Discover 8 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Jeffersonville (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Schimpff's Confectionery, Howard Steamboat Museum, and Warder Park. Also, be sure to include Vintage Fire Museum in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Jeffersonville (Indiana).
Table of Contents
Schimpff's Confectionery
Museum in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Schimpff's Confectionery is a historic candy maker, confectionery store and museum located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, within the Old Jeffersonville Historic District. It was opened in 1891 by Gustav Schimpff Sr. and Jr. at the current site, although the family has been making candy in the Louisville, Kentucky area since the 1850s. The business has remained in operation the entire time. It is most famous nationwide for its Red Hots, although it also features Modjeskas and hard candy fish. The museum, attached to the store, features candy exhibits throughout the ages, including Hershey's and Nestlé's paraphernalia.
It was featured on the History Channel's Modern Marvels in 2006 and by the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana in 2004. It is also noted as one of Indiana's seven "Hidden Treasures."
The company is currently owned by fourth generation members Jill and Warren Schimpff and has survived the great depression and several pandemics.[1]
Address: 347 Spring St, 47130-3449 Jeffersonville (Jeffersonville)
Howard Steamboat Museum
Museum in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The Howard Steamboat Museum, or the Howard National Steamboat Museum, is located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, across from Louisville, Kentucky. House in the Howard Family mansion, it features items related to steamboat history and specifically, the Howard Shipyards of Jeffersonville, IN. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]
Address: 1101 E Market St, 47130-4333 Jeffersonville (Jeffersonville)
Warder Park
Park in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Warder Park is located in Jeffersonville, Indiana on Court Avenue. This park has been a part of the community since the mid-19th century, when it had a bakery to produce hardtack to Union soldiers during the American Civil War. The park wasn't established officially until the year 1881 and is named after then Mayor Luther Warder. Warder had wanted the site for a new city hall, but the city council chose a site between Spring and Pearl on the north side of Market Street for the city hall, and named the park after Warder as a gesture of goodwill. A Carnegie Library was built in 1903.[3]
Address: 109 E Court Ave, 47130 Jeffersonville (Jeffersonville)
Vintage Fire Museum
Museum
Address: 723 Spring St, Jeffersonville (Jeffersonville)
Jeffersonville Township Public Library
Public library system. The Jeffersonville Township Public Library is a public library system in Jeffersonville, Indiana, United States comprising two locations: the main library at 211 East Court Avenue in Jeffersonville and the Clarksville Branch at 1312 Eastern Boulevard in Clarksville, Indiana. The rest of Clark County, Indiana is served by the Charlestown-Clark County Public Library system, with which the Jeffersonville library has a reciprocal borrowing agreement.[4]
Address: East Court Avenue, Jeffersonville (Jeffersonville)
Grisamore House
Historical landmark in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The Grisamore House is a historic home located in downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana. It was built by two brothers from Philadelphia, David and Wilson Grisamore, in 1837. It is a 2+1⁄2-story, Federal style brick double house with Greek Revival style design elements. The front facade features three stucco-coated, two-story Doric order columns in antis and two projecting second story balconies. It has housed several Jeffersonville families of importance. Future president William Henry Harrison gave a speech on the front porch in 1840 while campaigning to become president.
In the 1930s it was the Decker Art Studio.
It suffered fire damage in 1981, but was saved from destruction by the Jeff-Clark Preservation, Inc. In 1983 it was added to National Register of Historic Places. It is now part of the Old Jeffersonville Historic District, and houses private businesses. The Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana formerly had its Southern Indiana regional office here before they relocated the Willey House next to the Grisamore House.[5]
Henry French House
The Henry French House, also known as the Salmon-French House, is a historic house located in the Port Fulton area of Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana in the United States. It was built about 1832, and is a two-story, Federal style brick dwelling with a rear ell added about 1839 to form an I-house. It has some Colonial Revival style design elements.[6]
Old Jeffersonville Historic District
The Old Jeffersonville Historic District is located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, United States. It marks the original boundaries of Jeffersonville, and is the heart of modern-day downtown Jeffersonville. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The area is roughly bounded by Court Avenue at the North, Graham Street on the east, the Ohio River at the south, and Interstate 65 at the west. In total, the district has 203 acres, 500 buildings, 6 structures, and 11 objects. Several banks are located in the historic buildings in the district. The now defunct Steamboat Days Festival, held on the second weekend in September, used to be held on Spring Street and the waterfront. Jeffersonville's largest fire wiped out a block in the historic district on January 11, 2004 which destroyed the original Horner's Novelty store.
Several important buildings are located in the district. At Warder Park the old Carnegie Library still stands, one of many built throughout Indiana in the early 20th century. Across Spring Street from Warder Park is the Old Masonic Temple, built in the early 20th century, with a majestic marble staircase. The local office of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana maintains the historic Grisamore House, its former office, and the Willey-Allhands House, its current office, which are located beside each other. Schimpff's Confectionery is well known its candies, especially its red-hots and Modjelskas (a caramel-covered marshmallow confection). Horner's Novelty, a long-time commercial supplier of party supplies and costumes that was rebuilt after a fire, is also included in the landmark boundaries.[7]