{"id":47,"ordinal":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:41","content_modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:41","featured":0,"title":"Richmond's Industrial Heritage","creator":"Sue King, Morrisson-Reeves Library","description":"<p>From rolling hills to flat stretches, Wayne County is home to a diverse topography. It contains Indiana’s highest point above sea level at the northern edge of the county which sits 1,257 feet above sea level.  It also offers, just thirty miles south at the southern border of the county, the hamlet of Abington which is only 800 feet above sea level.  The variety of topography situates Wayne County as an exciting location for industry, business, and leisure. \r\n\r\nThe earliest white settlers, who arrived after 1806, made full use of the water power by building mills throughout the county alongside rivers where the power could be harnessed.  More than 400 feet of fall over 30 miles created an enormous amount of potential water power for use in agricultural mills. At its most active, Wayne County had more than 250 mills. Many of these gradually converted over into factories with water providing electricity for production. Richmond, the largest city in the county, grew as an industrial center until well after World War II. Water and the topography of the land created opportunity for economic success and ultimately reshaped the county.\r\n\r\nIn this tour, you'll get a glimpse of Wayne County and its industrial history.\r\n</p>","postscript_text":"This tour was created in partnership with the Morrisson-Reeves Library and made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.","tour_img":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/9eb7753f118354f57e35689c11199a1c.jpg","items":[{"id":496,"title":"Whitewater Gorge and the National Road","latitude":39.82912449154853362642825231887400150299072265625,"longitude":-84.9022302171215557109462679363787174224853515625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/9eb7753f118354f57e35689c11199a1c.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/9eb7753f118354f57e35689c11199a1c.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"101 SW 1st St, Richmond, IN 47374","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":495,"title":"Richmond Corn Mill & Hoosier High Point","latitude":39.84195110523643279520911164581775665283203125,"longitude":-84.8850432503968619357692659832537174224853515625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/3fd74d6ac0fe8eb7d7d18cbc788ed5e0.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/3fd74d6ac0fe8eb7d7d18cbc788ed5e0.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"1138 N 12th St, Richmond, IN 47374","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":497,"title":"The Starr Piano Company","latitude":39.82588872152024350725696422159671783447265625,"longitude":-84.9004923552274846088039339520037174224853515625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/fa2e4f02911ea5147d662820c4111a13.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/fa2e4f02911ea5147d662820c4111a13.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"101 S 1st St, Richmond, IN 47374","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":631,"title":"Gennett Records","latitude":39.8281759999999991350705386139452457427978515625,"longitude":-84.8998600000000038789949030615389347076416015625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/1effdf374a92adaeb32c61a2919ebb5e.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/1effdf374a92adaeb32c61a2919ebb5e.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":null,"custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":498,"title":"Richmond Baking & Gaar, Scott Co","latitude":39.83547509999999647334334440529346466064453125,"longitude":-84.894211427476790277069085277616977691650390625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/4e9001f20bf247d776ec66848d42902b.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/4e9001f20bf247d776ec66848d42902b.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"520 N 6th St, Richmond, IN 47374","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":499,"title":"Union Depot & Pennsylvania Depot","latitude":39.83466799447224815367007977329194545745849609375,"longitude":-84.8895101761445545207607210613787174224853515625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/09d7785bce9d84bab964c20678b72817.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/09d7785bce9d84bab964c20678b72817.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"900 N E St, Richmond, IN 47374","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":500,"title":"Hoosier Drill, American Seeding Company, & International Harvester","latitude":39.83454866294683682781396782957017421722412109375,"longitude":-84.8844978818670057307826937176287174224853515625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/944c38fffd95f171b6d7434040c60156.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/944c38fffd95f171b6d7434040c60156.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"1300 N E St, Richmond, IN 47374","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":501,"title":"Miller Brothers Wholesale Hardware","latitude":39.8343431148736044633551500737667083740234375,"longitude":-84.8923871386796378146755159832537174224853515625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/251ba3716ba8cf49ccaea679ba16d243.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/251ba3716ba8cf49ccaea679ba16d243.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"180 Fort Wayne Ave, Richmond, IN 47374","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":502,"title":"F & N Lawn Mower","latitude":39.8352098593288559413849725387990474700927734375,"longitude":-84.8919361084699772845851839520037174224853515625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/aa9c304853a7fa237f2328c4eb846157.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/aa9c304853a7fa237f2328c4eb846157.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"540 N 8th St # 3, Richmond, IN 47374","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}}]}