The town of Salem, Indiana, appears on the horizon like an oasis after many miles of rolling hills. It’s one of those towns that you see, and the voice in your head says, “There’s something unusual about this place.”
Over 200 years old, confederates raided the Civil War mind-blowing underground museum and many seemingly frozen places. There’s an old soda fountain at the 1870s drugstore, a bakery/donut shop with a large model train on display, a pioneer village, and a county museum with three stories of excellent exhibits. But that is only the beginning! Salem, Indiana, has so much hidden and waiting to be explored. It is, indeed, a hidden world!
Driving along the back roads of Indiana is one of my favorite things to do. There’s something about hitting the road on a sunny day, a blue sky above, a warm breeze, and your favorite drink in the cup holder—better than any TV program. Small towns appear in front of your windshield and are filled with the sights and sounds of people living their lives, such as here in Salem, Indiana. And for a few minutes or hours, you’re immersed in a totally different world, one with many wonderful surprises if you’re willing to look for them.
The town itself is named after Salem, North Carolina, and is over 200 years old, created in 1814, two years before Indiana was even a state. The first thing you’ll notice is the imposing Washington County Courthouse. There’s a circular drive that propels you around 1800s-era buildings, and everywhere you look hints at a hidden history waiting to be discovered.
The Washington County Courthouse is one of the most unique in Southern Indiana, built in 1886 with a Richardsonian Romanesque design that looks very much like a castle and even has a turret.
This is actually the third Washington County Courthouse. Fallen soldiers are honored here from the Revolutionary War to present times, emphasizing that freedom is not free but has a price. Thank you. It should never be taken for granted.
A case in point was Morgan’s raid in 1863, a Confederate Cavalry of about 2,000 men who came to Salem on their horses from Kentucky. They burned down the train depot, robbed every store in town, and demanded one thousand dollars from every mill owner or threatened to burn the mills to the ground. It was one of the worst days that Salem ever knew. But today, things are much sweeter in Salem, and nothing says that better than a unique bakery on the northeast side of the town square.
Inside, you can get an incredible donut, apple fritter, or coffee and enjoy it at a comfortable seat or table. But as a clear bonus, they also have a model train display that surrounds the tables.
ER and the train will go flying down the track.
A Mexican restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining on the square, a welcomed addition fitting in as if it’s always been there. But on the west side of the square is a drugstore and soda fountain, one that’s been in business since 1876. That’s over 140 years and counting. It is classic Americana at its finest, with 1950s-style bar stools. You can get a bite to eat or a milkshake just like the good old days.
Just east of the square is where your imagination comes off the rails, literally.
Built to resemble the depot that was burned down during the Civil War, this old train depot is not only a museum about the railroad but also houses a mind-blowing recreation of Salem Underground.
The depot railroad museum has a collection of train memorabilia and a gift shop on the first floor.
But take the stairs or elevator to the basement to experience something quite extraordinary.
This is the entire town of Salem in miniature form. Above the diorama are pictures of the town, looking below, you can see how faithfully they were reproduced.
On the walls are scores of vintage model trains, bringing back memories of train sets and Christmas mornings all across America.
This is where all the trains are controlled by a computer. The tracks actually have hidden light sensors to know when trains come by.
Don’t forget to look up as trains are running above your head.
This is fully handicap accessible and a great attraction for anyone.
Just across the parking lot going north is a Pioneer Village— a general store, church, and other buildings.
It also has the boyhood home of John Hay. He was born here at Salem in 1838 and became President Abraham Lincoln’s personal assistant. John later became the United States Secretary of State for Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Not bad at all for starting out in a small Indiana town. Collectively known as the John Hay Center, John Hay’s home, the Village train depot, and the Stevens Memorial Museum represent one of the most camouflaged tourist attractions in southern Indiana.
Inside the Stevens Memorial Museum itself are three levels of wonder in one building.
The first level has genealogy files on every major family that has lived in Washington County. There’s a place where you can study your family roots or even add to the story. But the highlight of the first floor is a very large museum starting with this beautiful 1910 Ford Model T, also known as the fliver. Here you’ll learn about Washington County from its earliest beginnings.
This includes a section on Native Americans, and many fine artifacts are on display. You’ll learn about Washington County’s pioneer settlements and early history. They have many fine dioramas that show how life used to be here, including a soda fountain, doctor’s office, dentist’s office, and lawyer’s office. For those that collect antiques, you might see items you recognize and even some you’ve never seen before.
Near the VAC is a military section where you’ll see everything from the Revolutionary War to present times.
This includes a large collection of firearms and an exhibit about Civil War cannonballs.
