Vintage Map Shows Indiana’s Must See Spots In The 1940s

If you love a good throwback - and especially if Indiana history makes your nerdy little heart happy - this one’s for you. Imagine getting a snapshot of what Hoosiers were excited about back in the 1940s. No time machine required. Thanks to a fascinating vintage map from the IndianaHistory.org archives, we can see exactly which landmarks, parks, and attractions were must-see spots about 80 years ago. And honestly? It’s pretty fun to compare then vs. now.

Who Created The Map And Why It Matters

The map was created by George Joseph Mess (1898–1962) and served as a colorful guide to Indiana’s historic sites, state parks and forests, and popular resort lakes. Think of it as the ultimate 1940s travel brochure - only way cooler. Not only does it highlight attractions across the state, but it also calls out what different cities were known for at the time. Around the edges of the map, there’s even more detail packed into tiny print, including lists of state parks, forests, resort lakes, game preserves, fish hatcheries, colleges, universities, and other historical, educational, and scenic destinations.

Closer to home, the map gives a nod to places that will sound very familiar to folks in the Evansville area. For example, Mt. Vernon is noted for Hovey Lake State Game Preserve, which we now know as Hovey Lake Fish & Wildlife Area - and yes, it’s still a great spot to explore today. While Newburgh itself doesn’t make the cut, Angel Mounds does, listed as “near Evansville.” That one’s still going strong and remains a fantastic way to spend a day soaking up local history.

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Another standout is New Harmony, IN, which earns its place on the map for good reason. The town has a truly unique past, marked by two different attempts at communal living - first in 1814 and again in 1825. You can still see traces of those utopian experiments when you visit today.

How To Explore The Map For Yourself Online

There’s so much packed into this map that you’ll want to see it for yourself. Head to IndianaHistory.org, zoom way in, and take a little trip through Indiana as it looked and felt decades ago. Fair warning: you may suddenly feel inspired to plan a weekend road trip.