OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

FRANK O'BANNON

State of Indiana

October 3, 1997

Dear Ms. Sarsfield:

Thank you for your recent letter. I am delighted to hear of your interest in visiting Indiana. You will find that our Hoosier hospitality is second to none. As you requested, I'm listing some of the top attractions our state has to offer.

For outdoor beauty, Brown County State Park is nearly unrivaled. It is the Country's largest and most visited state park, drawing more than three million visitors annually to the heart of Nashville, a quaint town with a notable artist's colony and more than 300 specialty shops and restaurants. In northern Indiana, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and State Park winds continually shift the sands to create 26 miles of ridges and beaches along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Visitors can charter fishing boats, sail, swim and hike along miles of sand and wooded trails.

Northern Indiana is also home to the nation's second largest concentration of Amish. This culture is featured on the Heritage Trail, a ninety mile loop through the heart of Amish country in northern Indiana. Visitors to Amish Acres Historic Farm in Nappanee get a close look at the Amish lifestyle as it would be on a real Amish homestead. At Amishville, U.S.A., a 120 acre farm near the Swiss town of Berne in eastern Indiana, guests can tour the barn and farmhouse and enjoy a ride in an open Amish buggy.

To learn about the history of Indiana, there is no better place than the historic towns along the Ohio River, where Hoosier history began. Two in particular, Corydon and Vincennes, stand out. Corydon, once the state capitol and my hometown, has the Corydon State Capitol Historic Site--complete with a restored 1816 limestone state capitol building, Governor's residence, Constitution Elm, and historic square. Further west in Vincennes, the Vincennes State Historic Sites mark the site of the first state capitol. While you're there, be sure to see George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, commemorating Clark's capture of Ft. Sackville in 1779.

When in Indiana, you may also want to learn about some of the more well-known Hoosiers in history. At the Fairmount Historical Museum, exhibits showcase authentic memorabilia of hometown film star James Dean and Garfield creator Jim Davis. In Indianapolis, you can visit President Benjamin Harrison's house, the Victorian home of the 23rd President.

You mentioned in your letter that you will be visiting in May. Well, May in Indiana means one thing--the Indianapolis 500. Although the race is annually sold out, you'll want to be sure to catch some of the month long festivities that lead up to the greatest spectacle in racing.

Of course, that is not all that there is to do and see in Indiana. There are also the covered bridges of Parke County, the historic towns of Madison and New Harmony, the Lincoln Heritage Trail and the night life of Indianapolis. TO help you discover more about our great state and what we have to offer, I've also included an Indiana Travel Guide and Travel Map.

I wish you many happy journeys and hope you enjoy our Hoosier hospitality.

Slncerely,

Frank O'Bannon
Governor