West Lafayette Things to Do

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The earliest european incursions into the area were by the French. They used the Wabash River as a roadway to and from the Ohio River and the settlements just north of the junction of the Ohio & Mississippi Rivers. The French arrived were here from before 1717 when the Blockhouse was built. The fort grew as a point of contact between the French traders and the Wea tribe of the Miami Indians. The French government ceded the area to the British as a result of the French and Indian War in 1760. It was a French community in British North America until 1790 and the end of the American Revolution. Because the local tribes had supported the Englisha nd were seen as a threat, the new American Gov't sent troops here to punish the tribes. The fort, towns and fields were burned during this time.

The posts name 'Ouiatenon' is pronouced 'we-a-te-non'

Indiana Historical Bureau: ID#: 79.1998.2
County: Tippecanoe
Title: Fort Ouiatenon

Marker Text: First post in Indiana area built nearby in 1717 by French Canada to counter British expansion in valleys of Wabash and Ohio rivers. Served as trade and communication post. French surrendered fort to British in 1761 during the French and Indian War. Fort was occupied by Native Americans after 1763 and destroyed by American soldiers 1791.

Credit Line: Erected 1998 Indiana Historical Bureau and The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Indiana.
Directions: Fort Ouiatenon Historic Park adjacent to blockhouse, S. River Road, 4 miles SW of West Lafayette. Replaces 79.1947.1

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Each year, the hunters, the Indians, the British regulars, American Regulars, Fife & Drum Corps, and a multitude of modern Americans converge on the shores of the Wabash. The FEAST OF THE HUNTERS MOON is a weekend full of fun and new experiences. Amongst the camps you'll find food shops with herbal pork chops, voyaguer stew, home brewed root beer and a variety of other treats and eats from the 1700's.

You want to do a little shopping? You'll find bead work, silver, historic clothing, canes, perfumes and a variety of furs and leather goods. It's a day in the sun enjoying the grande gathering that once occurred each year on this shore. While the warm sunny autumn days are the best, you'll feel as if there is a shroud of fog off the river. From out of this shroud will come the sounds and sights of a nation that William Henry Harrison and Tecumseh once knew.

For more pictures, click on the picture and try my Feast of the Hunter's Moon Travelogue

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History
Founded in 1869 and named after benefactor John Purdue, Purdue University began its journey with six instructors, 39 students and a mission to provide agriculture and mechanic arts education.

Student Body
System-wide enrollment of 69,098 students; West Lafayette enrollment of 38,712 students (fall 2005); students from 50 states and 130 countries.

Location
Main campus in West Lafayette, Indiana (126 miles southeast of Chicago, 65 miles north of Indianapolis). Statewide university system includes five campuses and numerous teaching and research sites.

Let's face it. The only thing really in West Lafayette, aside from a few bars and a Wal-Mart, is Purdue. There's plenty to look at on campus, and it's pretty compact. Unlike IU, which houses a national forest between each building (sorry, hon). Go to the info center, pick up some, you know, info, and wander around.

I discovered this park on a Geology outing. The narrow ledges were a little perilous in winter, while trying to take notes on a lecture being given only partly in English. But going back on my own in Spring was a lot different. There's some pretty decent hiking and nice open spaces for cookouts.

That's it.. that's all there is in West Lafayette in terms of sightseeing. Campus is pretty nice... check out the engineering mall and the fountain, the liberal arts 'mall' and their fountain, and then perhaps the belltower and the Purdue Memorial Union (student center). Or maybe just walk around a little. You could also check out the stadium (under construction at the moment) slightly north of the academic campus... out towards the dorms.

Really, it's a nice campus and I love it here at Purdue! Although I must admit, I'm pretty excited about graduating in the near future and moving on!

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A FEW FINAL miscellaneous photos of Purdue:

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BESIDES FOOTBALL, here are scenes of other athletic areas.