Discover Ripley: Bridges, Museums and Nature

History and landscapes reveal themselves in different ways in Ripley. In Versailles, you’ll find a church listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a state park with historical connections. Bridges, museums and self-guided driving tours offer other ways to explore regional history. Outdoor highlights for your stay might include a vast wildlife refuge, a hiking trail and seasonal nature watching.

Historic Places and Stories

The Tyson United Methodist Church in Versailles was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. Versailles State Park features a memorial statue commemorating the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), erected in 2010; the park’s historical connections also include both the Civil War and the CCC. Together, the church and park offer different starting points for exploring the region’s history.

The Busching Covered Bridge, near the entrance to Versailles State Park, was built in 1885. Ripley County is also home to numerous handmade stone arch bridges dating from the late 1870s and 1880s; some are still in use. The covered bridge and stone arches showcase different construction styles, while their dates place the region’s bridge history in the late 19th century.

The museums each focus on different subjects. The Smith-Engel log cabin behind the Ripley County Historical Society Museum was built around 1830. The Sunman Historical Museum features Sunman’s original 1856 town plat, a 1930s jail and artifacts from early pioneer families. The Osgood Museum opened in 2006 with the goal of preserving, interpreting and displaying the history of Osgood, Indiana.

The Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum focuses on artifacts and memorabilia from Milan’s 1954 basketball team. Their story inspired the film “Hoosiers.” The museum opened in 2013 in the former State Bank of Milan building on West Carr Street. Local history thus ranges from early settlement traces and town development to a basketball story that also made its way onto the screen.

Experience History on the Road

Ripley County has five self-guided driving tours focused on the history of the Underground Railroad and other historic sites. They combine a historical perspective with a drive through the region. If you’d like to focus your visit on these routes, their different historical themes give you a choice, as not all five cover the same subject.

In Friendship, the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association holds two major shooting events each year at the Walter Cline Range: the Spring National Shoot in mid-June and the National Championship Shoot in mid-September. Spectators are welcome; check the event dates before your trip. The Curly Gostomski Primitive Range features campfires, tipis and demonstrations of historic pioneer life. Vendors offer traditional crafts and equipment, especially during the National Shoots.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

The Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge covers 50,000 acres across three counties: Jefferson, Jennings and Ripley. Its size makes the refuge a destination in its own right alongside the historic sites. Within the refuge, the Beech Tree Trail is 0.89 miles long, has a mulch surface and leads to an observation platform. Check current trail conditions before your visit.

Fishing is permitted at Old Timbers Lake; seasonal access rules may apply. An active eagle nest can be observed there during the summer months, but a sighting is not guaranteed. Activities at the lake therefore vary by activity and season: fishing is listed as a permitted use, while viewing the eagle nest is a seasonal opportunity with no guaranteed sighting.

The Osgood Trails run around the Town of Osgood. Since the current route may change, it’s a good idea to check it before your visit.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Holton, Milan, Fayette, Jay County, Wells County, Indiana County, Morgan, Newton County.

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