Landmarks and Things to See in the Area


National Register of Historical Places:

  • Colonel Jones Home
    This carefully restored 1834 Federal-design home of Abraham Lincoln’s merchant employer offers a look at the early development of Indiana and the life of Colonel William Jones. The home includes guided tours, themed talks, exhibits, and gifts. This state historic site is situated on 100 acres of forest and also offers a self-guiding nature trail, picnic area, and a restored log barn. The home was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1975. Colonel Jones Home is located at 620 East County Road 1575 North in Gentryville, Indiana, 47537. (812) 937-4710
  • Deutsch Evangelische St. Paul’s Kirche
    This privately owned church is also referred to as St. Paul’s Santa Claus Church and is located south of Santa Claus on Sante Fe Road.  The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
  • Huffman Bridge
    Huffman Bridge is located at Huffman Mill where Abraham Lincoln and his father, Thomas, used to take grain to be ground. This rustic covered bridge is nestled in the scenic woods of eastern Spencer County and crosses Anderson River into Perry County, Indiana. Huffman Bridge, built during the Civil War, was put on the National Register of Historical Places in 1998. This covered bridge is located on County Road 1300, off Highway 545 between New Boston and Fulda.
  • Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
    Visit the site where Abraham Lincoln spent his childhood and learn about the lives of the Lincoln family, who lived here in a pioneer community from 1816 to 1830.  This National Park offers a glimpse into the young pioneer life of our 16th president. The Visitor Center features two Memorial Halls, a museum with a variety of exhibits, and an orientation film. Experience a Lincoln handwriting exhibit where visitors can transform their message into Abraham Lincoln’s handwriting.  The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1966. 
  • Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum
    Take a relaxing look back into history with 14 Lincoln-era replica cabins in memorial to Abraham Lincoln’s years spent in Spencer County. Explore such cabins as the Pioneer Schoolhouse, the Lincoln Homestead Cabin, and the Old Pigeon Baptist Church. The Museum was built by the Rockport Park Improvement Association and houses hundreds of fascinating artifacts from the area’s historic past including a hutch made by Abraham Lincoln’s father, Thomas Lincoln. The pioneer village was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum is located at 928 Fairground Drive in Rockport, Indiana, 47635. For more information call (812) 649-9147 or visit www.LincolnPioneerVillage.com.
  • Spencer County Courthouse & Downtown Area
    This historic courthouse is located near the bluff on a square at the east end of Main Street in Rockport’s downtown area. The Spencer County Courthouse and many of the structures in the downtown Rockport area are reminiscent of this river town’s historic past. The courthouse is a 1921 Elmer Dunlap design that features a spectacular stained-glass dome towering over a grand rotunda and with marble-trimmed walls. The Spencer County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. The courthouse is located at 200 Main Street, Rockport, Indianan, 47635.  Clerk’s Office (812) 649-6029
  • St. Boniface Catholic Church
    Fulda, Indiana, is the home of St. Boniface Catholic Church, established in 1847 by an immigrant Croatian missionary, Father Joseph Kundek. The first St. Boniface Church was a log building. In 1860 construction for the present St. Boniface Church was started, but construction was halted during the Civil War. The church has a stone foundation seven feet thick. A limestone slab above the main door reads "ST. BONIFACE KIRCHE, 1865." The church has beautiful wooden alters, and original stenciling on the ceiling. The pillars in the church are made of tree trunks that are covered with plaster. The stones in the original baked stone floor in the sanctuary were cleaned and refurbished. St. Boniface Catholic Church was placed on the National Register of Historical Places on October 30, 1980. Located on highway 545 in Fulda.
    St. Boniface Parish Office (812) 357-5533
  • To see other sites on the National Register of Historic Places click here.

Lincoln’s Indiana Boyhood Home Landmarks:

  • Lincoln Ferry Park
    The shaded riverfront park with picnic area and shelter house is located on the historic spot where Abraham Lincoln operated his ferryboat business on the Ohio River from Kentucky to Indiana.  Lincoln Ferry Park is part of the Ohio River Scenic Byway, located on the beautiful Ohio River, just west of Troy, on Highway 66 next to the Anderson River.
  • Lincoln Landing
    The riverfront under the bluff at Rockport is rich with history, including the site where Abraham Lincoln launched a flatboat to transport produce to New Orleans for a local merchant in 1828. Abraham Lincoln saw slavery for the first time during this trip to New Orleans. Lincoln Landing is part of the Ohio River Scenic Byway, located on River Road at the east end of Main Street in Rockport.
  • Nancy Hanks Grave Site
    The gravesite of Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, can be found on the grounds of the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. Visitors can walk the Lincoln Boyhood Trail which connects the Memorial Visitors Center and the Living Historical Farm. On this trail, visitors can visit the gravesite of Nancy Hanks Lincoln and visit the Cabin Site Memorial of the Lincoln family. The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is located at 3027 East South Street, Lincoln City, Indiana, 47552. Visit their website at www.nps.gov.libo or call (812) 937-4541 for more information.
  • Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Plaza
    The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Plaza was unveiled and officially dedicated on June 12, 2009. The Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission ordered this piece of public artwork as a lasting legacy to the bicentennial year of Lincoln's birth and his formative years spent growing up in Indiana. The plaza is located inside Lincoln State Park at 15476 North County Road 300 East, Lincoln City, Indiana, 47552. Call (812) 937-4710 for more information.

Other Local Landmarks:

  • Boner Bridge
    This iron bowstring bridge was built in 1866 by the King Bridge and Iron Company of Cleveland, Ohio, and is a registered historical site. Boner Bridge has sandstone abutments, a wood plank floor, and three arching spans that reach across Little Pigeon Creek connecting Spencer and Warrick Counties. Each of the end spans measures 50 feet in length and the center span is 160 feet. This rare bridge is the longest, bowstring, wrought iron, through truss bridge structure in the state of Indiana. Boner Bridge is located north of Hatfield, Indiana, near the junction of Red Brush and Boner Roads.
  • Monte Cassino Shrine
    The small chapel of Monte Cassino is located on a hill near the Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Surrounded by trees and panoramic views of the Anderson Valley, the shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary is a testament to the age-old tradition of seeking God. Besides personal pilgrimages to the shrine, public pilgrimages are held each Sunday during May and October. To visit the shrine, follow Indiana 62 east from Saint Meinrad Archabbey for about a mile. Watch for the sign on the left that marks the entrance to the shrine. For more information on the Monte Cassino Shrine, call (812) 357-6585 or (812) 357-6501 or visit http://www.saintmeinrad.edu/monastery_shrine.aspx.
  • Ohio River Scenic Byway
    Take a beautiful drive through the southern portion of Spencer County following the picturesque Ohio River through river towns, colorful wooded areas, and vast farmlands. Learn about the history of the area through Ohio River Scenic Byway panels along the way at Lincoln Landing, Lincoln Ferry Park, the Spencer County Courthouse, and more.  Visit the Ohio River Scenic Byway website at www.OhioRiverByway.com or call (800) 489-4474 for more information.
  • Rockport Bluff
    See the spectacular view of the Ohio River from the bluff area. This beautiful rock-sculptured cliff is the end of the rock formations that outline the Ohio River on the Indiana shore. The image of Martha Washington can be seen among the formations. The bluff is part of the Ohio River Scenic Byway and is located on River Road at the east end of Main Street in Rockport, Indiana.
  • Rockport Town Christmas Star
    This beautiful Christmas Star, mounted 150-feet high on the bluff in Rockport, is believed to be one of the tallest positioned stars in our nation. This glorious star lights the way for the river men and reminds them of home and Christmas when they’re on the river. Lighted from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Located on the bluff on the east end of Main Street in Rockport.
  • Santa Claus Statue
    The Santa Claus Statue, dedicated to the children of the world, was erected in 1935. Twenty-two feet high and made of concrete, this cherished landmark has a base in the shape of the Star of Bethlehem, with its principal point showing the way east to the land of the Christmas story. A replica of the statue can be found at the Santa Claus Town Hall. In 2011, the original Santa Claus Statue began undergoing renovation and restoration.  Located at 15721 Indiana 245, Santa Claus, Indiana, 47579.
  • Spencer County Memorial Forest
    This forest offers spectacular foliage and features a towering World War II Veteran’s memorial nestled in the midst of its tranquil surroundings. There are shelter houses available for picnics and events. A person or family is welcome to visit anytime for a picnic, enjoy nature, or to visit the soldier memorial. The memorial forest is located about one mile off Highway 545 on County Road 1550 in Fulda. Turn east at the Catholic Church.