1. Southern Indiana Is Home To The Eighth Wonder Of The World
At least that’s what people used to call the West Baden Springs Hotel. The largest free-spanning dome in the world until 1913 and was the largest in the United States until 1955, the West Baden dome is tucked away in Orange County, Ind., with the atrium dome stretching 200 ft. across. Despite being over 100 years old, the resort is extremely well maintained and truly fit for a king.
2. This Local Landmark Gives A Whole New Meaning To The Phrase “Shoe Tree”
The shoe tree in Milltown, Ind. is where Indianans in the know turn their old footwear into art.
It doesn’t matter if your old shoes are fashionable or even wearable, so as long as the strings can still be tied together.
So, next time you put a hole in an old pair of shoes, don’t throw them out, throw them up... a tree.
3. When In Southern Indiana Do As The Zombies Do
If you want to say you’ve done something the average American hasn’t, head down to the Hilltop Inn in Evansville, Ind. and give your taste buds some deep fried brain. With this rare menu item simply called the “jumbo brain sandwich,” Hilltop Inn gives you something you can’t get too many other places.
Don’t worry, we’re told it’s completely safe, especially after they switched over to serving pork brain.
4. This Southern Indiana Festival Is B.Y.O.L. (Bring Your Own Lederhosen)
Jasper, Ind. is so serious about their tubed meats, that over 1,300 pounds of brats are consumed annually at Strassenfest, a tribute to German culture. Held each year in collaboration with Jasper’s German sister-city, Pfaffenweiler, the festival is packed with tons of food stands, some rides, and of course, a very large Biergarten.
Some Pfaffenweiler residents even travel all of the way from southwest Germany every August to experience a little bit of Hoosier hospitality first hand.
5. Grab A Meal With The Ghost Of Honest Abe
Humble, cash-only, and only open five days a week, the Log Inn Family Restaurant in Haubstadt, Ind. holds the title of the “oldest restaurant in Indiana,” originally built as stagecoach stop and trading post in 1825.
Its true claim to fame however comes with being able to sit patrons in the same room that Abraham Lincoln feasted in 1844. As for whether you’ll run in the spectral Lincoln, well, there is only one way to find out!
6. Seek Solace With Southern Indiana’s Spiritual Sisterhood
In 1867, the Sisters of St. Benedict came to Ferdinand, Ind. with the goal of reaching out to the local settlers. A beautiful convent was built to house these new residents of Southern Indiana.
Over the years, the complex has grown into a spectacular work of architecture. Still a functioning monastery church, visitors are welcomed to join guided tours, prayer sessions, and mass.
7. No One Tell Putin, But There’s Uranium On Display In Southern Indiana
Head to DePauw University in Greencastle if you want to know, they’ve got a giant periodic table display holding a little bit of over 100 elements in tiny boxes. While some elements, like Californium, would be too dangerous to house, most of 118 elements can be seen. If you’re in the area and curious for more, the last known location of the collection is at the top of the grand staircase in the Julian Science Center.
8. Take Your Coulrophobic Friend To This Museum—If You Don’t Want To Be Friends Anymore
Vincennes, Ind. is a great place to pay tribute to one of the comedic greats, Red Skelton. Honoring the legacy of the four-time Emmy winner and Hollywood Walk of Fame member, the Red Skelton Museum and Education Center aims to show how one man’s life can spread happiness like wildfire.
Known for his slapstick comedy, Red wanted to be his legacy to be associated with laughter and of course, clowns.
9. Journey To The Center Of The Earth In The Hoosier State
Adventurous folk should head to Bedford, where they can explore the Bluespring Caverns, which has the longest navigable stretch of underground river in the world, with up to 3 miles of accessible water. Visitors get up close and personal with crayfish, cavefish, bats, and salamanders, most of which are completely blind due to lack of light. Creepily cool!
10. Indiana Has A Table Fit For A Giant
At 60 feet tall and 20 feet in diameter, Jug Rock in Shoals, Ind. can claim that it’s the only freestanding table rock formation east of the Mississippi. It resembles a giant end table, consisting of a large pillar rock coming out of the ground, topped with a smaller flatter rock that simply sits on top.
With no adjacent cliffs or ledges, it’s still a bit of a mystery as to how it got that way.
11. Whatever You Do, Don’t Say Nay To A Ride In Ben Franklin III
For a really unique experience, take a cruise down the Metamora Canal in a 75-foot-long horse drawn boat. Launched in 1989, two horses pull riders in Ben Franklin III peacefully down the canal several times a day.
The speed is neither fast nor furious, but there’s no better way to see the quaint town of Metamora.
12. Southern Indiana Has A League Of Their Own
Evansville’s home to the third oldest baseball park in the country, currently used by the Evansville Otters baseball team. The only two parks that are older are Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, and Wrigley Field, Home to the Chicago Cubs.
Not only is this field a gem of Indiana simply because of its old age, Bosse Field was also where the movie “A League of Their Own” was filmed, featuring Tom Hanks, Rosie O’Donnell, and Madonna, inviting members of the community to fill the stands as extras.
13. Make A Pilgrimage To Southern Indiana’s Heavenly Mounds
With the largest mound stretching 644 feet by 415 feet, Angel Mounds Native American historic site in the Evansville area provides visitors with a great look inside of the Mississippian Native American culture.
Once home to over 1,000 residents, the various mounds are thought to signify hierarchy, with the tallest mounds housing the upper class.
Throughout the years, Indiana has done a great job of maintaining its unique culture and history by protecting the various attractions that make it a special place to live. It’s hard for a Hoosier to think about the state known for being the Crossroads of America, without feeling a sense of hometown pride.
Feature Image Source: Flickr user S.Mash
Did we miss anything? Tell us your favorite secret spot in Southern Indiana? Tell us in the comments below! 
