I bet you didn’t know that Scott County, has one of the largest collections of Historical Markers in the state of Indiana. It is important to continue to preserve Indiana and Scott County’s history and as we continue to celebrate this year and Scott County’s Bicentennial. The markers are a great snapshot of the past; as they tell us about significant people, places, events and organizations that have had an impact on our county and our state. For many people in Scott County these historical markers are a source of pride for the community and the state.
Here is a turn by turn directional to each of our county’s historical markers. During this time of the Covid-19 pandemic uncertainty a driving tour may just be what you need to break the doldrums we’re all beginning to experience from the last two months of our self-quarantine.
Let’s Start our self-guided driving tour in Austin, Indiana.
Town of Austin
US 31 & Morgan Drive – Austin, IN
Platted in 1853 after the completion of the Jeffersonville Railroad. Tradition is that the town was named by Mexican American War veterans who had served in Austin, Texas and had received land vouchers for their service.
Notable Surroundings:
Dairy Queen with original franchise neon sign
Morgan Foods the largest private canned foods company in the US
Austin Train Depot & Caboose
NEXT STOP
Take SR 31 South from Austin to Marshfield Train Robbery Marker located near City of Scottsburg welcome sign.
Marshfield Train Robbery
Westside of US 31 as you enter the City of Scottsburg near Terrell Road – Scottsburg, IN
One of the earliest US train robberies occurred here on the Jeffersonville Railroad back in 1868. The infamous outlaws the Reno Gang comprised of individuals from Jackson County were responsible and apprehended later but lynched by vigilantes before they ever went to trail for their crime.
NEXT STOP
Continue on US 31 South to Lakeshore Drive. Turn East on Lakeshore Drive to Hyland. Turn North on Hyland to enter Lake Iola Park.
Lake Iola Park’s Interurban Train Center
Scottsburg, IN
Indianapolis and Louisville Traction Company built a track between Seymour and Sellersburg, Indiana as part of the Interurban line which extended from Indianapolis, IN to Louisville, KY. Lake Iola created a water source for power equipment that created 1200-volt high tension direct current system for the trains powered by generators located on this site.
NEXT STOP
Exit Lake Iola Park on Meridian Street South. At Owen Street turn East. Cross railroad tracks
And turn South on Main Street.
Scottsburg Train Depot
90 North Main Street, Scottsburg, IN
Built in 1872 as one of the classic combination depots for passengers and freight. This building served as the Scottsburg train depot until early 1950s. The structure was moved one block north, restored and is now known as the Scottsburg Heritage /station.
NEXT STOP
Continue South on Main Street for one block to McClain (HW 56) turn East (Scott County Courthouse is located on the southside of HW 56) Turn South on First Street. Scott County Courthouse entrance is located on the east side of the building.
Scott County Courthouse
1 East McClain Avenue – Scottsburg, IN
Scott County formed February 1, 1820 and the first county seat was given to the town of Lexington. In 1871, the county seat was moved to best centrally locate for the people of Scott County. The west section of the Scott County Courthouse was built in here in 1873.
NEXT STOP
From First Street turn West on Wardell Street (going around the courthouse square) to Main Street, turn South. Our next stop is on your immediate right.
Scott County’s Carnegie Library
Main Street & Wardell Street – Scottsburg, IN
Scott County Commissioners appointed a library board in 1917. Funding was raised locally and through a Carnegie Grant to construct the library that opened in 1921.
NEXT STOP
Continue South on Main Street to the Scott County Home (Poor House) located at 1050 South Main Street.
Scott County Home
1050 South Main Street – Scottsburg, IN
Built in 1892 on the 180 acre County farm. The first county home was originally in Lexington home for the original county seat. Now the Scott County Home is host to the Scott County Heritage Center & Museum. This building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
NEXT STOP
Continue South on Main Street, please use caution as this road becomes very curvy, to SR 356. Turn West on SR 356 to the Vienna Township Fire Department located on the North side of SR 356 just before the railroad tracks.
Morgan’s Raid – Vienna (Historical Marker knocked down and waiting for repairs)
284 SR 356 – Scottsburg, IN
During the Civil War, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan led a raid through southern Indiana reaching Vienna on July 10, 1863. At this location, General Morgan and his troops burned the railroad bridge and depot, then tapped the telegraph line before moving on to Lexington, IN.
NEXT STOP
Continue West on SR 356 to SR 31. Turn South on SR 31 to Edrington Boulevard. Pigeon Roost Monument sits back off the road over the railroad tracks.
Pigeon Roost Settlement Burial Site
US 31 & Edrington Boulevard – Scottsburg, IN
A small settlement, established here in 1809, was attacked by Indians on September 3, 1812; 15 children and nine adults were massacred, as part of the War of 1812, with one family escaping.
NEXT STOP
Turn North back on US 31 to SR 356. Turn East on SR 356 to SR 3. Turn South on SR 3 and soon you will be driving through the northern boundary of Clarks Grant.
Clark’s Grant
Intersection of SR 3 & Kinderhook Road – Scottsburg, IN
This is the northern boundary of 150,000-acre land grant provided by Virginia in 1781 to General George Rogers Clark and his men for their Revolutionary War service. Also, near this intersection is the original land plot of Lt. Levi Todd, father of Mary Todd Lincoln.
NEXT STOP
Continue East on SR 3. Turn East on SR 362 to Westport Road. Turn North on Westport Road.
John Kimberlin Farm
5765 South Westport Road – Nabb, IN
John Kimberlin was first to purchase land in Scott County, tract 264 of Clark’s Grant, in 1804. This site was also host to a militia block house. If you look closely, you can see stone markers near the wooded tree line near the creek.
NEXT STOP
Continue on Westport Road to SR 203. Turn North SR 203 to SR 356. Turn East on SR 356. At the corner of Roberts Lane and Mulberry Street in our next historical marker for the site of the Western Eagle.
Site of the Western Eagle
Intersection of Roberts Lane & Mulberry Street – Lexington, IN
The Western Eagle was the second Indiana Territory newspaper. Move to Lexington, IN in 1815 from Madison, IN. Jacob Rhoads, publisher, was the official printer for the Indiana Territory from 1814-1816.
NEXT STOP
Continue on SR 356 to Lexington’s Volunteer Fire & Rescue House
Joseph Hooker Shea
Lexington’s Volunteer Fire & Rescue House parking lot
Shea was a member of the Indiana Senate from 1897 to 1899. He was a judge of the Fortieth Judicial Circuit of Indiana from 1906 to 1912, then a judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals from 1913 to 1916. He was appointed United States Ambassador to Chile by President Woodrow Wilson and served as ambassador from May 30, 1916 to May 5, 1921.
NEXT STOP
Turn around in the Lexington Volunteer Fire & Rescue House parking lot and get back on SR 356 to SR 203. Turn North on SR 203.
Lexington Original Scott County Seat
Marker is located on SR 203 next to Lexington Elementary School/ Lexington Square – Lexington, IN
Scott County was created in 1820 with Lexington as a county seat. Several attempts were made to relocate the county seat to a more central location. In 1870 a petition to the County Commissioners was successful with Scottsburg becoming the new county seat.
NEXT STOP
You can see the next marker from this same location on SR 203 next to Lexington Elementary School/Lexington Square.
Morgan’s Raid – Lexington
Marker is located on SR 203 next to Lexington Elementary School/ Lexington Square – Lexington, IN
Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his soldiers spent the night of July 10, 1863, in Lexington, IN. He left for Vernon on the morning of July 11, 1863 where Morgan and part of his force were eventually captured in eastern Ohio.
NEXT STOP
Continue North on SR 203
Site of the William Hayden English Estate Home
SR 203, English Park – Lexington, IN
William H. English, Scott Counties most prominent resident. English was a politician, banker, and historian. He served as Secretary of the 1859 Indiana Constitutional Convention, as Speaker of the Indiana House, and in the US House. English was Indiana’s first major presidential campaign candidate running for Vice President in 1880. English also served as President of the Indiana Historical Society.
We hope you enjoy visiting and seeing our incredible country landscape and points of historical significance, as well as learning a little about the people that helped forge Scott County and our history. If you have an idea for a new Scott County Historical Marker let us know and we’ll begin our research. Send an email to: info@scottcountyvisitorscommission