{"id":61,"ordinal":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:41","content_modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:41","featured":0,"title":"Terre Haute: In Sunlight and Shadows","creator":"Vigo County Historical Museum","description":"<p>What better place could there be to embrace life’s joy and sorrow than right here in the Crossroads of America? In the space between sunlight and shadows live the stories of this little, big town. A seemingly typical midwestern city, Terre Haute is the hometown you miss on a long, far away journey. With its fists up and feet dug into firm soil, it’s a city not afraid to fight for its traditions and bears the scars of its ongoing social and economic battles. Terre Haute welcomes those who come in search of new beginnings. Like the Wabash River that runs along the city’s west side, at times Terre Haute can be peaceful, while at other times, as moody as the waters are muddy. \r\n\r\nIt was the river after all that first caught the attention of early French explorers. They named the area Terre Haute, meaning “Highland,\" which describes its geological location above the river. \r\n\r\nIt was the home of the Wea Native American tribe, who whites forced to relocate to Missouri and Arkansas in 1820. They found the rich soil perfect for planting and the river to offer a plentiful supply of fish and water. \r\n\r\nThis abundant region also caught the attention of William Henry Harrison. At the time he was the territorial Governor of Indiana and, in 1811, was commissioned to build a fort overlooking the Wabash River. The stockade was critical in the War of 1812. \r\n\r\nThe village of Terre Haute became the County seat of  Vigo County in 1818, and was declared an official city in 1853. An expanding population led to growth in business as well as industry. Terre Haute was an epicenter for prosperity and entrepreneurship. \r\n\r\nThe home of small town success and big time influence, Terre Haute has seen its share of setbacks, but manages to surmount. With grit and tenacity it rises to meet each challenge, past and present. </p>","postscript_text":"","tour_img":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/9e222dffa16b137781068b24b2d2c0af.jpg","items":[{"id":609,"title":"Vigo County Courthouse","latitude":39.4660018999999948619006318040192127227783203125,"longitude":-87.414713011714553658748627640306949615478515625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/9e222dffa16b137781068b24b2d2c0af.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/9e222dffa16b137781068b24b2d2c0af.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"33 S 3rd St, Terre Haute, IN 47807","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":610,"title":"Wabash River","latitude":39.463554964290182169861509464681148529052734375,"longitude":-87.42061614990234375,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/3efe4100068a268f535f20a009ba2243.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/3efe4100068a268f535f20a009ba2243.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Wabash River, along the Indiana/Illinois border","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":611,"title":"7th & Wabash Crossroads of America","latitude":39.46647128616376676291110925376415252685546875,"longitude":-87.40701198577880859375,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/78d56cd2a60c524bfa4c1ecb927811ae.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/78d56cd2a60c524bfa4c1ecb927811ae.jpg","subtitle":"Downtown Terre Haute","address":"Intersection of 7th and Wabash Avenue Terre Haute, Indiana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":612,"title":"State Normal School/Indiana State University","latitude":39.4703726999999986446709954179823398590087890625,"longitude":-87.4081967557424519554842845536768436431884765625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/3e12d744a1b51b8b92e462af7418ce82.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/3e12d744a1b51b8b92e462af7418ce82.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"200 N. 7th Street, Terre Haute, Indiana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":613,"title":"Memorial Stadium","latitude":39.472498999999999114152160473167896270751953125,"longitude":-87.369428999999996676706359721720218658447265625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/bf9336f1e4520af84c7b13118a49176f.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/bf9336f1e4520af84c7b13118a49176f.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"3300 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":614,"title":"Birthplace of the Coca-Cola Contour Bottle","latitude":39.44107212226230529950044001452624797821044921875,"longitude":-87.413728237152099609375,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/52b19b47f070d06b9571ae8d812d9d3e.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/52b19b47f070d06b9571ae8d812d9d3e.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Intersection of Third Street and Voorhees Street","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":615,"title":"Twelve Points","latitude":39.49227516187094266797430464066565036773681640625,"longitude":-87.397935390472412109375,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/fd6b88f4ca2f2ef30b1e78856fa26a70.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/fd6b88f4ca2f2ef30b1e78856fa26a70.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Intersection of Lafayette Avenue, Maple Avenue, and 13th Street","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}}]}