If there is anything that’s very obvious about Hancock County, it’s the rich cultural heritage. Architecture, traditions, institutions, and people: everything and everyone bespeaks of its rich history. For instance, even the name of the county, Hancock County, has been named after James Hancock, one of the first signers at the Declaration of Independence.
There are many museums in Hancock County and each of these museums brings the past to the present. The James Whitcomb Riley Old Home is the most famous of the museums that lets us peek into the life of this beloved Hoosier poet. This museum featured in the national Register of Historic Places is located in Greenfield. The present day Riley museum was once the birthplace and home of the poet where he created the immortal characters of “The Raggedy Man” and “Little Orphan Annie.”
The jail, which imprisoned outlaws from 1850 to 1870, has been transformed into a historical piece of monument. The Old Log Jail, located in the Riley Park, with its nail spikes and wooded cells brings to mind the conditions and treatment of these outlaws in the olden days. The Dolly Mama’s toy museum in Fortville has a wide collection of dolls and toys that is sure to transport everyone to their childhood days. It is a great place to take children to and is absolutely free of cost. If you like music, take a walk to the Dyer Organ Works, which houses huge ceiling high calliopes and crank-operated mechanical organs. Technology and latest medicines may have scaled the imagination of the modern believers. However, to know what was medical practice like in olden days, head to the “Dr. Wilson’s Office: A Country Doctor Museum” to know more.
Hancock County, the ‘heart of crossroads,” will surprise you at every turn with its history.