Discover 15 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Lafayette (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Tippecanoe County Courthouse, Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art, and Moses Fowler House. Also, be sure to include LaFayette Fountain in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Lafayette (Indiana).
Table of Contents
Tippecanoe County Courthouse
County government office in Lafayette, Indiana. The Tippecanoe County Courthouse is located on the public square in the city of Lafayette in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The public square is located between the north-south 3rd and 4th Streets and between the east-west Main and Columbia Streets.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It is located in the Downtown Lafayette Historic District.[1]
Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art
Museum in Lafayette, Indiana. The Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art is a public museum in Lafayette, Indiana, housing the largest collection of Indiana art anywhere in the world. The museum is located in the Potter-Haan Mansion at 920 E State Street. The museum's collection includes over 100 paintings by Hoosier Group, Indiana Regionalism artists as well as ceramics, antique furniture and decorative items. The museum is a member of American Alliance of Museums.
The museum is based on the private collection of Robert (Bob) and Ellen (Ellie) Haan, the founders and former owners of Haan Crafts Corporation.[2]
Address: 920 State St, 47905-1215 Lafayette
Moses Fowler House
Event venue in Lafayette, Indiana. The Moses Fowler House is located at the corner of 10th and South streets in Lafayette, Indiana. The house is considered the finest example of a large Gothic Revival residence still standing in the United States. Upon his death in 1889, aged 74, Fowler had accumulated a fortune of an estimated three million dollars. Fowler and his wife, Eliza, were donors to various community interests, including Purdue University.
The house was built by Moses Fowler in 1851–1852. Locally harvested black walnut and white oak were used for the ornately carved woodwork. Italian immigrant craftsmen were brought via the Wabash and Erie Canal from New York City to execute the plasterwork ceilings in the north and south parlors. When completed it was one of the finest houses in Indiana. The designs for the house were principally taken from a copy of Andrew Jackson Downing’s book The Architecture of Country Houses, c. 1851, which Fowler purchased while on a business trip in New York City.
Fowler originally came to Lafayette in 1839 from Circleville, Ohio, with his friend and business partner John Purdue (founder of Purdue University) and engaged in the dry goods business. The business lasted until 1844, when the duo parted to pursue different goals. Over the years a number of business pursuits made him very wealthy. These included the wholesale business, cattle ranching, the railroads, and banking.
Both Moses and Eliza are interred in Lafayette's Spring Vale Cemetery.
In 1902, upon the death of his grandmother, Moses and Eliza's grandson, Cecil G. Fowler (son of James and Eva Fowler), inherited the house and he and his wife Louise made it their residence. Cecil had followed his father and grandfather into banking but was also a developer. He partnered with Carl Fischer (developer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) to build the first luxury hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, which opened on New Year's Eve 1920. In 1916–17, the Fowlers moved out of the house while significant renovations and additions were completed. During this time a large Tudor-style formal dining room and living room were added, along with an indoor kitchen, laundry, garage, and servants quarters. The upstairs now included seven bedrooms and five bathrooms. These included a new guest bedroom, master suite, and servants bedrooms. Outside, a large Italian-style tiered patio with fountains, a reflecting pool, a tea house, and formal gardens were added. The Fowlers loved to entertain and were well known locally for the large and extravagant parties they hosted. In 1940, with their children grown, the Fowlers sold the house to the Tippecanoe County Historical Association.
From 1940 until 2015, the Moses Fowler House was the home of the Tippecanoe County Historical Association and used at various times as a museum, offices, and for collections storage.
In 2015, The 1852 Foundation (a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity) was founded through the generosity of Matt and Dr. Ann Jonkman. The 1852 Foundation purchased the Fowler House Mansion and from 2015 to 2018 completed over $1.3 million in restorations, repairs, code updates, and facility additions in order that the house could be open to and used by the public for tours and as an events venue.[3]
Address: 909 South Street, Lafayette
LaFayette Fountain
Statue by Lorado Taft. Lafayette Fountain is an 1887 fountain by sculptor Lorado Taft, in the grounds of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse in Lafayette, Indiana. The fountain is composed of a number of tiered bowls with a marble statue of the Marquis de LaFayette on top. He holds a sword next to his heart in his right hand and has a cape draped over his left arm.[4]
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana. It is located at 1207 Columbia Street in Lafayette, Indiana. It is also a contributing property in the St. Mary Historic District.[5]
Clegg Memorial Garden
Garden, Park, Relax in park
Address: 1782 N 400 E, 47905-8857 Lafayette
Upper Main Street Historic District
Historical landmark in Lafayette, Indiana. Upper Main Street Historic District is a national historic district located at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Sixth Street was the City of Lafayette's eastern boundary when it was originally platted. By 1840, the boundary was extended to include Lake Erie and Wabash Railroad at Eleventh Street. This area became the cities commercial center. Businesses around Eleventh Street developed to meet the traveling publics needs. The Enterprise Hotel, at 1015 Main Street, as well as the Alt Heidelberg, American Lafayette and the Derby Hotel were early established by 1899.[6]
Pottlitzer House
The Pottlitzer House at 801 Brown St. is in the historic Centennial Neighborhood in Lafayette, Indiana. This Pottlitzer house was constructed in 1893 by Leo and Minnie Pottlitzer. It is a mixture of Colonial Revival, Chateau and Queen Anne styles. When constructed it cost $9000, about $260,000 in today's value. The finials and oversized gables with low relief sculptures are indicative of the eclectic style popular in the late 19th century. The most notable feature, the tall spires on the roof, are the only known extant residential example of this style in Lafayette. The Pottlitzer House caught on fire in early 2015, severely damaging the rear of the structure.[7]
St. John's Episcopal Church
Church in Lafayette, Indiana. St. John's Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church located at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Founded by Parson Samuel R. Johnson, early services were held beginning in 1836–37 in the counting room of Thomas Benbridge. Benbridge had an accounting office. The first building dedicated on 30 Dec 1838 on Missouri St. A new Gothic Revival style church was built in 1858 on the Northwest corner of Sixth and Ferry. Major repairs were completed in 1887 with the addition of a Sunday School.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is located in the Centennial Neighborhood District.[8]
Jerry E. Clegg Botanic Garden
Botanical garden in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The Jerry E. Clegg Botanic Garden is a botanical garden in Lafayette, Indiana in the United States.
The garden is next to Wildcat Creek. It has prairie and oak savanna environs. Plants in the garden are native Indiana flora. The main goal of the park is to reintroduce native plants and animals to the Lafayette area.[9]
Lala Gallery & Studio
Art gallery, Universities and schools
Address: 609 Main St, 47901 Lafayette
Temple Israel
Synagogue. Temple Israel is a historic synagogue located at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Its 1867 building is one of the oldest synagogue buildings in the United States.
The congregation, which was formed in 1849, was the second Jewish congregation organized in Indiana. In 1874 it became a founding member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. The congregation moved to its third and present location on Cumberland Avenue in West Lafayette.[10]
Mars Theatre
Theatre. Mars Theatre is a historic theatre building at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. It was built in 1921, and is a four-story, rectangular, Georgian Revival style brick building, with limestone ornamentation and terra cotta panels. It measures 69 feet, 4 inches, wide and 141 feet, 4 inches deep. It was originally built as a vaudeville theater and sat 1,205 patrons. The building houses the Denis H. Long Center for the Performing Arts.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.[11]
Falley Home
Falley Home, also known as the Lahr Home, is a historic home located at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The Italian Villa style brick house was built in 1863, and consists of three two-story sections and a three-story entrance tower. It is sheathed in stucco. The square corner entrance tower is topped by a cupola and encloses a curve staircase.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[12]
Scott Street Pavilion
Scott Street Pavilion is a historic park pavilion located in Columbian Park at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. It was built in 1899, and is a 1+1⁄2-story, rectangular, wood-frame building. It is sheathed in clapboard siding and has a hipped roof that extends to form a verandah on all sides.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[13]