Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Crawfordsville (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: General Lew Wallace Study and Museum, Lane Place, and Ropkey Armor Museum. Also, be sure to include Rotary Jail Museum in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Crawfordsville (Indiana).
Table of Contents
General Lew Wallace Study and Museum
Museum in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum, formerly known as the Ben-Hur Museum, is located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, and in 2008 was awarded a National Medal from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. It is located in the Elston Grove Historic District. The museum is associated with the life of Lew Wallace and his 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The study, designed by Wallace, and accompanying carriage house are the only structures pertaining to Lew Wallace that have retained historical integrity. Both of these buildings now make up the museum and exhibit many of the artifacts that Wallace used during his lifetime, as well as many objects pertaining to his literary legacy. Guided tours of the study are available for a small admission fee; the Carriage House Interpretive Center and grounds are open to the public free of charge.[1]
Address: 200 Wallace Ave, 47933-2546 Crawfordsville
Lane Place
Museum in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The Lane Place was the home of Sen. Henry S. Lane and Joanna Lane. It is located at 212 South Water Street in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Helen Elston Smith, the Lanes' niece, inherited the house after Joanna's death. She willed the house and its contents to the Montgomery County Historical Society on February 26, 1931. 85%-90% of all of the furnishings are either original to the house or belonged to the Elston Family. The house has been a museum since 1931 even though Helen continued to live in the home until the mid-1930s.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. It is located in the Elston Grove Historic District.[2]
Address: 212 S Water St, 47933-2535 Crawfordsville
Ropkey Armor Museum
Museum in Montgomery County, Indiana. Ropkey Armor Museum is a military history museum in Indianapolis, Indiana.[3]
Address: 5649 E 150 N, 47933-8089 Crawfordsville
Rotary Jail Museum
Museum, Specialty museum
Address: 225 N Washington St, 47933-1737 Crawfordsville
Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County
Museum in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County is located in Crawfordsville, Indiana, United States. Opening in 1902, it was the first Carnegie Library in Indiana. The museum's exhibits focus on the history, art, and culture of Montgomery County. Themes include business & industry; literature & learning; arts & culture; military & democracy; sports & pop culture; topics about Montgomery County; early history; and STEM/STEAM based programs. This site opened as a museum in 2007 under the former curator, Kat Burkhart.
The mission of the CMMC is to promote public awareness and appreciation of the history, heritage, and culture of Montgomery County through educational programs, public services, collection, exhibition, preservation, and research and documentation.
History of CMMC
In order for a community to receive $25,000 from Andrew Carnegie for the library, they had to meet a specific criteria, known as "The Carnegie Formula". (1) Demonstrate the need for a public library. (2) The community must provide a building site. (3) Annually provide 10% of the cost of the libraries construction to support its operation.
One January 22, 1901, W.F. Hulet, the secretary of the Commercial Club (a local community organization), sent a letter to Andrew Carnegie asking him to help create a new library because the Crawfordsville City Library had become to small to satisfy the needs of the growing community. Mr. Carnegie agreed to help under the stipulation that the site be within a few blocks of the town square. The community gathered at Louis Bischof's Big Store to discuss and vote on a suitable location. They decided on a plot at the corner of Wabash Avenue & Washington Street. The community also supported the annual 10% investment of $2,500 to care for the library's collection and staff.
The Crawfordsville District Public Library relocated to a new building in 2005 and is across the street from the original Carnegie building. CDPL decided to continue to care for their former site and to create a community-based museum; the Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County.
More information about this library building is in Mary Johnson's The History of Libraries in Montgomery County.
The Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County (CMMC) is located at 222 S. Washington Street, Crawfordsville, Indiana 47933 and is open to the public free of charge Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.[4]
Address: 222 S Washington St, 47933-2444 Crawfordsville
Montgomery County Jail and Sheriff's Residence
Jail. Montgomery County Jail and Sheriff's Residence is a historic jail and sheriff's residence located at Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana. It was built in 1882 in two sections, and is a 2+1⁄2-story, red brick and limestone building in a combination of Italianate, Gothic Revival, and Romanesque Revival style architecture. The jail is a "rotary jail"; it is the only example of this type in Indiana and one of two left in the United States. The building houses a local history and prison museum.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It is located in the Crawfordsville Commercial Historic District.[5]
Saint John's Episcopal Church
Building. Saint John's Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church located at Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana. It was built in 1837 by an Episcopal congregation organized through missionary bishop Jackson Kemper, and is a one-story, gable fronted frame building in the Greek Revival style. The original section measures 30 feet by 50 feet; a 30-foot rear addition was built in 1960. Atop the roof is a belfry added about 1950. It is the oldest remaining church building in Crawfordsville and Indiana's first Episcopal Church building.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Theologian Hans Frei, a longtime Yale Divinity School faculty member and a significant figure in Post-liberal theology, briefly served as rector in the early 1950s.[6]
Bethel AME Church of Crawfordsville
Bethel AME Church of Crawfordsville is a historic African Methodist Episcopal church located at Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana. It was built in 1892, and is a one-story, gable fronted frame building on a brick foundation. It features a large round-arched window and two-story, square corner tower. Portions of the building are believed to date to 1847, Also on the property is a contributing one-story, Queen Anne style cottage that served as the original parsonage.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.[7]
Otto Schlemmer Building
Otto Schlemmer Building is a historic commercial building located at Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana. It was originally built in 1854, and renovated to its present form in 1889. It is a two-story brick building with wood and pressed metal trim. The front facade features an arcade of six two-story, round-headed brick arches that form a gallery at the second level. The use of the Roman arch, denticulated frieze, bracketing, and a projecting central pediment are reflective of the Victorian Renaissance style.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It is located in the Crawfordsville Commercial Historic District.
Current Use and Ownership
The Otto Schlemmer Building is now owned by Capper Tulley and Reimondo Attorneys at law and has been since 1907. The Building is used as a law office and occupied by highly educated and respected lawyers in Crawfordsville. The current partners of Capper Tulley and Reimondo are John S. Capper and Robert N. Reimondo. The official website is http:capperlaw.info/.[8]
Culver Union Hospital
Culver Union Hospital is a historic hospital building located at Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana. It was built in 1902 and was named after L.L. Culver who donated $10,000 towards the construction. The building is a four-story, rectangular, Colonial Revival style brick structure. It is 13 bays wide and has a central projecting entry bay and gable roof. It features a two-story, open and circular entry porch supported by Ionic order columns. Additions were made to the original building in 1940–1942, 1966, 1971, and 1977. The building was closed in 1984 due to being unsafe inside the building. In 2016 the building was converted to an apartment complex by Flaherty and Collins Properties. The property is now known as Historic Whitlock Place.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.[9]
Col. Isaac C. Elston House
The Maj. Isaac C. Elston House, also known as Elston Homestead, is a historic home located at Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana. It was the home of Maj. Isaac Compton Elston, who fought in the War of 1812 and the Black Hawk War. When he was 39, he moved to Indiana and became a frontier merchant, banker and financier. The Home was given to Wabash College by his grandson, Isaac Compton Elston, Jr. and is now used as the President's home.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It is located in the Elston Grove Historic District.[10]