A garden in bloom on Mill Street, Madison Madison in Spring While there is no wrong time to visit Madison, spring has to be one of the best seasons to take in the sights of this Southern Indiana town. Enveloped by rolling hills to the north of town, Madison is located on the banks of the Ohio River in Jefferson County. Madison’s idyllic natural surroundings and well-preserved history provide the perfect backdrop for a weekend get-away. While the pace of life in Madison seems relaxed, there are a growing number of attractions for visitors today. Madison is perhaps at its prettiest during the weekends that the annual Madison in Bloom garden tours are held. Shops are adorned with flowers, and gardens throughout the town are in bloom the last weekend in April and the first weekend of May each year. More about this year’s garden tours will follow. Madison’s History Madison was one of Indiana’s most important cities in its early years as a state. Its location on the Ohio River allowed transportation to the east and west, and it was also the town from which the railroad age was launched in Indiana in 1838 when work on the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad was begun. Both the Steamboat and Railroad eras brought wealth and influence to the town of Madison. The Lanier Mansion, a state historic site. Built in the 1840's The architecture and mansions of Madison reflected this prosperity. The Lanier Mansion, now a National Historic Landmark, was built in the 1840s for railroad baron J.F.D. Lanier. Formal gardens were added in the 1850s, and both are now restored to their original appearance and are open to visitors. Other mansions built in the early 1800s have also been restored. The Shrewsbury-Windle House was the home of a riverboat entrepreneur, and the architect of both this mansion and the Lanier mansion, Francis Costigan, built his own home in Madison in 1851. These and others are all open to the public. Over 133 blocks in Madison are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and walking tours of the city provide a close-up look at some of the best examples of 19th century architecture anywhere. Visiting Madison The Thomas Family Winery offers wines and old world breads and cheeses in pub-style setting. The 1960s brought a time of renewed interest in preserving Madison, and today the town is a most inviting place to visit. It is home to three wineries, antique shops, museums and a growing art community. Riverfront Park’s brick walkway and benches make for a relaxing walk along the Ohio River, or an inviting place to relax and watch steamboats like the Delta Queen go by. Several bed and breakfasts are housed in historic homes and even a restored stagecoach inn. Much of Madison can be enjoyed on foot. Stroll on down to the Broadway Fountain, the Madison Railroad Station museum, or the Ohio Theatre and take in a classic movie at this historic theatre. Madison Main Street also sponsors Music in the Park during the summer at parks throughout the city. The Great Outdoors Just one mile west of town is Clifty Falls State Park, known as one of the state’s most spectacular parks. Here the Clifty Creek once met the Ohio River to form waterfalls. Clifty Falls has four major waterfalls, with heights from sixty to eighty-three feet. The park has hiking trails, bike trails, and a 178-acre Nature Preserve within its boundaries. Both an inn and camping are available at Clifty Falls. Biking Madison: Outside Magazine designated the Madison area the best bike ride in Indiana (March, 1998). The Madison Area Bicycle Club is an active group, and offers several bicycle route maps. There are also two golf courses and canoe rentals, giving the outdoor lover plenty of options. Madison is home to three wineries including The Lanthier Winery(shown here). Madison in Bloom Spring Garden Tour, 2001 If you’ve ever visited Madison in Bloom Spring Garden Tour, you will probably want to return. Each year the featured gardens change, so no two years are alike. Included with the ticket to the garden tour will be admission to a regional art show at the Jefferson Historical Society Museum. This year’s featured gardens include a large city garden marked by a large sunken garden filled with seasonal splashes of color. One garden owner is a bird lover whose garden is filled with flowers and feeders to encourage birds, a sundial, and colorful hanging baskets. Another features over 300 tulips massed on a small corner lot. On this year’s garden tour visitors will also pass through an 1800 Greek revival home with a three-story, free-standing staircase and six fireplaces on the way to the garden. One miniature garden with a rock garden and a fish pond will also be included. A newly created garden puts the finishing touches on a 1925 federal style home. This garden features iron planters, a sundial and lined paths. Another larger, park-like garden setting has a gazebo and the 1868 date stone from a school which once sat on the site. Whether you choose to see Madison while in the full bloom of spring, or any other time of year, you’ll love this Southern Indiana get-away. The Madison Area Convention and Visitors Center will be glad to provide more information on visiting the area. Stop by the SouthernIN.com Jefferson County Page, or see www.visitmadison.org. <back to top>

All Feature Articles, artwork and photographs ©2001 by Dervish Design. Some information on the 'County Info' pages is taken directly from brochures published by Visitors Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce.