These 10 Towns In Indiana Have The Best Main Streets
Known as the crossroads of America for its abundance of interstates, Indiana is a great place for a road trip. But while you're on the road, you'll want to pull off to see some of its small town main streets, as these are delightful to stroll through. In these small towns, you can find the largest historic district in the Midwest, tour the original state capital, take a buggy ride through an Amish main road, and buy quirky trinkets from an artisan colony. These main streets also have hidden gems you won't find in big cities, such as serene outdoor labyrinths crafted by religious communities to bring comfort to the soul. These ten towns in Indiana have the best main streets.
Madison
Madison is renowned across the Midwest for having the largest continuous historic district in Indiana, which developed over its history as a steamboat town on the Ohio River. By strolling its Main Street and connected downtown area, you will feel like you've stepped into a massive museum. See the bronze Broadway Fountain, a replica of a 19th-century fountain displayed at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, or take a tour of the crown jewel of Madison: the Greek Revival Lanier Mansion. Also in the historic district is the rare Schoerder Saddletree Factory Museum, which made parts for horse saddles in the 19th century, and the 1848 Eleutertherian College, a center for anti-slavery activity in the Midwest. If you worked up an appetite walking through downtown Madison, try a sandwich from Hinkle's Sandwich Shop.
Angola
Situated in one of Indiana's largest concentrations of lakes, Angola is a popular destination for Hoosiers looking to spend a "day on the lake." By going downtown, you can find one of the best Main Street town squares in Indiana. Right at the center of the square is the Steuben County Soldiers' Monument, raised in 1917 to honor Civil War veterans with bronze plaques naming the 1,278 men who served the Union cause. By circling around the square, you can find a bicycle store at Bike and Soul, along with top-rated restaurants such as The Venue or Sutton's Deli. After exploring the town center, you'll want to spend some time at Lake James in the Pokagon State Park. This park has the only refrigerated toboggan course in Indiana, which operates in the winter.
New Albany
This Ohio River town is just a short drive away from Louisville, Kentucky, but is definitely worth the visit just for its Main Street alone. New Albany's long Main Street is right by the river and has several historic places to see and a great riverside walking trail. The Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site sits within the Mansion Row section of Main Street. This magnificent 1867 Second Empire-style mansion has 25 rooms with hand-painted frescoed ceilings. Also on Main Street is the more humble Scribner House, an 1814 building that was set up by the founders of New Albany. Right off Main Street is the picturesque Ohio River Greenway, a seven-mile paved trail that runs to the nearby communities of Jeffersonville and Clarksville and includes wooded trails through wetlands. Lastly, don't forget to try out the rich Main Street food scene like The Exchange Pub + Kitchen.
Corydon
Corydon has one of the most historic Main Streets in Indiana. When Indiana became a state in 1816, Corydon was selected as the capital. However, by 1825, state officials decided to move the capital further north to Indianapolis. They left behind several buildings in Corydon's Main Street, such as the Corydon State Historic Site, a federal limestone building that was built in 1816. In addition to this structure, visitors can also explore the Federal-style brick house that served as Governor Hendricks' Headquarters, and the Constitution Elm Stump, the remains of the tree where the first Indiana state constitution was signed. Next to these heritage sites, you can also enjoy the local art scene at the Harrison County Arts Studio and the Zimmerman Art Glass Studio.
Aurora
This adorable Ohio River town’s name means Dawn in Latin. This reflects the town's spirit, especially on its small, walkable Main Street. At the southern end of Main Street, you can tour Hillforest House Museum. It was built in 1855 by Isaiah Rogers, a man known as the father of the modern hotel, for local industrialist Thomas Gaff. This Italianate home is filled with authentic Victorian toys, clothing, and furniture. Making your way up north along Main Street are several restaurants and locally owned businesses, such as Third and Main Restaurant for American fare or Alejandra's Authentic Mexican Restaurant. By going off some of the side roads, you can get a new book to read from the Spire Book & Coffee Co. or see town memorabilia at the Aurora High School Museum.
New Harmony
New Harmony has the most fascinating history of any Hoosier community. The Harmonist Society founded this place in 1814 to create a Christian utopia ahead of the end of the world. Within ten years, they sold the land to Robert Owen, who established his own vision of an ideal society upon the land, this time in the name of equality, fraternity, and progressive values. Whether these values succeeded or failed is up to the individual, but what cannot be denied is the beauty they left behind on the town's main strip. At the southern end of Main Street is the Harmonist Labyrinth, a privet hedge maze with a stone structure at the center. North of it are several sites of historic importance, from the Home of David Dale Owen to the Rapp-Owen Granary. If you explore outside of Main Street, you can also find more modern utopian spaces like the Roofless Church, a cathedral with the open air as its roof.
Jasper
Jasper's rich German Catholic heritage makes it a highly cultured town that's fond of a good festival, riverside stroll, and magnificent monasteries. From the end of July to the beginning of August, it holds the Strassenfest, a German festival with kid rides, runs, booths selling German food, and more German-themed attractions. In May, downtown Jasper has the JCAC Chalk Walk Art Festival, where folks decorate the ground around the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center off of Third Avenue with chalk art creations. On Main Street itself, you can catch a show at the Astra Theater or find your next read at The Next Chapter bookstore. For other activities in town, you can enjoy a stroll by the Patoka River at the Jasper Riverwalk, or you can drive out to Ferdinand to see the gorgeous Monastery of Immaculate Conception run by the Sisters of St. Benedict. This monastery is commonly referred to as a castle on the hill, and it contains the only monastic brewery in America: St. Benedict's Brew Works.
Shipshewana
Some of the best treasures are found in the most unlikely of places. The tiny town of Shipshewana has a large Amish community, which might lead one to believe there's not a lot to see here. In reality, Shipshewana has a remarkable Main Street, which you can walk on foot or take an Amish buggy tour via Buggy Lane Tours. On this main drag, there are several Amish-themed attractions, such as the Menno Hof interpretive center, housed within a red barn that has exhibits on Mennonite boats, homes, and their way of life. You can try out delicious Amish meals at the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery or find a treasure at the largest flea market in the Midwest: the Shipshewana Flea Market. Lastly, you can traverse outside of town on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, a 17-mile paved experience winding through the Indiana countryside.
Rockville
Rockville is a Hoosier town that believes deeply in preserving old architecture. That's why it has the largest concentration of covered bridges in the world, with over 30 throughout larger Parke County. These bridges often decay quickly due to water and sunlight, making this a great accomplishment for the town. Each October, the town's Main Street throws the massive Covered Bridge Festival, offering maps of all the covered bridges in the area, arts, crafts, and displays, especially at the Covered Bridge Art Gallery and the Parke County Historical Society Museum. Right off the main strip is a very quirky inn called the Old Jail Inn in Parke County. It used to be a jail; now it's a hotel where you can dress up in prisoner’s garb and chat with the "jailer" while staying in a comfortable cell. For antique hunters, Rockville's main road is fantastic, as you can find vintage treasures at places like Antiques on York.
Nashville
Nashville is often considered one of the most underrated towns in the Midwest, as its hilly landscape defies the stereotype of the Midwest as flat. The Brown County State Park is one of the most visited places in Nashville, with its hills, lakes, and rare Yellowwood Trees providing great hiking views. Its Main Street has a mountain town vibe with an abundance of art galleries, cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. Visitors can see artwork inspired by Brown County's landscapes at the Brown County Art Gallery, grab a cinnamon roll from OoeyGooey Cinnamon Rolls and Cafe, or catch a show at the Brown County Playhouse located on a side street off of Main Street. Nashville's Main Street thrives on cozy boutiques like Foxfire Boutique for women's clothing and Sweet Cozy Living for spiritual gifts and accessories.
These Small Towns Have Fascinating History And Heritage
What sets these towns' main streets apart is their fascinating history and heritage. Jasper and Shipshewana celebrate their German and Amish heritage through fun festivals, museums, and bakeries downtown that make it easy for visitors to be enriched by their culture. In New Harmony and Corydon, you can learn about their fascinating history as centers for settlement, government, and in New Harmony's case a highly optimistic utopian community. Don't miss these small-town main streets the next time you come to Indiana.
