story by GLENDA WINDERS
Among the many reasons to plan your next getaway to Terre Haute is that the city offers a collection of museums unlike anywhere else, many of which are free or very affordable. Along the way you’ll be able to find sustenance at nearly 300 restaurants and indulge in local favorites such as the famous Square Donuts.
“Terre Haute is the Crossroads of America, and there’s a lot worth discovering when you stop here,” said Karen Dyer, executive director of the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The rich mix of art, sports, history, and local flavor makes the city such a rewarding and easy getaway from Indianapolis, Cincinnati, or even Chicago. It’s the kind of place where you can come for one experience and learn that there is so much more.”
It’s hard to decide where to begin, but maybe set the tone for your day with a visit to CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center. Indiana’s only Holocaust museum, it was founded by Eva Kor, an Auschwitz survivor who spent the rest of her life giving tours here and speaking to others about the power of respect, forgiveness and peace.
Then it’s on to the Larry Bird Museum, where — basketball fan or not — it’s fun to celebrate Indiana State University’s hometown legend. Visitors can expect to find exhibits showcasing rare memorabilia, iconic moments, interviews, and interactive displays including a hoops-shoot that highlight Bird’s influence on the game. When you leave here, be sure to stop in front of nearby Hulman Center to get a selfie with Bird’s statue, then check out the 33-foot-tall mural next to the museum depicting him on the cover of a 1979 Sports Illustrated magazine.
While you’re in an athletic frame of mind, move on to the Indiana Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame Museum, the only one in the state dedicated to legends such as Dr. Greg Bell, who won Olympic gold in 1956 for the long jump. A visit here is especially timely since Terre Haute hosts the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in November. Admission to the museum is free.
Are you bringing the kids along? The Terre Haute Children’s Museum is conveniently located downtown and free for members of other children’s museums. The ropes course here is ever-popular with families, and as part of the museum’s renovation, now open is the brand-new “Wonders of the Wabash” interactive water table. This model of the Wabash River and Wabashiki wetlands enables the younger set to splash while their older siblings find out how water is used in farms, nature, and local communities.
The Veterans Memorial Museum has also added something new — a Vietnam exhibit that joins those about multiple other wars and the individuals who fought in them. The extensive collection includes uniforms, gear, and souvenirs brought home from the front. Some exhibits depict generations of the same families who served in different armed conflicts.
On the campus of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, where she founded a religious order and college, is the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, Indiana’s only saint. Here you can explore the miracles for which she is known along with her personal artifacts, historic sites, a replica of the log cabin where she stayed, and the chapel where she is buried. While you are strolling through the grounds, be sure to look for the alpacas raised by the Sisters of Providence.
This is just a sampling, and many additional museums treat all kinds of fascinating subjects. If art is your passion, make your way next to the Swope Art Museum to enjoy its extraordinary collection of some 2,500 American and Indiana paintings and objects. At Dobbs Park Native American Museum learn about the history and heritage of Indigenous people. Also in the park, enjoy the fishing pond, playground, nature center, and wooded walking trails.
The Vigo County History Center offers another way to learn more about the history of Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley. Three floors of themed exhibits here cover segments of local culture such as arts and entertainment, clothing and textiles, business and industry, schools, and sports. If you’ve heard about the legend of Stiffy Green, the city’s famous ghost dog, come here to learn the whole story.
If that visit leaves you with more questions about the history of education here, the Educational Heritage Association of Vigo County is your next stop. Used mainly as an archive, this is the repository for information related to schools that have been consolidated.
Also not to be missed is the Eugene V. Debs Museum in the home of the Terre Haute labor leader and presidential candidate. Trained docents give 30- to 90-minute tours, depending upon guests’ level of interest and time available. Visitor seating is available in each room.
The Wabash Valley Railroad Museum invites you to celebrate Terre Haute’s railroad legacy with its collection of train cars and historic buildings. In addition to looking at railroad memorabilia from both the past and present, your party will have a hands-on chance to learn what it’s like to work for a railroad.
And still there is so much more to round out your trip to the Queen City of the Wabash. Downtown is a hub of architecture, shops, public art, and walkable places. We’ll leave some of those surprises for you to find on your own.
For more information visit: www.terrehaute.com/.
