North Central Indiana Day Trips: Road Trip Indiana Series, #8

By Paul R. Wonning

Road Trips in North Central Indiana

Take a fun tour through the rich history of Indiana using North Central Indiana Day Trips as your guidebook. This tourism guide will help visitors find all the historical treasures in south central Indiana.

North Central Indiana Cities and Towns

North Central Indiana has some wonderful cities and towns ranging from charming small towns like Kokomo, Wabash and Peru to larger cities like South Bend, and Elkhart. Each of these towns and cities has many things to do for your family as it explores the regions roads and highways.

North Central Indiana Wineries

North Central Indiana has several interesting wineries that produce some fascinating wines.

North Central Indiana State and Local Parks

The region has several state parks and forests including Potato Creek and Mississinewa Reservoir.

North Central Indiana Museums and Historic Sites

Explorers in the area can stage a day trip to learn the region's rich history by visiting the museums and markers located in the various cities and towns of North Central Indiana. Many host interesting family events that are fun and educational

The counties included in this historical travel book include:

Carroll

Cass

Clinton

Elkhart

Fulton

Kosciusko

Marshall

Miami

St. Joseph

Wabash

Howard

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mossy Feet Books
• Release date: Feb 8, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223705079

Paul R. Wonning

Publisher of history, gardening, travel and fiction books. Gardening, history and travel seem an odd soup in which to stew one's life, but Paul has done just that. A gardener since 1975, he has spent his spare time reading history and traveling with his wife. He gardens, plans his travels and writes his books out in the sticks near a small town in southeast Indiana. He enjoys sharing the things he has learned about gardening, history and travel with his readers. The many books Paul has written reflect that joy of sharing. He also writes fiction in his spare time. Read and enjoy his books, if you will. Or dare.

Book preview

Carroll County

County Seat - Delphi

Area - 375.02 sq mi

Population - (2010) - 20,155

Founded - 1828

Named for- Charles Carroll

County Government

Court House

101 W Main St

Delphi, IN 46923

https://www.carrollcountygovernment.org

Tourism Information

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce

114 E. Main Street Suite C

P.O. Box 175

Delphi, IN 46923

http://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/

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Carroll County 4-H Fairgrounds

102 North Fourth Street

Flora, IN 46929

https://www.floracommunityclub.org/carroll-county-4-h-fair/

History of Carroll County

The Indiana General Assembly created Carrol County on May 1, 1828, naming it for Charles Carroll, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence at the time the county was formed.

Charles Carroll (September 19, 1737 – November 14, 1832)

The son of Charles Carroll and Elizabeth Brooke, Charles was a native of Annapolis, Maryland. His parents were not married at the time of his birth due to legal issues over their respective estates. The couple would marry in 1757 when Charles was twenty. At age eleven, his parents sent him to France for his education. He returned to Annapolis in 1755. Since the family was Catholic, Maryland laws prevented his entry into politics. He became a successful farmer, becoming one of the richest men in Maryland and the Colonies. An early supporter of American independence, he was active in pre-revolutionary activities. He gained election to the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. he arrived in Philadelphia after the vote on the Declaration of Independence, but he was in time to sign the first official document. He would become the last surviving signer of the Document after after Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died the same day, July 4, 1826. Carroll remained a delegate at the Continental Congress until 1778. he would gain election to the Maryland State Senate in 1781. The Senators elected him as Maryland's first Senator after the passage of the United States Constitution. Carroll retired from public life in 1801 and died in Baltimore on November 14, 1832.

Adjacent counties

Cass County (northeast)

Howard County (east)

Clinton County (south)

Tippecanoe County (southwest)

White County (northwest)

Cities and towns

Burlington

Camden

Delphi

Flora

Yeoman

Major highways

U.S. Route 421

Indiana State Road 18

Indiana State Road 22

Indiana State Road 25

Indiana State Road 29

Indiana State Road 75

Indiana State Road 218

Historic Bridges

Carroll County has a number of historic bridges. For a list and map visit this link.

Historic Attractions

Camden

Camden Museum

Cutler

Martin Schoolhouse

Deer Creek

Delphi

Carroll County Historical Museum

Wabash & Erie Canal Interpretive Center

Pittsburg

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce

REMC Building - 2nd Floor

119 W. Franklin St.

Delphi, IN 46923

Mailing Address:

PO Box 83

Delphi, IN 47923

[e-mail]

765-564-6757

866-374-6813

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Camden

Platted in 1830 or 1832, Camden occupied sixteen acre in the center of the Carroll County. The settlement consisted of five buildings, four of which were log cabins. For more information on the history, attractions, lodging and shopping contact:

Town of Camden

Camden Town Hall & Community Building

P.O. Box 47

153 West Main Street

Camden, IN 46917

574-686-2121

Camden Museum

The lower floor houses the Camden Public Library, the upper floor the Camden Museum.

Camden Museum

183 West Main Street

Camden, IN 46917

[phone]

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Cutler

County - Carroll

Elevation - 751 ft

ZIP code - 46920

John A. Cook platted Cutler in 1871 when the Logansport Crawfordsville & Southwestern Rail Road went through the town. He probably named it for one of the construction crew, William P. Cutler.

Cutler is located on Indiana State Road 75 about five miles south of its intersection with Indiana State Road 18.

Adams Mill Museum - Adams Mill Covered Bridge

Grist mill built in 1845 by John Adams.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

A museum of early rural Americana, open to the public.

Adams Mill Covered Bridge is near the mill. The museum contains all of the original milling equipment and a large collection of other artifact, including mill-related equipment includes fanning mills, pulley systems, carts, and shovels. The mill is still operational; however, waterpower is no longer used. The three-story museum has Masonic Lodge furniture on the third floor. The mill served as a Masonic Lodge in the 1860's.

Adams Mill Museum

County Road S 75 E, Cutler, Indiana

P.O. Box 582

Cutler, IN 46920

765-268-2530

Deer Creek

Deer Creek is at the intersection of Indiana State Roads 29 and 218.

Museums and Historic Sites

Adams Mill

County Road S 75 E

P.O. Box 582

Cutler, IN 46920

http://www.adams-mill.org/

[e-mail]

765-605-6286

Carroll County Historical Society

P.O. Box 277

700 N Washington St.

Delphi, IN 46923

www.carrollcountymuseum.org

[phone]

Camden Museum

183 West Main Street Camden,

Indiana 46917

574-686-2120

Martin Schoolhouse

County Roads 750 N and 100 W

Tours

765-438-5908

Wabash & Erie Canal Park & Annex

1030 N Washington St,

Delphi, IN 46923

765-564-2870

https://wabashanderiecanal.org/canal-park-property-history-delphi-in/

Nature and Wildlife Refuges

Mary Gerard Nature Reserve

County Road 300 N

Delphi, IN 46923

Berkshire-Tarnowski Forest Preserve

From the intersection of state road 75 and 350 N in Carroll County, travel 0.3 miles to the west and park at a small gravel lot on the south side of the road with room for just a couple of vehicles.

https://nicheslandtrust.org/carroll-county/berkshire-tarnowski-forest-preserve

Frogs’ Glory

From the intersection of US 421 and state road 18, travel west before turning north on 1150 W. Stay left at Y intersection before turning west on 425 N to Tippecanoe Ranch Estates.

https://nicheslandtrust.org/carroll-county/frogs-glory

Heron Bottoms

Located on US 421 just south of the North Fork of Wildcat Creek. Traveling south on US 421 turn west on the first road after the bridge, and park where it turns south and joins 600 W.

https://nicheslandtrust.org/carroll-county/heron-bottoms

Wildcat Wildlife Center Inc

4709 N 400 W,

Delphi, IN 46923

1-765-491-2351

http://wildcatwildlifecenter.org/

McAllister Woods

No Trails, access land via Wildcat Creek

https://nicheslandtrust.org/carroll-county/mcallister-woods

Moyer-Gould Woods

Moyer Gould Woods address is 4620 N US 421, Delphi IN. The lane to the parking lot is lined with Black Walnuts. 1 1/4 miles north of the intersection of SR 18 and US 421 Roughly 8 miles south of the US 421 bridge over the Tippecanoe River on the south side of Monticello

https://nicheslandtrust.org/carroll-county/moyer-gould-woods

Mussel Shoals

Only accessible from Wildcat Creek

https://nicheslandtrust.org/carroll-county/mussel-shoals

Sixbey

Property is only accessible from Wildcat Creek

https://nicheslandtrust.org/carroll-county/sixbey

Weaver Family Nature Reserve

The only means of access to Weaver Family Nature Reserve is via non-motored water craft (e.g. canoe, kayak) on the Wabash River.

https://nicheslandtrust.org/carroll-county/weaver-family-nature-reserve

Whistler Woods

From downtown Delphi, Indiana: Head east on Indiana 25, turn north on 300 North, look for sign for trail head marking Delphi Trail System. Park at the lot, and head east over the Freedom Bridge. NICHES property is on the south after crossing the Freedom Bridge.

https://nicheslandtrust.org/carroll-county/whistler-woods

Local Parks

George W. Obear Overlook Park

1514 W North Washington St,

Delphi, IN 46923

Trailhead Park - 4 trails totaling almost 3 miles

1808 N State Rd 25,

Delphi, IN 46923

https://cityofdelphi.org/trailhead-park

VanDerVolgen Overlook and Rest Area

On the Interurban Trail

French Post Park

County Road

1050N/275W

[phone]

Burlington Park

Highway 22

Burlington

Tippecanoe Township Park

9290 W 310 N,

Delphi, IN 46923

Camden-Jackson Township Park

1514 W North Washington St,

Delphi, IN 46923

Deer Creek Park

6336 East State Road

Camden

Delphi City Park

Monroe and Main Streets

Delphi

George Obear Overlook Park

Washington Street,

Delphi

Riley Park

101 Riley Rd,

Delphi, IN 46923

Stone Barn Park

North Washington Street

Delphi

Flora Community Park

Park Row

Flora, IN 46929

Trails

Delphi Historic Trails system

Downtown Loop Trail (0.9 mile) Delphi

Riley City Trail (1.5 miles) Delphi

Interurban Trail (0.8 mile)

Monon High Bridge Trail

1030 N Washington St, Delphi, IN 46923

https://www.cityofdelphi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=180&Itemid=143

Bicycle Route #1 traverses through a gently rolling landscape of farms, down into the Wabash River Valley, and along Towpath Road which parallels the remains of the Wabash and Erie Canal.

Bicycle Route #2 travels across the heart of Carroll County through its friendly towns and past historic Adams Mill and Covered Bridge.

https://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/recreation/biking-hiking-trails

Maps located at the link:

https://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/recreation/biking-hiking-trails

Public Access Sites

Deer Creek Launch Site

State Road 75 bridge south of Camden, 11

https://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/recreation/canoeing-boating

Springboro Bridge

State Road R 18

https://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/recreation/canoeing-boating

Tippecanoe River

DNR Site - CR 1200 W

Lake Freeman., below the Oakdale Dam

https://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/recreation/canoeing-boating

Wabash River

Indiana DNR Public Access Site

County Road 900N

https://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/recreation/canoeing-boating

Carrollton Bridge

Indiana DNR Public Access Site

Carrollton Road

https://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/recreation/canoeing-boating

French Post Park

County Road 300 W

https://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/recreation/canoeing-boating

Wildcat Creek

Indiana DNR Public Access Site

North Fork of the Wildcat

State Route 29 bridge in Burlington

https://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/recreation/canoeing-boating

Adams Mill

Indiana DNR Public Access Site

accessed from SR 75 into Cutler via County Roads (CR) 485E, 500S and 75E

https://www.carrollcountyindiana.com/recreation/canoeing-boating

Knop Lake

County Road 650S

Hodges Canoe Trips (on the Tippecanoe River)

Address: 2761 N 1275 W, Delphi, IN 46923

Phone: [phone]

Wildcat Canoe and Kayak Too (on Wildcat Creek)

Address: CR 725 E, south of the bridge, in Tippecanoe County

Phone: [phone]

Wineries & Breweries

Fruitshine Wine

11752 W 1100 N,

Monticello, IN 47960

http://fruitshinewine.com/index.html

Golf

Angel Hill Golf Course

351 N. Plank St.

Rossville

https://angelhillgolfcourse.com/golf/

Country Club

411 Howard St

Delphi, IN 46923

[phone]

https://www.carrollcountycountryclub.com/?fbclid=IwAR0hnwYNDYw4ATLbd-oX_otQmH-KRfHkD4doSM54lcl92hs3x5e5IyuG4Ss

https://www.facebook.com/Carroll-County-Country-Club-Golf-Course-113587535326230/

Hollow Acres

8291 US-421,

Monticello, IN 47960

[phone]

https://www.hollowacres.com/

Miscellaneous

Adams Mill Covered Bridge

4238-4668 S 75 E,

Cutler, IN 46920

Lancaster Covered Bridge

Covered bridge over Wildcat Creek on CR 500 West

Wildcat Creek MX

6390 S Wildwood Rd

Rossville, IN

46065

[phone]

http://wildcatcreekmx.com/Wildcat/

Auto Tours

Hoosier Heartland Highway

in.gov/indot/projects/state-road-25-hoosier-heartland/

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Title of Marker:

Sycamore Row

Location:

SR 29, 0.5 mile south of Deer Creek. (Carroll County, Indiana)

Installed by:

Erected by the Indiana State Highway Commission, October 12, 1963

Marker ID #:

08.1963.1

Marker Text:

This row of sycamores sprouted from freshly cut logs used in the 1830's to corduroy a swampy section of the historic Michigan Road, the first state road in Indiana, running from Madison to Michigan City.

Brief History by the Author

Michigan Road

Michigan Road is one of the oldest roads in Indiana, built in the early 1800's to connect Madison, Indiana with Michigan City. When the Indiana State Government moved from Corydon, Indiana to Indianapolis, the legislators and governor found themselves in isolation. There were no good roads leading to the new capital city and the White River was not navigable. They sought to rectify this by passing legislation to build the first superhighway in the State of Indiana. To accomplish their goal, they needed to negotiate a treaty with the Pottawattamie Indian Tribe and clear a vast swath of trees the length of the state.

Michigan Road Auto Tour

Madison

The first settlers began populating the site now known as Madison, Indiana around 1806. The town was incorporated in 1809, seven years before Indiana became a state. It is location along the Ohio River caused it to become an important town in the early state's history. In 1836 the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad was completed, connecting the growing city with the new state capital. The state's first major highway was the Michigan Road, commissioned in 1828. Construction began in 1830 and the road was completed in 1837. The Michigan Road, later to become State Road 29, ran from Madison, Indiana to Michigan City on Lake Michigan in the north. It ran through Indianapolis, connecting the state capital to the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. So by the 1840's, Madison was connected to the northern part of the state by road and rail.

Half of Early Pioneers Used the Road

Over half of the pioneers settling Indiana passed along this road, and this influx of traffic allowed Madison, Indiana to grow. Competing rail lines caused the railroad to fail, and other routes opened up, causing Madison, Indiana to fall in importance while other cities grew. The population maintained itself from the Civil War until the late 1900's. A program of downtown renewal has resulted in the creation of a vibrant small city along the banks of the Ohio River. The historic downtown has been revitalized, a river walk built along the river and there are exciting events all year, making Madison, Indiana a picturesque and inviting town to visit.

Michigan City

The need for a good harbor on Lake Michigan spurred the development of Michigan City. A real estate developer named Isaac C. Elston purchased 200 acres along the lakeshore in 1830. He recorded the plat in 1833. Michigan City incorporated in 1836. The completion of the Michigan Road in 1837 connected the growing city with Indianapolis and the Ohio River far to the south.

Treaty with the Pottawatomie, 1826

The planned route of the road lay is land still claimed