6 One-of-a-Kind Small Towns in Indiana
The Midwestern state of Indiana hides many quirky communities, natural gems, and historic places that you can't find anywhere else in the U.S. By going for a drive or hike in some of Indiana's best towns, you can encounter the remains of two utopian communities, a holiday-themed historic town, majestic dunes along the shores of Lake Michigan, and one of the largest historic districts in the U.S.
Read on to learn more about these six one-of-a-kind small towns in Indiana.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is often considered one of the quirkiest towns in the United States. According to local legend, townsfolk chose the name Santa Claus during a meeting at the town church, when children thought they heard the bells of Santa Claus’ sleigh just outside the doors. The town has equal parts historic destinations and modern attractions. The Santa Claus Museum & Village preserves the town’s oldest buildings, from the 1880 church to an 1856 post office that accepts letters from Santa, along with a large statue of St. Nick.
In nearby Lincoln City, visitors can see where Abraham Lincoln spent his boyhood years at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. Right next to this site is Lincoln State Park, which has 10 miles of trails and two lakes. The area is also home to the Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari theme park, known for its wooden roller coasters, water rides, and amenities such as soft drinks and sunscreen.
Madison
With the longest contiguous historic district in Indiana, the Ohio River town of Madison is a popular destination for history buffs in the Midwest. Many of these buildings are open for tours or visits, including the Greek Revival Lanier Mansion State Historic Site and its surrounding garden, the 1848 Eleutherian College in Lancaster, founded by anti-slavery Baptists, and the Madison Railroad Station Museum, which features several exhibits and artifacts related to the region’s railroad history.
Madison is not only known for its historic places. It also has natural landscapes found elsewhere in Indiana, including limestone cliffs and waterfalls at Clifty Falls State Park. Visitors can see all four waterfalls by taking on the 4 Falls Challenge. The trail can be rugged.
Shipshewana
Shipshewana isn’t just special for its attractions but also for its community. This tight-knit rural village is home to one of the largest Amish populations in the United States. Visitors can learn about Amish and Mennonite history at the Menno-Hof Amish & Mennonite Information Center, housed in a red barn with multimedia exhibits and replica settings such as a 17th-century sailing ship and a 19th-century print shop, meeting house, and Amish home.
Visitors can also try classic Amish cooking at the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery. Shipshewana hosts the largest flea market in the Midwest at the Shipshewana Flea Market, offering handmade goods, antiques, and regional food. To explore the surrounding countryside, visitors can hike or bike the 17-mile Pumpkinvine Trail.
Vincennes
If you want to understand Indiana’s earliest role in American expansion, Vincennes is the place to go. Founded in 1732 by French fur traders, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the state and later served as the capital of the Indiana Territory (1800-1813), making it an early center of frontier governance in the Midwest. That history left Vincennes with some of Indiana’s oldest surviving structures, including the 1805 Territory Capitol Building and the 1801 Jefferson Academy, predecessor of Vincennes University, Indiana’s oldest public institution of higher learning.
New Harmony
In America, many people came not just for a new life but to establish a perfect society. New Harmony was founded by such a group, called the Harmonists. They were here from 1814 to 1825 with the aim of creating a Christian community based on shared values. They later sold the town to the Owenists, who pursued their own vision of an idyllic socialist commune. The residents of New Harmony have preserved many structures and outdoor spaces from these periods, including the reconstructed Harmonist Labyrinth, a privet hedge maze intended to encourage meditation and contemplation, and Community House No. 2, where residents lived and ate together.
The town has also created spaces inspired by New Harmony’s utopian legacy, including the Roofless Church and the open-air JBO Sanctuary, which features several religiously inspired sculptures. Just outside town is Harmonie State Park, with trails and fishing spots along the Wabash River.
Porter
Although not as well known as Michigan, Indiana is a Great Lakes state, with its northwestern border along the shores of Lake Michigan. Porter has some of the most distinctive places to see along the lake, including Indiana Dunes National Park. These sandy ridges were once the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Dunes formed over 10,000 years ago as lake levels shifted after glacial retreat, leaving behind a landscape of swamps, dunes, and forests. Determined hikers can climb the three tallest dunes at Indiana Dunes State Park by completing the 3 Dune Challenges.
The area includes other notable sites, such as the 1933 World’s Fair Century of Progress Homes. These houses were displayed at the fair as examples of future-focused architecture, giving them a vintage, forward-looking style. North of the dunes, visitors can spend time at several lakeside beaches, including Porter Beach and Dunbar Beach.
Shared Landscapes and Living History
What sets these towns apart is the variety of spaces that reflect Indiana’s history and landscape. In Santa Claus, visitors can step into a Christmas-themed village while also learning about how Abraham Lincoln grew up and developed values that carried him into the Civil War era. In New Harmony, visitors can experience a quieter setting shaped by mazes and open-air spiritual spaces. In Porter, visitors can learn about natural history by climbing the former shoreline of Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes National Park. These shared experiences help explain why each town stands out in its own way.
