This Scenic 76-Mile Drive Just May Be The Most Underrated Adventure In Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published April 21, 2023
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Nestled in southeastern Indiana is a delightful adventure that awaits anyone bored enough (or exciting enough!) to conquer it. It’s a scenic, 76-mile drive through some truly beautiful landscapes, historical places, state parks, and more, and it’s known as the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway. This scenic drive in Indiana is so much more than just a nice, pretty road; there are numerous notable stops along the way, most of which hold some sort of historical significance (on top of being spectacular). Come drive this awesome scenic route in Indiana and see for yourself – you’ll want to do it over and over again!
The Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway is a north-to-south road in southeastern Indiana that leads right through some scenic - and historic - places and spots.
The canal has a long history dating all the way back to the 1800s; today, however, more than half of the original structures built along the way are still standing (and mostly accessible!).
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The photos in this article are all of destinations on the byway - in no particular order.
One of the places you'll come upon is the Historic Richmond Depot District, which is jam-packed with historic buildings, local history, arts, eats, entertainment, and more! Heck, this stop alone would make for an excellent day trip all on its own.
It may not look like much now, but history buffs will appreciate it: this church was organized in 1797 and this building was built in 1812. It's the oldest church in Indiana that still exists on its original foundation, and it's quite the photo op.
Check out the old Elmhurst Mansion, which was built in 1831 and stands as a reminder of Indiana's past, present, and future.
It's open for tours (you need to book ahead of time), so if you'd like to go in, you're definitely in luck!
Another stop everyone ought to make is the gorgeous Duck Creek Aqueduct, which is quite literally the only covered-bridge aqueduct in the United States.
It's outrageously picturesque, and you'll definitely want to get some photos of your own!
Obviously, we can’t list everything that’s awesome about this scenic drive in Indiana, but some other points of interest worthy of stopping for include Whitewater Memorial State Park, Whitewater Gorge Park, Brookville Lake, Perfect North Slopes, and so much more. Have you ever done the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway? What were your favorite stops? Let us know!
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