The Henry S. Lane Historic Home and surrounding five acres of grounds serve as a village common in the center of Crawfordsville. Collectively known as "The Lane Place," this site has over the years hosted political rallies, band concerts, civic events, a summer strawberry festival, memorial observations and once, the Barnum and Bailey Circus.

In 1845 Henry S. Lane built his home in the very center of the former Elston Grove. He represented Montgomery County as a state congressman, U.S. congressman, governor and senator. Lane was the chairman of the first National Republican Convention in 1856 and in 1860 his influence helped secure for Abraham Lincoln his party's nomination for President of the United States. Lane lived continuously at the home in close proximity to his brother-in-law, Lew Wallace, until he died in 1881. Lane's wife, Joanna Elston Lane, continued living in the home until she died in 1914. Since 1931 the Lane mansion has been open to the public for tours and features most of its original furnishings. A massive restoration of the house began in 1976 was finally completed in 1999 with the renovation of the South Porch. Also available for tours is the Speed Log Cabin — recently relocated and restored at the Lane Place grounds. It represents a key site on the Underground Railroad in Indiana. The grounds contain a variety of Indiana trees with labels within the arboretum-like atmosphere. The Pattison Pavilion built in 1995 has become the summer home of the Montgomery County Civic Band and host to numerous weddings and other civic events.

Guides emphasize life in the Lane Home during the mid to late 1800s. The staff recommends a minimum of 30 minutes for tours. Group tours and school tours can be arranged year round but require an appointment. If those appointments are made through the Montgomery County Visitors Bureau, the Historical Society appreciates separate confirmation with its own office at 765-362-3416. Groups are invited to take advantage of the grounds to enjoy their picnic lunch and gather to visit other nearby historic sites. We look forward to having you visit us. The Henry S. Lane Historic Home is owned and operated by the Montgomery County Historical Society and contains the offices of the Montgomery County Historical Society. The museum hours are 1:00 to 4:00 every day (except Monday) April through October.

General Lew Wallace Study and Museum

General Lew Wallace was born April 10, 1827 in Brookville, Indiana to David and Esther Test Wallace. At the age of 19 he served in the Mexican War as a 2nd Lieutenant. A lawyer and a former Indiana state Senator, he was appointed Adjutant General of the State of Indiana at the outbreak of the Civil War. Commissioned Colonel of the 11th Regt., Indiana Volunteers, he rose to the rank of Major-General within a year. He was involved in battles at Romney in Virginia, Ft. Henry, Ft. Donelson and Shiloh in Tennessee and Monocacy in Maryland. Monocacy is known as the "Battle That Saved Washington, D.C." After the war he was second in command of the Lincoln conspiracy trial and was president of the Andersonville Trial. In 1878 he was appointed Governor of the New Mexico Territory, serving during the "Lincoln County Wars" and in 1881 was posted as U.S. Minister to Turkey.

His literary reputation rests upon his three historical novels: The Fair God (1873) concerning the conquest of the Aztecs by the Spanish; Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, published in 1880, the most popular novel of the 19th century; and The Prince of India (1893) based on events leading to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. All three novels are noted for their historic and geographic accuracy. General Wallace was the author of four other books, including his autobiography. Unfinished at the time of his death, it was completed by his wife, Susan Elston Wallace. General Wallace died in Crawfordsville on Feb. 15, 1905, and is buried here at Oak Hill Cemetery.

In 1895 the general designed his private study using a combination of Greek, Roman and Byzantine architecture. Today known as the Ben-Hur Museum, it houses artifacts and memorabilia from his lifetime, as well as items relating to the book, Ben-Hur, and subsequent plays and movies.

The museum staff's educational programs run from 10-45 minutes and can be catered to your needs. It is recommended that you allow at least 30 minutes for your tour. Tours can be arranged at any time during the year with prior notice. The Museum Gift Shop offers a variety of quality items most of which pertain directly to General Wallace, Ben-Hur and the Study. The Museum sits on a 3 1/2 acre walled site. Picnic tables are provided for your use. The Ben-Hur Museum is owned by the City of Crawfordsville and operated by the Crawfordsville Park and Recreation Department.

Linden Railroad Museum

The Linden Depot (located ten miles north of Crawfordsville) sits adjacent to the present-day Indianapolis-Chicago mainline of the CSX Railroad (formerly the "Monon"), and the abandoned and removed Norfolk Southern Railroad (formerly the "Nickel Plate"). The Depot, built in 1907, is the oldest intact Junction Depot in Indiana and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been restored to the 1950 era of railroading and is operated as a museum by the Linden-Madison Township Historical Society. The fully air-conditioned Depot Museum features a collection of "railroadiana" material mainly from the two railroads it once served: the Monon and the Nickel Plate. The Monon agent's room houses the E.E. Kauffman train collection, including a 3/4" scale, live steam model of the Monon 4-4-0 locomotive with passenger coach. Numerous Nickel Plate artifacts are displayed in the Nickel Plate agent's room. Model Railroad Clubs operate HO & O gauge layouts in the separate Monon and Nickel Plate baggage rooms. Nickel Plate Railroad souvenirs are available in the museum's gift shop. A new joint venture between the Linden-Madison Twp. Historical Society and the Monon Railroad Historical/Technical Society will greatly enhance the public's opportunity to enjoy Indiana's rich historical railroad lore. The venture's goal is twofold: first to provide the Monon Society a physical "home" on the old Monon line, while secondly enhancing the Depot Museum's historical display. The opportunity came with the availability of land immediately adjacent to the Linden Depot. The Monon Railroad Historical/Technical Society didn't wish to become a landowner, yet needed a display site for their considerable collection of rolling stock and archive of historical railroading artifacts. The Linden-Madison Township Historical Society agreed to purchase the available land with Monon Society donated funds in return for displaying the various artifacts. The joint venture provided an economical solution for achieving both partner's goals with Indiana's historical heritage the ultimate beneficiary. Phase I of the project will be finished this summer. Plans call for the laying of track south of the Depot to display three rail cars.

The staff recommends that you allow at least one hour for your tour. Tours of thirty or more are typically split into smaller groups. Parking is available either at the museum or across US 231 in the Linden Town Park. The Linden Railroad Museum is owned and operated by the Linden-Madison Township Historical Society.

The Old Jail Museum

The Montgomery County rotary jail was built in 1882. It was the first of seven such jails constructed in the United States and is currently the only rotary jail in operating condition. The rotary cellblock consists of a two-tiered turntable divided into pie-shaped wedges, with a total of sixteen cells. The turntable is housed within a stationary steel cage with one opening per story. The jailer would simply rotate the mechanism to bring a particular cell to the opening, and in this way, prisoners were put into and let out of the cells. The turntable remained in operation until 1939 when it was immobilized. The jail was used as the county jail until closed in 1973, and it became a museum, operated by the Montgomery County Cultural Foundation, in 1975. The museum exhibits items related to the history, culture, and art of Montgomery County as well as artifacts from the jail itself.

Before you visit please discuss the history of jails and the justice system. Brainstorm with the class and list all of the words that you can think of that are related to breaking the law. Which of the words is slang? Which words are also used to refer to things other than those related to jails?

Bring the list of words to the jail and keep track of how many of them are mentioned during the tour. With the class, make up a list of possible questions concerning jails in general and the rotary jail in particular.

After you visit discuss changes in jails and the justice system in the United States through history. Assign groups of students to research and prepare a presentation about different aspects of jail history in their county. Choose a particular criminal justice problem from the past or present and discuss it. What was/is the problem? What are some of the solutions that have been tried? Have they been successful? Why or why not? Discuss the problem in a debate format. Or ask groups of students to choose different problems, research them, and present the problem to the class for discussion.

Tours of the Old Jail last from 20 minutes to one hour and can be catered to fit the needs of individual groups. Large groups of 30 or more individuals will be divided into smaller groups for the tour. Tours can be arranged by appointment at anytime throughout the year. The Old Jail Museum is owned and operated by the Montgomery County Cultural Foundation.

Other points of interest

The Elston Memorial Home near the Lane Place is the home of the Dorothy Q. Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Queen Anne style house was built in 1882 by Col. Isaac C. Elston. The house is a fine example of the Queen Anne style of Victorian architecture, and no alterations have been made in the more than 100 years of existence. It was accepted on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and is shown by appointment only.

Wabash College, established in 1832, is a four year liberal arts school for men with an enrollment of 850. It is one of the most richly endowed private colleges in the nation. The 50 acre wooded campus boasts ten buildings that are rated outstanding by the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.

The Crawfordsville Post Office boasts a mural entitled "Indiana Agriculture," by Frank Long. Painted in 1942, the mural depicts an early 20th century farm scene.

The Ladoga Normal School building is on the Indiana State Register of Historic Sites and Structures and the national List of Historic Places. Normal Hall is the last remaining building from the campus of the former Central Normal School which opened in September of 1876 with 48 students in attendance. The building was designed and built by Hiram S. Huntington in 1878 at a cost of $4,153.00. The principal speaker at the formal dedication of the building was the Hon. Schuyler Colfax, former Vice President of the United States. It is an excellent example of a transition between two popular 19th century architectural expressions, the Greek Revival and Italianate styles. The building has maintained much of its original integrity. Between 1888 and 1897, the building hosted two Civil War veterans organizations, Stonewall Jackson camp #1, United Confederate Veterans, and Bruce Post #273, Grand Army of the Republic. Normal Hall is thought to be the only building in the United States to have hosted monthly meetings of veterans from both sides of the Civil War. The landmark served as the local high school from 1892 until 1917, an Armory housing Company G, 151st Infantry, Indiana National Guard from 1921 until January 1935, and the home of the newly organized American Legion Post #324 starting in December 1944. It is now owned, and being restored to community service by Historic Ladoga, Inc.

The Darlington National Guard Armory was built in 1937 as one of three WPA projects in Montgomery County. The others are the Alamo Gym and the Waveland Armory. Designed by noted Chicago architect John Parish, the building is in the Art Deco style. Recently renovated, it is now home to the 151st Infantry Long Range Surveillance Unit. It is located in Darlington northeast of Crawfordsville on IN 47.

Lake Waveland lies 14 miles southwest of Crawfordsville on IN 47. The park has a 350 acre lake for canoeing, boating, swimming and fishing, surrounded by 248 acres of park with modern and primitive campsites, showers and picnic areas.

Sugar Creek, which is named for the sugar maples that line its banks, winds through Montgomery county from Northeast to Southwest. The creek is crossed by two covered bridges. Deer's Mill Covered Bridge is located southwest on IN 234 near Shades State Park and The Darlington Covered Bridge is just outside of Darlington.

The Crawfordsville District Public Library Local History Room contains school materials, family histories, pioneer records, plat books, vital records, club and organization records, works by local authors, military records, autobiographies and biographies, a large picture file, and microfilmed newspapers starting in the early 19th century. Groups are always welcome as are individuals of all ages.

Shades State Park, located 15 miles south of Crawfordsville on IN 234, is a mixture of meadows, upland forest, ravines and virgin stands of timber. The park's 3,082 acres is bordered along one side by Sugar Creek. There are ten hiking trails ranging from .5 to 1.5 miles and rated Easy to Very Rugged. The park offers camping, fishing and picnicking.

Pine Hills Nature Preserve was recognized in 1961 as the first state nature preserve. Adjacent to Shades State Park, it is a unique area that has been preserved since the beginning of time. It consists of 594 acres of mixed stands of evergreens and hardwood trees growing amidst rugged hills and deep gorges.