Wayne County Treasures: Richmond and the Historic Depot District

I recently spent a day in Wayne County discovering what attractions the area has to offer. This is the third post in a four-post series about my trip.

Richmond‘s Historic Depot District is reminiscent of bygone days and simpler times. A trip here lets you relax and take life at a slower pace as you explore shops, listen to the blues and eat to your heart’s content.

The city has truly been made beautiful by the collection of murals painted on buildings downtown. I enjoyed walking by them and was impressed with the quality of artwork. This summer the county is holding a Festival of Murals, during which nine new murals are being added to the collection by painters from across the Midwest.

As you wander through the murals, you’ll discover shops that you just can’t pass by. Good Life Emporium sells Life is Good merchandise and apparel meant to send a spirit of optimism through the wearer and anyone who sees it. In the spirit of positivity, a percentage of their profits are donated to charity. Maria Mitrione’s Italian Market smelled wonderful as I walked through it and my nose desperately wanted me to take home some of the specialty items I found there.

There’s no shortage of food in the depot district either. Locals recommended Little Sheba’s Restaurant, Paulee’s Restaurant and Joe’s Pizza as favorites. In October, Firehouse BBQ and Blues will be opening in what was once the Richmond fire station. In the meantime, plan your trip when there’s a show at the nearby 4th Floor Blues Club – I’m told it’s a lot of fun!

When you’ve exhausted the depot district (which should take quite a while), the rest of Richmond holds fun places to visit and many sights to see. Once the home of Gennett Records, Richmond memorialized this landmark time period with the Gennett Walk of Fame. As you peer at the sidewalk, the faces of musical greats like Hoagy Carmichael, Lawrence Welk and Louis Armstrong look back at you. These and many other musicians recorded some of their earliest work in Richmond.

Other great places near Richmond that I heard about but didn’t have time to visit include the Richmond Art Museum, Hayes Arboretum, Cope Environmental Center, the Model T Ford Museum, the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, the Wayne County Historical Museum and the Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History.