Martinsville

Martinsville: History and Recreation

Martinsville offers several distinct reasons to consider it as a destination: historic buildings and a largely preserved downtown district, opportunities to explore the history of Morgan County, Jimmy Nash Park, and a long-standing candy shop on Main Street. The city is conveniently located between Indianapolis and Bloomington. If you’re looking for a hotel in Martinsville, you can plan your stay around whether local history, cultural offerings, activities in the park, or local sweets are most important to you. These themes give you concrete reasons to choose Martinsville.

Historic Buildings and Courthouse Square

The Morgan County History Center and Museum is housed in the historic Blackstone House, also known as the Disciple House, at 127 South Main Street in Martinsville. The museum exhibits significant materials related to the history of Morgan County. The Morgan County Courthouse offers another connection to the past: Perry Magnus Blankenship built it between 1857 and 1859, and it stands at the center of Martinsville’s historic Courthouse Square. The Square is one of Indiana’s best-preserved historic commercial districts. Martinsville also has a largely preserved downtown district dating from before the American Civil War. Its historical connections thus span the county, the courthouse itself, and a historic commercial district.

Cultural Offerings and Activities at Jimmy Nash Park

Art Sanctuary of Indiana offers exhibition space and special events in Martinsville. This adds another cultural theme to the local history explored at the History Center. If you consider exhibitions and events when choosing a destination, there are cultural offerings to explore alongside the history of Morgan County.

Jimmy Nash Park in Martinsville features a hiking and walking trail, a fishing pond, and a swimming pool. The pool has two large slides, a diving pool, a slide in the kiddie pool, and a splash pool. The park’s features cater to different activities: the trail is for walks and hikes, the pond for fishing, and the pool complex for water activities. If you’re planning your stay around specific recreational interests, you can consider these offerings separately.

Candy Kitchen on Main Street

Martinsville Candy Kitchen has been on Main Street in downtown Martinsville for more than 100 years. It continues to offer handmade candy canes, chocolates, and ice cream. Alongside the historic and cultural attractions, it’s a local destination for sweets: these products offer a different reason to visit than the courthouse, museum, or park. Its long-standing presence on Main Street also makes Candy Kitchen a distinctive landmark in downtown Martinsville.

For the broader travel overview: Morgan.