen, who set out to create a community built on science, reason, and equality.
While visiting New Harmony, one can see remnants of these communities everywhere, from the privet hedge of the Harmonist Labryinth to the New Harmony Community House No. 2, which housed residents during the early 1800s. Descendants of those pioneers have tried to create their own serene spaces as well, ranging from the Roofless Church to the Jane Blaffer Owen Sanctuary, an open-air garden filled with expertly crafted sculptures.
New Albany
Many of Indiana's oldest towns are located in the southern part of the state along the Ohio River. New Albany is one of those towns. It was founded in 1813 by the Scribner brothers from New York, three years prior to Indiana becoming a state. The 1814 Scribner House is still standing in town, a modest structure built by Joel Scribner. There are also more grand structures in New Albany to see, like the Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site, an 1869 Second Empire Style mansion that today hosts murder-mystery parties, tours, and a haunted house, and the 1852 Town Clock Church, which would serve as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Beyond these historic sites, visitors can enjoy a walk on the paved Ohio River Greenway Trail, stretching for 7 miles to Jeffersonville, or enjoy a local brew and pizza at the New Albanian Brewing Company.
Vincennes
Founded in 1732 by French explorers, Vincennes is the oldest founded town in Indiana by a wide margin. Within its borders, one can discover a fun mixture of historic places and unique museums. One of its most well-known attractions is the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, the site of the largest monument west of Washington, DC. It also has some of the oldest buildings in Indiana, such as the Original Territory Capitol Building, a red brick two-story home that housed the Northwest Territory legislature from 1805 to 1813, and the 1801 Jefferson Academy, the first institution of higher learning in Indiana.
For museums, one can learn about Hoosier military history at the Indiana Military Museum or enjoy a laugh at the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy, a world-class entertainer who lived from 1913 to 1997.
Porter
Although not as well known as a Great Lakes state, Indiana does share a border with Lake Michigan and also hides one of the best-kept secrets of the Great Lakes: the Indiana Dunes State Park, near the cute town of Porter. This peaceful park has 2,182 acres of land that used to be a part of Lake Michigan before the water receded, leaving behind a rich landscape of dunes and wetlands. Right next to the state park is the larger Indiana Dunes National Park, with trails for all skills and interests, such as the Calumet Dunes Trail up the Calumet Dunes ridge or the Cowles Bog Trail running through black oak savannahs, ponds, and marshlands.
Visitors can also hit up Lake Michigan itself at Porter Beach within the town. Another lesser-known attraction here is the adorable 1933 Chicago World's Fair Century of Progress Homes, which were displayed at the fair as an example of futuristic designs that today have a quaint historic charm.
Marshall
Marshall isn't a particularly well-known town in Indiana or the Midwest in general, but it is the home of one of the best parks in the entire region: Turkey Run State Park. This park has trails that will challenge even the most seasoned hiker with its sandstone ravines and canyons. The most challenging hike is the 5 Mile Challenge, which will see hikers go through three canyons, across a suspension bridge, and even climb a ladder.
There are many ways to experience Turkey Run, such as renting a horse at Saddle Barn, viewing the planetarium within the Nature Center, taking a boat ride, fishing at Sugar Creek, or seeing a unique historic site at the Richard Lieber Log Cabin. Originally built in 1848, it is named after Richard Lieber, the father of the Indiana park system.
Shipshewana
Shipshewana is a peaceful rural community with one of the largest Amish communities in the US. It prides itself on this heritage at places such as Menno-Hof center, which houses a 17th-century boat that the Anabaptist forefathers of the Amish traveled on, an Amish-style home, and more. Visitors can get the full Amish experience by renting a buggy tour around town, such as Buggy Lane Tours, or by enjoying a home-cooked meal at the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery. Shipshewana also has one of the best hiking trails in Indiana via the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, a 17-mile paved trail that goes by several communities, Amish farms, and restaurants.
Winona Lake
If you are not up for a visit to the Great Lakes, you can also visit one of the many cute lake towns in Indiana, such as Winona Lake. Water activities are central to this community, as you can see folks taking boats right through the downtown area on the creeks that feed the lake. To visit the lake itself, the Winona Lake Limitless Park and Splash Pad is ideal, as it contains a playground, splash park, and beach. Cyclists can hit the trails at Winona Lake Trails, while hikers can explore The Heritage Trail, a part of the larger Lake City Greenway that features many charming sculptures echoing Biblical themes and the town's history. Visitors can also see the home of a world-famous traveling preacher at the Billy Sunday Home Museum.
Madison
Madison has one of the largest historic districts in the United States that was built over the 1800s during its heyday as an Ohio River steamboat stop. In fact, the town's district has been called an outdoor museum since many of its historic structures are open to the public. These buildings served many different purposes, from antislavery gathering places to manufacturing facilities. For example, there is the Historic Eleutherian College, a gathering place for Neil's Creek Anti Slavery Society, and the Schroeder Saddletree Factory Museum, which made parts for saddles in the 19th century.
The most luxurious building in Madison's historic district is the 1844 Greek Revival Lanier Mansion State Historic Site, which is open all year. By visiting the nearby Hanover College, visitors can view The Point, the only place one can see the three bends of the Ohio River.
French Lick
Most hotels are just places to stay, but in French Lick, the hotels are an experience in and of themselves. French Lick was put on the map when mineral water was discovered here, which was renowned for its curative properties. As a result, the town turned into a major resort spot, and several hotels were set up to accommodate the guests. One of these hotels, the West Baden Springs Hotel, used to be a wonder of the world with its 200-foot dome being the largest dome in the world from 1902 to 1913.
Nearby to this grand hotel are many fun experiences, ranging from Shotz Miniatures Golf and Lazer Tag to French Lick-West Baden Indoor Karting and the French Lick Scenic Railway, moving through the Hoosier National Forest. Over the years, French Lick has been the home to notorious gangsters and basketball legends like Larry Bird. You can learn about these residents and the history of French Lick at the French Lick West Baden Museum.
Nashville
Despite the name, Nashville, Indiana, has much more in common with the hilly landscape of Eastern Tennessee than it does with the capital of Tennessee. Folks commonly call it the little smokies due to its resemblance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, especially at the Brown County State Park. This park has several scenic overlooks and cliffs to traverse across its many trails, and it contains a historic 90-foot fire tower. Other than hiking, one can go on guided horse rides or see an endangered Yellowwood Tree at Yellowwood State Forest. Nashville has a cute downtown area as well, filled to the brim with art galleries like the Brown County Art Gallery and local businesses such as Abe's Too Cute Corner Boutique.
These towns are a peaceful getaway for those passing through Indiana or looking to put down roots. With their small populations, rich natural landscapes, fascinating history, and fun attractions, they create a pleasant, relaxing vibe. While they are peaceful, they are certainly not boring, as one could spend an entire day on rides at Holiday World in Santa Claus, exploring the trails of Porter or Marshall, going for a buggy ride in Shipshewana, or visiting the museums at Madison. Consider adding these peaceful towns as stops on your next road trip through Indiana.
