As one who has deep family roots in Indiana, but hasn’t really lived there until a couple of years ago, Madison is everything an outsider might expect to find in small town America. But Madison is closer to a rarity, than the rule these days. Sadly, in my travels through Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, I see a lot of the history of small town America disappearing rapidly, whether its an old barn collapsing in a farm field, or a once beautiful mansion left to rot on a forgotten side street. Fortunately, Madison has managed to protect and embrace its history, as well as the natural beauty that surrounds it. This offers visitors a lot to see and explore in Jefferson County. Being relatively close to where I live, I have been drawn back numerous times, and there is still plenty left to see. Madison Historic District With more than 130 blocks of historic buildings, Madison boasts one of the largest historic districts of any city in the United States. Buildings within its historic downtown cover every era of its history, from its founding in 1809, through 1939. Its architecture includes shotgun houses, Federal style and Greek Revival mansions, and various industrial buildings and commercial storefronts along Main Street. What impressed me most, was just how large the historic district really is. In many small towns you drive through, you are lucky to see anything beyond the main street through town. But in Madison, you can go 4-5 streets on either side easily and find beautifully kept buildings. And for those who are really into history, you can spend several hours, or even longer walking to all the different sections of it. Clifty Falls State Park Clifty Falls State Park is a 570 acre nature park that resides on the Northwest...Read more