By far, Madison, Indiana, is the most prominent tourist area in southern Indiana and one of my favorite places to hang out. For starters, it has one of the best waterfronts.
You can take fast boat rides or leisurely tours throughout the summer.
It’s a fantastic place to walk, soak up the sun, and watch barges go up and down the Ohio River all day. There are no time limits. A huge draw is the well-preserved homes and businesses. This is a town that was planted over 200 years ago in 1810.
So, there are plenty of fun places to shop and eat. You can even rent golf carts to tour historic streets and beautiful homes.
The most well-known structure is the JFD Lanier home. It sits commandingly along the Ohio River. Mr. Lanier was a banker who single-handedly saved Indiana from bankruptcy during the Civil War. He loaned the state over 1 million dollars to pay off debt and outfit soldiers. In 2022, that’s the equivalent of nearly 18 million dollars.
The JFD Lanier home was the first Indiana State Museum historic site. Tours of the Greek Revival mansion are top-rated. Just a block west of the Lanier mansion is the Jefferson County Museum. You’ll find a railroad depot and tour an old caboose there. Inside the main museum building, you’ll find a comprehensive history of Jefferson County.
If you take Highway 7 north, otherwise known as Cragmont Street, you’ll find Hanging Rock. It’s a historic waterfall beside the road and has long been a favorite place to take a roadside picture.
Before the retaining pool was installed, people used to park below the falls and wash their cars. Clifty Falls State Park is one of the most unique parks in Indiana. It has four of the biggest waterfalls in the state, ranging from 60 to 83 feet tall.
It has ten great trails, including the infamous Trail 2, considered the most rugged trail in Indiana. It’s great for endurance training if you’re up to the challenge.
You can bring a flashlight and tour Bruff’s Tunnel from May through the end of October. Originally planned as a railroad tunnel, it’s now a fun way to escape the summer heat and enjoy a little adventure. At 600 feet long, it’s often very muddy and slippery, so be advised.
The park has not only a lodge but a nature center.
And south of the nature center is a great lookout tower where you can view the Ohio River. Any season is a good time to visit Madison, Indiana, and once you visit, you’ll understand why people keep coming back.
