9 Small Towns in Indiana with the Best Downtowns
Looking for a Midwestern town to have some fun? Indiana ranks high when it comes to great downtowns in small communities. Even just a cursory look at any of these towns will reveal attractions worth your time.
In these small towns, there's a wide range of unique destinations to discover. For example, New Albany features multiple mansions of varying styles and purposes with riverside views. New Harmony is home to the Harmonist Labryinth, a maze designed to encourage self-reflection, and a roofless church that overlooks the Wabash River. And Vincennes is where you'll find the biggest national monument west of Washington, DC.
Here are the nine small towns in Indiana with the best downtowns.
Madison
Downtown Madison is a cultural landmark in and of itself. The community has the state's longest historic district, giving it a distinct feel you won't find anywhere else in Indiana. That's because many of these home museums served different purposes. For starters, there's the Schroeder Saddletree Factory Museum, one of the last standing facilities that produced parts for horse saddles. Open seasonally from May through October, this former factory still houses a vintage belt-powered woodworking machine, a blacksmithing and woodworking shop, and the Schroeders' former home.
Also downtown is the illustrious Lanier Mansion State Historic Site, a 1844 Greek Revival mansion facing the Ohio River. Known as the "Crown Jewel" of Madison's historic district, this unique site has preserved history from the 1840s and offers beautiful gardens to tour year-round. And speaking of the Ohio River, the Heritage Trail is a 1.5-mile pathway perfect for a stroll along the river. You can also take a scenic tour on the water via the Rockin' Thunder River Tours.
Angola
Angola sits among more than 101 natural lakes, making it a popular destination for Hoosiers looking to fish or boat. Downtown Angola itself is especially worth checking out, especially with its town square. In the middle of the town square stands the large Steuben County Soldiers Monument, a Civil War monument erected in 1917 to honor the men who served in the American Civil War on the Union side. More men enlisted per capita in Steuben County than anywhere else in Indiana.
Near the town square, there are multiple options for a quick bite, including the coffee shop Broomsticks and Brews and the Sweet Cheeks & Co. bakery. After filling up for breakfast, head to the Pokagon State Park, where there are plenty of biking and walking trails, along with Lake James for fishing or boating. During the winter, the park has the only refrigerated twin-track toboggan ride in Indiana, where riders can reach speeds up to 42 miles per hour.
New Albany
The Ohio River has many great Indiana towns, as evidenced by Madison and the next community on this list: New Albany. Located a few miles from Louisville, Kentucky, New Albany offers the best the metro area has to offer without the traffic. In downtown New Albany, you can explore a row of historic mansions off Main Street.
The best of the mansions open for tours is the Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site, built in 1867 by one of the wealthiest men in Indiana and featuring 25 rooms in the Second Empire style. Making your way down Main Street, you can also see the more humble abode of one of the town's founders at the 1816 Scribner Home. You can also go for a stroll by the river on the paved 7.5-mile Ohio River Greenway, which connects to the towns of Jeffersonville and Clarksville. If you're a fan of local coffee, try out the local Southern Indiana chain Coffee Crossing.
Jasper
Founded by German immigrants in the mid-1800s, Jasper has always been an industrious place. Not only is it known as the "Wood Capital of the World," but numerous other industries are also evident in its historic downtown. One such place is the Jasper City Mill, a recreation of a 19th-century mill used on the Patoka River. Just across the river and by the railroad tracks is the Spirit of Jasper Train, a vintage rail line that has been converted into a dinner train.
The Germans who settled here knew all about good food and drink, and that has stuck around for years. For authentic German food downtown, go to the Schnitzelbank restaurant, or for good beer, head to Jasper Pub 'N' Grub or St. Benedict's Brew Works for a large variety of local brews.
New Harmony
New Harmony is a highly experimental town, dating back to its founding. A group known as the Harmonists settled here in 1814, hoping to establish a Christian utopia. After 10 years, they moved away and sold the land to the Owenites, a group of progressive leaders who also sought to create a utopia in New Harmony. Their legacy has left behind an eclectic downtown, where you can find communal homes like Community House No. 2 alongside the outdoor Harmonist Labryinth, a maze meant to encourage self-reflection.
Most tours of this historic downtown can be booked at the Athenum Visitors Center, which is itself a uniquely designed building with a three-story ramp and grids that provide several views of the surrounding town. From here, you'll be able to see the Roofless Church, an interdenominational cathedral where the sky is the roof.
Vincennes
Vincennes is the oldest founded town in Indiana, as it was established as a French fur trading post in 1732. When the land passed into American hands, it was chosen as the capital of the Northwest Territory. By visiting downtown Vincennes, you will be immersed in the history of America from all eras. For example, the oldest site in Vincennes is the Sugar Loaf Mound, a burial mound used by Woodland Native Americans around 1100.
Travelling towards the Wabash River, you can visit William Henry Harrison's mansion, Grouseland. He lived here as the territorial governor, prior to becoming our shortest-lived president. A few blocks down is the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, the site of the largest Beaux-Arts style national monument west of Washington, DC. If you're a real military history buff, you'll want to grab a ticket for the Indiana Military Museum, with artifacts from colonial days to the present.
Aurora
Aurora's name comes from the Latin word for "dawn," which crests over this tiny town on the Ohio River. In its highly walkable downtown, you can delve into the decades of history at the Hillforest House Museum. This 1855 Italian Renaissance mansion sits atop a hill overlooking the river and was owned by a Scot named Thomas Gaff and constructed by Isaiah Rogers, the father of the modern hotel. Today, it is a carefully maintained museum with Victorian-era clothing, photographs, and interior design.
A short walk away from the mansion is Lesko Park, with a playground and a walking trail along the river. Walking north, you'll have your fill of restaurants and coffee shops to try out, such as classic American fare at The Aurora Diner or coffee from the Spire Book & Coffee Co.
Corydon
Much like Vincennes, Corydon was also an Indiana capital, though it was chosen just as Indiana became a state. It would hold that title from 1816 to 1825, and afterwards, it maintained the old state infrastructure as museums opened to the public. The Corydon Capitol State Historic Site contains the First State Office Building and Governor Hendrick's Headquarters, while the nearby Harrison County Discovery Center catalogs information about Corydon's history: both written and natural.
A bit outside of downtown is a unique Indiana historic site: the Battle of Corydon Park. This was the only Civil War battle fought on Indiana soil when Confederate General John Morgan led a raid deep into the north. Speaking of nature, Corydon also has a massive cave system open for tours, ziplines, and underground boat rides at Indiana Caverns.
Shipshewana
Shipshewana's downtown is a bit different than the others on this list, as it is a highly rural place home to a large Amish population. That's what gives it such a distinct feel, as there are Amish barns just a few blocks off of Main Street. One of those barns is the Menno-Hof information center, a museum with an old Amish kitchen, artifacts, and a replica of a 17th-century boat that their forefathers used to cross the Atlantic to the New World.
The biggest shop in downtown is the Shipshewana Flea Market & Auction, open from May to September. It's the largest flea market in the Midwest. In the heart of downtown, the delicious Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery offers Amish-style recipes on the menu. And from downtown Shipshewana, you can go out and explore the surrounding countryside with the 17-mile Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.
Plan Your Trip To See These Beautiful Small Towns
It's best to visit these small towns during the day so you can see their natural beauty in daylight. After all, you wouldn't want to miss any of the historic places scattered in Madison's massive historic district, or the lovely Amish establishments in Shipshewana, or the peaceful river views in New Albany's Greenway trail. Although the downtowns of all these communities are worth checking out, don't forget to explore your surroundings so you don't miss the caverns of Corydon or the monastery just outside of Jasper. And of course, don't forget to take some pictures and pick up some souvenirs to remember your day trip or weekend trip to these Indiana treasures.
