Seniors Are High On Terre Haute

Terre Haute, Indiana, senior travelers will find, is near the state’s western border with Illinois and has a population that runs right at 61,000 with its metropolitan area population of 170,900+. Terre Haute is the self-proclaimed capital of the Wabash Valley.

Incorporated as a city in 1832, Terre Haute derived its name from an expression used by early 18th century French explorers to describe the terra firma of the city, which lies on a high flat plain. The English translation of “terre haute” is “high land”. Terre Haute is located alongside the eastern bank of the Wabash River in western Indiana.

Terre Haute is loaded with National Register Historic Places. TripAdvisor notes that Terre Haute lies just off the I-70 at the gateway to Illinois and that it is a refreshing hub of arts and activity in the midst of the heartland. The historic U.S. Highway 40 forms the National Road, taking senior travelers on a scenic route past historic bakeries, sculptures and the oldest billboard in the state.

Seniors Drive The Historic National Road

Senior visitors can take a tour of the downtown area and enjoy its museums, galleries and quaint cafes. Visit Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College across the Wabash River to honor its founder, recently sainted Mother Theodore Guerin.

The city is home to  Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Indiana State University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a private engineering school, where one of my former students attended. The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the “Best in the Midwest” 11 years running.

Some say the #1 attraction in town is watching all the trains go buzzing by. Historic National Road, a multi-state scenic byway, runs along Wabash Avenue.

Destination360 notes that Terre Haute has a history with Coca-Cola: the now world-renowned contoured shape of the Coca-Cola bottle was designed and first introduced in Terre  Haute back in 1915 and 1916.

Seniors Enjoy the Historical ‘Crossroads of America’

Me, I’d want to shoot a few photos of the Old Mill Dam, built in 1817. The local Chamber of Commerce welcomes visitors to Terre Haute known as the historical “Crossroads of America.”

Terre Haute’s history reaches back to the early 1800s with the construction of Fort Harrison as a permanent settlement within Indian Territory. The city grew up primarily around industry and river traffic on the Wabash River. The growth of the railroads and a short-lived oil boom contributed to the city’s prosperity.

 Senior visitors can enjoy the Swope Art Museum featuring American artists and the Arts Illiana gallery that features and sells work from local and regional artists. Locally made Clabber Girl baking powder is honored at the Clabber Girl Museum and Bake Shop, which also serves breakfast and lunch. Seniors, set your sites on Terre Haute and enjoy a memorable visit. -jeb