Vanderburgh: Nature, History and Unique Experiences

Vanderburgh County lies on the banks of the Ohio River. Nature, history and interactive exhibits offer different ways to shape a trip here: you can explore wetlands, learn more about the region’s wartime history or plan animal and educational activities. Some experiences come with considerations such as dry trails, advance reservations or changing seasonal schedules, so be sure to factor these into your plans.

Wetlands, Woods and Trails

Howell Wetlands is a 35-acre urban wetland with several landscape types: marshland, a swamp area with bald cypress trees, an oxbow lake, lowland deciduous forest and an upland meadow. Its diversity is evident in the variety of habitats. Wesselman Woods offers a different focus: the area contains the largest tract of old-growth forest within a U.S. city.

Wesselman Woods has two trails with boardwalks. They are wheelchair- and stroller-accessible in dry conditions, an important limitation to consider when planning your outing. For a longer hike, the Angel Mounds Loop Trail has a specific distance: the trail is four miles long and can be hiked.

Burdette Park covers about 180 acres of woodland and rolling hills in southwestern Indiana. The USI-Burdette Park Trail is designated a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. It is also described as a destination point on the American Discovery Trail, which runs through southern Indiana.

History and Unique Perspectives

At Angel Mounds State Historic Site, you can also turn your attention to the sky: the mounds are aligned with such precision that celestial events, such as sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice, can be observed. The four-mile Loop Trail and this alignment appeal to different interests—hiking the trail and following the seasonal positions of the sun.

The Evansville Wartime Museum features walk-through galleries and exhibits on the region’s wartime history, wartime production, local veterans and vehicles from the World War II era. For a special ride, you can book a ride in the Sherman tank Rosie’s Revenge by making an appointment in advance. If you plan to include this experience, schedule your visit ahead of time and confirm availability.

LST 325 also offers an unusual connection to history: it is the only operational LST in World War II configuration afloat in U.S. waters. The ship makes an annual voyage to various port cities in the U.S. river system. Check where LST 325 is located before your trip.

Museums and Activities for Different Interests

In Evansville, the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science offers exhibits, educational activities and family programs along the Ohio Riverfront. cMoe is located in a historic building in the heart of Evansville and spans three floors of interactive exhibits. Location is also a useful point of reference for the Evansville African American Museum: it is in the historic Lincoln Gardens neighborhood within Evansville’s Baptisttown community.

The Mesker Park Zoo offers daily animal encounters and educational programs about animal life and behavior. Check the schedule before your visit if you’d like to plan around these activities. The Zoo & Botanic Garden spans 45 acres and includes Amazonia, the Children’s Enchanted Forest and Lake Victoria. Alongside the animal and educational offerings, you can also choose from these named areas within the grounds.

For an outdoor visit followed by water activities, Burdette Park is another option. The Burdette Park Aquatic Center has an Olympic-size swimming pool, a family pool, a children’s pool, three water slides and an interactive water play area. Operations are seasonal and may vary, so take this into account when planning your visit.

The Vanderburgh County Fair Association represents a different kind of event tradition: since 1920, it has hosted an annual family-oriented event serving Vanderburgh County. In your travel plans, events held annually differ from the landscapes and museum offerings described as permanent attractions.

Discover more destinations: Evansville, Shelby County, Miami County, Bartholomew County, Vigo, Boone County, Pulaski County, Elkhart

For the broader travel overview: Indiana.