Snuggled right up along the banks of the Wabash River in Knox County, Indiana is a little town that’s quite literally famous for just how much local history it’s got jam-packed into it. It’s a beautiful, historic town in Indiana known as Vincennes (yes, like the French city) and it’s a wonderful destination for anyone even a little interested in Indiana’s olden days. It was quite literally Indiana’s first city, and to this day, it’s filled with all sorts of interesting things to do, see, and experience. Check it out and see why Vincennes Indiana is one of our all-time favorite small historical towns.
The entire history of Vincennes is long - ridiculously long - and there's no way we could relay every detail here, but there are certainly some points of interest we find fascinating.
Vincennes was founded in 1732 by French fur traders. This makes the city nearly three centuries old, and it's definitely got the lengthy history to go with it.
Nowadays, it's both a modern Indiana town and a town steeped in a long, long history.
Vincennes was the capital of the Indiana Territory from 1800 to 1813, when the capital moved to Corydon (and then, eventually, to Indianapolis).
Vincennes is a little town that's proud of its history.
Everywhere you turn, you'll find buildings, churches, parks, and even old jailhouses that have all been a part of Indiana's history.
One of our favorite historic buildings in Vincennes is the Old Knox County Jail, which looks like a cross between a castle and a dungeon.
We also recommend checking out the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, which is situated along the river and it, too, is filled top-to-bottom with history.
Here, you'll find a statue dedicated to George Rogers Clark and seven gorgeous murals that depict notable moments in Vincennes' history.
Other must-see attractions in Vincennes Indiana include ones like the Indiana military museum, Ouabache Trails Park, the Vincennes State Historic site, and so much more (seriously... there's a LOT). Vincennes is definitely a great place for a day trip or, if you have the time, a whole vacation. You definitely couldn't pack all the historical sites in town into just one day, after all.
Who knew Indiana had such a long, long (and did we mention long) history?
After all, it's not every day you get to wander the streets of a 300-year-old city... but here in Indiana, you sure can.
For more information about the oldest city in Indiana, be sure to check out the official Visit Vincennes website! You can even discover some more fun things to do in Vincennes Indiana. What are your favorite historical towns in Indiana to meander around? Let us know!
Did you know that Abe Lincoln once dined at a restaurant near Vincennes? Read more about the Log Inn, the oldest restaurant in Indiana.
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