West Lafayette Off The Beaten Path

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Located in Lafayette, across the river is the county courthouse. It's a unique gleaming white steeple.

For a sample of other County Courthouses in Indiana, see my Courthouse travelogue

The park is open to the general public from May through November and Saturday evening for Howl Nights. The park is home to several packs of gray wolves, plus foxes and bison.

Every school kid from our area, travels to the park and spends the afternoon learning about the wolves and bison. The park also has other North American Mammals for you to see. You don't have to be part of a group. Every afternoon in the summer, you can show up and you'll be given a tour of the park.

General Admissions are $7.00 adults (14 years and older), $8.00 on Sunday.
Kids 6-13 are $5.00, $6.00 on Sunday. Members and kids 5 and under FREE!

See my Battle of Tippecanoe travelogue.

Indiana Historical Bureau: ID#: 79.19??.1
County: Tippecanoe
Title: Tippecanoe Battleground 2.1 Miles East
Marker Text: Urged by the Prophet, Tecumseh's brother, Indians attacked army of Gen. W. H. Harrison Nov. 7, 1811. The victory by Harrison broke Indian power.

Credit Line: Indiana Historical Bureau
Directions: West side of SR 43 at Prophet's Rock Road & Burnetts Road, 0.2 mile south of I-65 exit 178, Battle Ground.

The Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum hours are:
November - March: 12 pm - 5 pm daily
April - October: 10 am - 5 pm daily
Closed during the month of January
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. The Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum is closed during the month of January for upkeep and maintenance.

Admission:
$4.00 adults
$3.00 seniors, AAA, Active Military
$1.00 children
Free TCHA Members

The park is named for a Native American village located between the rivers established by Tecumseh, who was Shawnee, and his brother Tenskwatawa (The Prophet) in 1808. Tecumseh led his band there from Ohio, where pressure from white settlers had forced him to leave. Tecumseh believed the only way to repel the advance of European settlement was to form an alliance with other tribes. He traveled widely persuading tribes to join his coalition. Over 14 tribes set aside centuries old disputes to stop their common enemy. They met at Prophetstown, and heard The Prophet speak. Tecumseh anticipated their sheer numbers would be enough to stop the westward settlement.

Driving Directions
Take I-65 to exit number 178 which is SR 43 Go SOUTH on SR 43 (away from the park---trust me this is correct) for a very short distance and then turn LEFT onto Burnett Rd. Burnett Road will "T" into 9th St. Go right on 9th St. to Swisher Road which will be a HARD left immediately after the Veterinary Office. Once on Swisher Road you will cross back under the Interstate and find the Park Gatehouse directly ahead.

Do not use computer maping directions, they are incorrect. Due to a quirk, it will land you in the WRONG PLACE.

P.O. Box 327
Battle Ground, IN 47920

Indiana Historical Bureau: ID#: 79.1953.1
County: Tippecanoe
Title: Tecumseh Trail

Marker Text: Used by Indian tribes and often traveled by Chief Tecumseh prior to defeat of his warriors by Gen. William Henry Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe on November 7, 1811.

Credit Line: Women's Civic Council of Tippecanoe County
Directions: SR 43, 3.8 miles north of SR 43 & State Street at roadside park adjacent to Wabash River, West Lafayette.

Indiana Historical Bureau: ID#: 79.1973.1
County: Tippecanoe
Title: The Wabash River
Marker Text: Side one:
was called "Wah-bah-shik-ki" by the Miami. The French called it the "Oua-ba-che." It was the principal route connecting Quebec and New Orleans. The Miami, Potawatomi, Mascouten, Wea, Kickapoo, and Piankashaw Indians lived in the Wabash Valley. Along the river the French established Fort Ouiatanon (1717) and Post Vincennes (1732). The French lost their empire to the British in 1763. The Ottawa chief, Pontiac, who led a revolt against the British, made peace (1765) with the British at Ouiatanon.

Side two:
During the American Revolution George Rogers Clark seized Vincennes and Ouiatanon from the British. In 1778, Lt. Governor Henry Hamilton moved a force of 350 soldiers and Indians to Vincennes by the Wabash route. Clark captured his command in February of 1779. In the 19th century both flatboats and steamboats used the Wabash. By 1852 the Wabash and Erie Canal linked the Great Lakes with the Ohio. The Wabash has been a major highway for travel, trade, and settlement for two centuries. In song and in story it symbolizes Indiana.

Credit Line: Erected by the Indiana Historical Society 1973
Directions: SR 43, Mascouten Park & boat ramp adjacent to Wabash River, 1.1 miles north of intersection of SR 43 & State Street, West Lafayette.

Somewhat difficult to find, which means I can't tell you where it is, and there's still some debate on how to pronounce the name (or spell it, for that matter). But if you can find it it's a great place for cookouts and running around in the summer. It's right on the banks of the Wabash. You know what that means? Purdue Men's Crew Team practice!!

Well, if you just want a nice little drive, start driving north on SR 43 (River Road) from State St., which goes along the river and out of the valley (also off of this is Happy Hollow Rd., which gives a nice view of the city below if you look quickly while driving ;)). Keep taking this north, almost to I-65 until you see signs for Battleground... follow them there and check out the small little Tippecanoe Battleground (you know, 'Tippecanoe and Tyler Too...'). Also right out of Battleground, if you take the little road the curves right after crossing the railroad tracks, it'll take you to a one-lane bridge and right back up to SR 25.

This is a good picture I found that shows the Wabash River in there, SOMEWHERE. No, it's there.. look carefully. The river freezes over from time to time.