Indiana, PA Road Trips

Indiana is a quaint borough (town) in the heart of western Pennsylvania. Its historic downtown district centers on a street named after the city of Philadelphia, which was the U.S. capital from 1790 to 1800. In 2003, Indiana was rated by experts as one of the top five most livable towns in Indiana County. The borough and region as a whole promotes itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World", though several other locales have also laid claim to this highly sought after distinction. Indiana is also home to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), which is the largest state university in Pennsylvania to share part of its name with another state (closely followed by California University of Pennsylvania). People often question why the town of Indiana was named after a nearby state in such a potentially confusing manner. However, historians have established that the town was first settled in 1805, while the state was not admitted to the union until 1816. Thus, contrary to popular belief, there is a distinct possibility that the state of Indiana was in fact named after the town. Another existing theory is that both the town and the state were named after Indians, and neither location was named after the other.

1 Historical & Genealogical Society of Indiana County, 621 Wayne Ave., ☏ +1 724 463-9600. Tu-F 9AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. As far as the exhibits go, it's pretty much your average run-of-the-mill small-town history museum, with displays of artifacts pertinent to Indiana and vicinity (with special attention paid to local military artifacts and history) as well as the onsite Frances Strong Helman Library for academic researchers and those looking into their Indiana County family roots. But the real reason to visit is the building itself: the Historical & Genealogical Society is located in the 1870 Silas M. Clark House, the magnificently restored Italian Villa-style residence of a prominent local attorney, political figure, and eventually State Supreme Court justice. Even if you've got no interest in the museum itself, fans of Victorian-era architecture should not miss the chance to gawk at this and the several other handsome old mansions that grace this section of Indiana. Free. (updated Feb 2020) 2 IUP University Museum, Sutton Hall Room 111, 1011 South Drive, ☏ +1 724 357-2530. Tu, W & F 2PM-6:30PM, Th noon-7:30PM, Sa noon-4PM; closed for university holidays. Sutton Hall is the centerpiece of IUP's sprawling campus, and it's where you'll find this museum that seeks to "bring... the material history and arts of the region together in an environment that encourages exploration, dialogue, and enjoyment".

The Coney – Known for its dimly lit dance floor and coveted VIP section, this bar’s crowd is often heavily weighted toward IUP seniors (i.e., 21-28 yr olds). If you can’t dance, then your best bet is to swoop in around 1:30AM. HB Culpeppers – Formerly considered a safe haven for townies, Culpeppers revolutionized the local bar scene with the opening of its second floor bar area in 2008. Entertainment includes bubble hockey, indoor smoking, and live music from local sing-along favorites. Wolfie’s – This bar is often enjoyed by people who have never been to a real dance club. Cage dancing and napkin confetti are signature features of this lively downtown venue.