Indiana War Memorials
The Tippecanoe Battlefield is one such memorial where tens of thousands visit every year. The location is seven miles north of Lafayette, Indiana and represents the area where the Native Americans lost the battle for the mid-western lands which they had inhabited for many years.
The museum at Tippecanoe offers much information about the battle and the area, along with a gift shop for tourists. Besides the museum, there’s camping, picnic areas, hiking trails and a nature center. It is inexpensive to visit but they are closed during January for maintenance and upkeep purposes.
Another must-see is the Indiana War Memorial Plaza and American Legion Mall in downtown Indianapolis. Fantastic fountains and limestone buildings touch lend to the experience. See the battle flag collection, visit the soldiers and sailors monument, or drop by the American Legions Mall. The Civil War Museum tops off this massive war memorial center that is a delight for any history buff.
The Congressional Medal Of Honor Memorial is nearby and honors each and every recipient who received these medal for military heroism and valor. The memorial is a collection of glass plates which have been etched with the names of over 3,400 recipients. It is situated on the north bank side of Central Canal in White River State Park. During the Civil War this was a military camp where training of the troops took place. At dusk, stories of the heroism are told as sections of the 17 curved glass plates light up to cast a glow across the memorial.
The WWII Victory Museum in Auburn features the world’s greatest collection of uniforms, vehicles, arms and documents from WWII. Call ahead to visit on dates when they feature re-enactments of the military history. There will be lots of special entertainment and food as well as period and collector shops.
There are so many more war memorials to see – many of which are free or inexpensive. Do an online search while planning your next vacation to map out a course that will take you by as many as you can squeeze in during your Indiana stay.