Celebrate Spring with Volkmarches

Did you know Indiana's Historic Pathways sponsors volksmarches throughout the year? A volksmarch is a non-competitive 5 or 10 kilometer walk along a designated trail, and it's a great way to get active and enjoy nature.

Join us for our spring volkmarches:

April 14

8:00 a.m. to Noon, finish by 3:00 p.m. EDT

Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. In conjunction with the Columbus Hiking Club.

Download information brochure

April 21

9:00 a.m. to Noon, finish by 3:00 p.m. EDT

French Lick. In conjunction with the Bedford Hiking Club.

Download information brochure

For more information about volkmarches, visit AVA.org.

8 Fun and Frightful Ways to Spend Halloween Weekend on Indiana's Historic Pathways

1. Annual Downtown Pumpkin Hunt & Fresh Air Flicks Double Feature, October 28
Downtown Vincennes
The Annual Downtown Pumpkin Hunt will be held at Patrick Henry Square in Vincennes from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Costume parade begins at 4:00 p.m. followed by the lighting of the pumpkin tower. Fresh Air Flicks will have a double feature, "Ghostbusters" at dark and the movie "Halloween" will be shown at midnight.
More information: Kim Schoelkopf, 812/881-9286

2. Owl Prowl, October 28
Versailles State Park, Versailles
Come to the Saddle barn at Versailles State Park for a night hike to learn more about southern Indiana owls. You might even see or hear a few!
More information: Versailles State Park, 812/689-6424

3. Legend of the Lost Train, October 28-29
Indiana Railway Museum, French Lick
Board the train for a ghostly ride through the forest and into the haunted Burton Tunnel. The "kid-friendly" Ghost Train boards at 5:30 p.m. on October 28.
More information: Indiana Railray Museum, 1-800-74-TRAIN

4. Horror, History & Hauntings, October 28-29
Great Crescent Brewery, Aurora
The 7th annual Horror, History & Hauntings Halloween event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Great Crescent Brewery in Aurora. The event will include a murder mystery, dinner catered by Three Sisters Catering, and special treats and surprises. Reservations required.
More information: Main Street Aurora, 812/926-1100

5. The Haunting of Hill House, October 28-30
Old Town Players Theatre & Arts Center, Vincennes
Jason Keller, artistic director, will present "The Haunting of Hill House," a thriller opening at the Old Town Players Theatre & Arts Center.
More information: Visit Oldtownplayers.org

6. Halloween Parade and Costume Contest, October 29
Downtown Square, Corydon
A costume contest for all ages will be held at 4:00 p.m. on the bandstand. Parade starts at 6:00 p.m.
More information: Harrison County CVB, 812/738-2138

7. Trick or Treating and Campsite Decorating Contest, October 29
Versailles State Park, Versailles
Add some Halloween fun to your camping trip. Decorate your campsite for a chance to win prizes in the Versailles State Park Campsite Decorating Contest. Judging will begin at 6:00 p.m. Trick or Treating in the campground is from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
More information: Versailles State Park, 812/689-6424

8. Ghosts in the Museum Paranormal Investigation, October 29
Hillforest Victorian House Museum, Aurora
Hunt for real ghosts during a night at Hillforest led by the Spiritual H.O.P.E. Society paranormal investigating team.
More information: Hillforest, 812/926-0087

Thanks for a great teacher workshop!

Thank you to all the teachers, speakers and donors who made our 2nd annual teacher workshop a success! Over 35 people attended this year's event to learn about Indiana transportation history. Topics included railroads, wagons, covered bridges, the Underground Railroad, the Buffalo Trace, and steamboats.

More photos from the workshop are available at Indianashistoricpathways.org.

Bringing History Alive: Register Now for our Teacher Workshop

What do chairs, fossils, arrowheads, buffalo, abalone buttons, turkey feathers, railroad spikes, and musketballs have in common? They all represent southern Indiana history!

Indiana's Historic Pathways is partnering with Historic Southern Indiana to offer the second annual Indiana's Historic Pathways teacher workshop on October 4th at the Paoli Community Learning Center in Paoli, Indiana. The workshop is geared toward 3rd and 4th grade teachers of local and state history, but anyone is welcome to attend. The cost to attend is $20 and includes lunch and educational materials.

The workshop, "Getting from Here to There: The Story of Indiana's Transportation Routes," will highlight the rich history of transportation along the byway. The story of Indiana's Historic Pathway, which encompasses US 50 and US 150, begins with the prehistoric pathways carved by eastern bison on their annual migration between the salt lick of Kentucky and the prairies of Illinois. Native Americans used these worn paths on hunting expeditions. Later, settlers would use this same route, known as the Buffalo Trace, as they settled southern Indiana. A stagecoach route would replace the footpaths and this road eventually became US Highway 150 linking New Albany to Vincennes. Indiana’s Historic Pathways also includes US Highway 50. The Ohio and Mississippi Railroad linking Cincinnati and St. Louis started construction in 1854 and ran through southern Indiana. Today, US 50, a cross country federal highway, closely follows the railroad line.

Speaker topics include: Buffalo Trace, Railroad History, African American History & the Underground Railroad, 200 Years of Steamboats, and Native American History. A panel discussion by current teachers will explore innovative ideas to use in the classroom. Teachers will receive a kit with items pertaining to the history of the byway which can be used as a hands-on classroom project.

For more information: Visit the Historic Southern Indiana teacher workshop page.

To register: Register online and use code HSI950. The fee is $20. To register by phone, call 812/464-1989 or 800/467-8600.

Save the Date! Second Annual Indiana's Historic Pathways Teacher Workshop

The second annual Indiana's Historic Pathways teacher workshop is set for October 4 at the Paoli Community Learning Center in Paoli, Indiana.

Designed for teachers of Indiana history, this workshop focuses on the history of transportation along Indiana's Historic Pathways, one of the state's National Scenic Byways. This year's topics include Native Americans, the Underground Railroad, the Buffalo Trace, and the history of steamboats and railroads in southern Indiana. A panel session will highlight classroom project ideas from current teachers. Attendees will receive a box of items representing the history of communities along the byway to use in hands-on lessons with their students.

Registration will be available by the end of the month. Stay tuned for more information!


Photos from last year's workshop

Free Family Fun: Aurora's “A Roar of Thunder” Riverboat Regatta

The 13th annual "A Roar of Thunder" Riverboat Regatta, Southeast Indiana’s popular annual powerboat race, will roar into the town of Aurora later this month for two days of nonstop racing along the Ohio River. The races will take place August 20-21 at Lesko Park, a waterfront park in Aurora.

The event features powerboat racing in two separate speed classes as part of the Powerboat Superleague points circuit. The boats can reach up to 120 miles per hour as they slice through the water along the one-mile course.

In addition to two full days of racing (including the Championship Finals on Sunday), the Regatta also features free parking, food and refreshment booths, kids’ activities and more. The event is organized by Aurora Riverfront Beautification, Inc. and offers free admission thanks in part to the generosity of many local sponsors.

More information and a complete schedule of the weekend’s events can be found online at www.thunderregatta.com.

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Virgil "Gus" Grissom’s Liberty Bell 7 Space Flight

Did you know Lawrence County in southern Indiana is home to three United States astronauts?: Kenneth Bowersox, Charles Walker, and Virgil Grissom, the second man in space.

Lawrence County will be honoring Virgil "Gus" Grissom's first flight into space on the Liberty Bell during a 3-day celebration July 21-23. Special events will be held at various locations in Mitchell and Bedford including talks by the county's two other astronauts, Ken Bowersox and Charles Walker.

More information and schedules of events:

• The Final Frontier Liberty Bell 7
• Spring Mill State Park Liberty Bell 7 50th Anniversary Celebration - Schedule
• Liberty Bell 7 Anniversary
• Lawrence County Astronauts