Day Trip: Madison Indiana
Are you looking to get away for the day? Madison is a jewel, almost hidden along the Ohio River, in Southeastern Indiana. It is about an hour from Louisville and Cincinnati.
Plan to head up around 9am on a Monday-Saturday. Your first stop should be the Madison Visitor's Center on 601 West First St.
There you can talk to the friendly staff and they can give you information about what is going on that day in the area. You can also purchase your tickets to the Lanier Mansion at this time. There are several racks of pamphlets to give you some ideas about other things you might want to see
Be sure to pick up a Visit Madison Guide. It will give you lots of great information. We found getting around very easy. The streets were clearly marked and the map in the guide was easy to read.
First stop: Broadway Fountain. The fountain is only 1 of 4 remaining in the world. It was presented to Madison in 1886. We were there in the winter and there was no water so we stepped in to get a close up of the art in the fountain. Impressive work. I'm sure its stunning on a warm summer day.
We completed a car tour of Indiana's Oldest Volunteer Fire Department. They picked up a flyer at the Vistors Center that gives information about each house and Little Jimmy. On a warmer day you could do a walking tour of the houses. It was a bit chilly in February.
The Lanier Mansion State Historic Site. Built in 1844 for James Lanier and his family it could easily be overlooked. There was a small fee to get it but, we felt it was worth it. Its about an hour tour and you are allowed to take pictures. There are some amazing views of the Ohio River. The house is amazing with very impressive architecture. The guide was great, as well. He was very knowledgeable about the property. I don't want to ruin all the surprises so I am only sharing pictures of the stairs. I loved the stairs.
Madison Railroad Station. Unfortunately it was closed when we were there. It is near the Visitor Center and looked like a neat place to visit
The Milton Madison Bridge. If you are local you might recall this is the bridge that was built and then sled into place. We didn't know you could walk across the bridge. The Visitors Center staff let us know about this. There is a small park at the base of the bridge to park in (free) and you can walk up and walk across. It was a neat experience since cars are crossing the bridge along with you. It was chilly but it was a beautiful view of the area from the middle of the bridge. En route to the bridge you will pass the former 1884 Eagle Cotton Mill.
St. Michael the Archangel .Built between c. 1836-1839, it is the second oldest surviving Catholic Church in Indiana. It is no longer used for services and tours are only available with advanced arrangements.
We spent the early afternoon walking around downtown. There were numerous shops and we found a variety of treasures. We are not antiquer's, but if you are there are lots of options. We ended the day with a stop at Hinkle's Sandwich Shop. Hinkle's has been around since 1933. It was a fun diner style hamburger joint. The boys had hamburgers and liked them, I had a tenderloin and it was great. Of course we all finished off with a shake :)
We moved at a leisurely pace and spend from mid morning to late afternoon exploring. This is just a glimpse of what Madison has to offer. Clifty Falls State Park has lots of area for exploring. Hanover College is close. If its a great day I'd recommend a riverfront walking tour, you can get a guide at the Visitors Center. The walking guide lists 44 points of interest. There is also information about the Southeast Indiana Trail to Freedom, something we are looking at for the future. There are several wineries in the areas, as well. The Visit Madison Guide lists several events and when they take place. You can access the Guide online. There is certainly something for everyone in Madison Indiana.
We give it four thumbs up, Married couple with two teenage boys. That should say something. Enjoy your visit.
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