Venice-in-America, in Indiana?

“For You From Me,” Jon McLaughlin

Music video from Indiana native, Jon McLaughlin, paying tribute to Indiana as a whole, with specific footage from the Indiana State Museum and The Canal and White River State Park

On our way to the Indiana State Museum I was busy recounting the number of state museums we had previously visited. There was the New York State Museum with its long houses and woolly mammoth. Also there was the Alabama State Museum with all its natural history relics. Then there was the Massachusetts State Museum that satisfied every scientific curiosity. Having visited all these museums, I was unsure what another trip to a museum could provide me. Would it simply play tribute to the state’s agriculture? What would make this museum any different from the rest? Well, the answer resided not necessarily in what was inside the museum, but rather what was outside of it.

The State Museum of Indiana is located in the bustling hubbub of Indianapolis. (I know, I too was surprised that, amongst the sea of grain that is Indiana, there happens to be a city.) And yes, the museum is nice. It pays its respects to the Native Americans that lived on the land. It details the state’s specific history. It includes energy and sustainability displays and interactive exhibits. But what is truly captivating is the Canal and White River State Park that encompasses the museum.

The Canal and White River State Park have been a work-in-progress for approximately two decades. It is honestly what I would envision as a Venice-in-America. The Park follows the winding path of a canal, a canal speckled with pedal boats being operated by eager participants. And yes, there have even been gondolas placed on the canal that offer rides to patrons. Flanking the waterway are sidewalks that feature not only tandem bikes, but also four-seater canopy bicycles. Further outward there are shaded benches, flowers flowing over latticework, and sweeping green lawns.

I had such an extraordinary time in Indianapolis that day. Following our visit to the museum, we simply had a leisurely, lazy afternoon. My parents and I munched on lunch while lounging outside on a terrace, one that provided a gorgeous view of the city skyline. We then ambled along the pathway and waved cheerfully to the other visitors enjoyed their springtime activities. When it got warm we reclined under the covered benches and took a break from the sunlight. We stayed at the park until nightfall, when it started to get chilly and the nighttime insects began buzzing around us. Even then, we were reluctant to leave.