I used to think Indiana was all about cornfields and racetracks until I started exploring the state with fresh eyes. What I discovered completely changed my perspective and turned me into someone who actively defends Indiana whenever people dismiss it as boring.
From underground rivers you can actually boat through to ancient fossil beds older than dinosaurs, this state holds secrets that rival attractions in much more famous destinations. The places I am about to share with you represent some of the most unusual and captivating spots in the entire Midwest.
Many lifelong Indiana residents do not even know these locations exist, which makes discovering them feel like uncovering hidden treasure. Whether you are looking for architectural wonders, natural phenomena, or just something completely unexpected to explore on a weekend, Indiana delivers in ways that will genuinely surprise you.
1. The Miller House and Garden (Columbus)
Columbus might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of world-class architecture, but this small Indiana city holds more architectural gems per capita than almost anywhere else in America. The Miller House stands as one of the finest examples of mid-century modern residential design you will find anywhere, designed by Eero Saarinen in 1957 for industrialist J.
Irwin Miller and his family.
Walking through this house feels like stepping into a perfectly preserved time capsule where every detail was intentionally crafted. The famous conversation pit sits sunken into the living room floor, surrounded by built-in seating that invites intimate gatherings in a way modern furniture arrangements simply cannot replicate.
Floor-to-ceiling windows blur the boundary between interior and exterior spaces, making the meticulously designed garden by landscape architect Dan Kiley feel like an extension of the living areas.
Alexander Girard designed the interiors with bold patterns and vivid colors that somehow feel both daring and harmonious. Tours must be booked in advance through the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and they fill up quickly during peak seasons.
After your visit, grab lunch at Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor at 329 Washington Street, a restored 1900 soda fountain that serves classic American fare in a setting as nostalgically charming as the Miller House is modernly sophisticated.
2. The Rotary Jail Museum (Crawfordsville)
Imagine being locked in a cell where the entire floor rotates like a lazy Susan, and only one cell door aligns with the single opening at any given time. That bizarre concept became reality in Crawfordsville between 1882 and 1973, when this rotating jail actually housed prisoners in what seems like something out of a dystopian novel.
The mechanism worked through a hand crank operated by jailers, who would rotate the two-story cell block to bring whichever cell they needed access to in front of the stationary opening. Only three of these rotating jails were ever built in the world, and Crawfordsville’s is one of just three remaining examples.
The concept sounds clever in theory but proved nightmarish in practice, as inmates sometimes got their limbs caught between the rotating bars and the stationary frame.
Tours guide you through the eerie structure where you can see the massive gears and mechanisms that made this architectural oddity function. The museum also houses the former sheriff’s residence attached to the jail, furnished as it would have been during the facility’s operational years.
Located at 225 North Washington Street, the museum sits within walking distance of downtown Crawfordsville, where you can explore the charming historic district afterward and grab a bite at one of several locally owned restaurants along the main square.
3. Portland Arch Nature Preserve (Covington)
Most people associate dramatic natural arches with Utah or Arizona, never imagining that Indiana conceals its own spectacular sandstone bridge hidden in a rugged canyon system. Portland Arch stands as the only natural arch in Indiana, formed over countless centuries as a small stream carved through layers of sandstone bedrock.
The preserve protects 435 acres of canyon land that feels transported from somewhere much farther west. Reaching the arch requires hiking along trails that wind through hemlock-shaded ravines and past moss-covered rock faces that stay cool even on hot summer days.
The arch itself spans an impressive distance, and standing beneath it gives you a tangible sense of the immense timespan required for water to sculpt solid rock into such an elegant form.
The trails here range from moderate to challenging, with some steep sections and rocky terrain that require decent footwear and reasonable fitness levels. Spring brings wildflowers to the forest floor, while autumn transforms the canopy into a spectacular display of reds and golds.
The preserve is managed by the Nature Conservancy and located near Covington in western Indiana, about an hour from Lafayette. Pack water and snacks since no facilities exist within the preserve, and plan for at least two to three hours to properly explore the canyon system and appreciate this geological wonder.
4. Jug Rock Nature Preserve (Shoals)
Rising sixty feet above the surrounding landscape, Jug Rock commands attention with its improbable shape that defies your expectations of how rocks should behave. This massive formation represents the largest free-standing table rock east of the Mississippi River, created through differential erosion that left harder caprock perched atop a narrower stem of softer sandstone.
The rock genuinely resembles a giant jug or mushroom, with a bulbous top section wider than the supporting column beneath it. Geologists find this formation particularly fascinating because the softer underlying layers continue to erode while the harder cap protects what remains below from rain and weathering.
Eventually, probably centuries from now, the stem will erode enough that the entire caprock will come crashing down in a spectacular geological finale.
A short trail leads from the parking area to viewing areas around the base of the formation, making this an accessible destination for families with young children or anyone with mobility limitations. Interpretive signs explain the geological processes that created this unusual feature and discuss the plants and animals that make the preserve their home.
Located just outside the town of Shoals in southern Indiana, Jug Rock sits within easy reach of several other southern Indiana attractions. Consider pairing your visit with a trip to nearby West Boggs Park, which offers camping, swimming, and boating on a scenic reservoir surrounded by rolling forested hills.
5. Bluespring Caverns (Bedford)
Gliding silently through complete darkness on an underground river feels surreal, especially when your guide’s flashlight reveals blind cavefish swimming alongside your boat. Bluespring Caverns offers something you cannot experience anywhere else in the United States: tours along the longest navigable underground river in the country, stretching over twenty miles through limestone passages carved by water over millions of years.
The temperature stays at a constant 52 degrees year-round, so bring a jacket even on the hottest summer days. Your boat tour covers about a mile of the underground river, with the guide pointing out fascinating geological features like flowstone formations, stalactites, and the occasional sleeping bat clinging to the ceiling.
The ecosystem down here has adapted to perpetual darkness, with several species found nowhere else on Earth.
The caverns were discovered in 1940 when a farmer noticed his pond draining mysteriously, eventually finding the entrance to this vast underground system. Today, professional guides lead tours that last about an hour, departing regularly throughout the day during the summer season.
The caverns are located just outside Bedford at 1459 Bluespring Caverns Road, in the heart of Indiana limestone country where countless quarries have provided building stone for structures across America. After your underground adventure, visit downtown Bedford to see beautiful limestone architecture and grab lunch at one of the local diners that serve classic Hoosier comfort food.
6. The City Market Catacombs (Indianapolis)
Beneath the bustling City Market in downtown Indianapolis lies a half-acre maze of brick-lined tunnels and massive limestone pillars that most people walking above have no idea exists. These catacombs were built in 1886 as part of Tomlinson Hall, serving originally as storage and utility spaces for the market above before being largely forgotten for decades.
Tours take you down into this atmospheric underground world where the temperature stays cool and the brick arches create dramatic spaces lit by carefully placed lighting. The limestone pillars that support the market above are engineering marvels, each one carefully cut and placed to bear enormous weight.
During Prohibition, rumors swirled that these tunnels served as speakeasies, though historical evidence for that remains murky at best.
The Indianapolis City Market Foundation offers guided tours that run on weekends, taking you through the history of both the catacombs and the market building above. The tours last about thirty minutes and require advance reservations since space is limited and the passages are not suitable for large crowds.
Located at 222 East Market Street in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, the City Market itself deserves exploration after your catacomb tour. The market houses numerous food vendors serving everything from authentic ethnic cuisine to classic American favorites, making it the perfect spot to grab lunch.
Nearby Mass Ave offers art galleries, theaters, and locally owned shops within easy walking distance.
7. Kankakee Sands (Morocco)
Watching a herd of wild bison graze across a seemingly endless prairie feels like witnessing a scene from two centuries ago, before European settlement transformed the Midwest landscape. Kankakee Sands represents one of the most ambitious prairie restoration projects in the United States, bringing back 8,000 acres of tallgrass prairie and the majestic animals that once roamed here in vast numbers.
The Nature Conservancy manages this remarkable property in northwestern Indiana, where they have reintroduced not just bison but also numerous prairie plant species that disappeared from the landscape generations ago. More than 700 plant species now thrive here, including rare orchids and other wildflowers that create spectacular displays throughout the growing season.
The bison herd roams freely across designated sections of the preserve, and spotting them grazing or wallowing in prairie dust bowls ranks among the most memorable wildlife viewing experiences available in the Midwest.
Miles of trails wind through different habitat types, from wet prairie to dry uplands, each supporting different communities of plants and animals. Spring and fall bring migrating birds by the thousands, making this a premier birding destination.
The preserve offers guided tours on select dates, including special bison viewing opportunities that get you closer to the herd than you could safely approach on your own. Located near the town of Morocco in Newton County, Kankakee Sands sits about two hours from both Indianapolis and Chicago, making it accessible for day trips from either city.
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