The stated mission on Wabash Valley Art Spaces (wabashvalleyartspaces.com) involves creating a collection of public outdoor sculptures around Terre Haute. Pieces already in place include a life-size statue of the poet and writer Max Ehrmann, depicted sitting on a bench with notebook ready. The surrounding sidewalk features lines from his famous poem, "Desiderata." Other sculptures in the collection include Flame of the Millennium, Spirit of Space, and Gatekeepers.
Collett Park (terrehaute.in.gov) has served the residents of Terre Haute for well over one hundred years, with the park originally opened in 1883. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 for its recreational significance, the park offers residents and visitors a variety of amenities to enjoy. These include the 1.6 mile long Collett Park Pathway, open grass areas, sports facilities, and beautifully planted gardens.
The local Terre Haute volunteer group Trees Inc. (treesinc.org) helped create the Indiana Mile, a one mile walking trail set out in the shape of Indiana's border. Planting along the trail features all 101 of Indiana's native trees, as well as a further 16 shrubs native to the state. Maps of the trail show the location of the trees and shrubs, allowing those walking the route to identify the plants as they pass.
The Indiana Theater (indianatheater.com) has staged movies and concerts for visitors to enjoy since the early 1920s. The interior of the building features beautiful Spanish Baroque style architecture and decoration, including Terrazzo tile flooring, a domed rotunda with decorated ceiling, and hand-carved sculptures. Capable of seating 1,600 visitors, the theater continues to show movies and concerts, providing a landmark venue for entertainment in Terre Haute.
Eugene Victor Debs lived and worked in Terre Haute until his death in 1926, with the home in which he resided now a museum (debsfoundation.org) dedicated to his life. Originally constructed in the 1890s, the three-story structure retains many of the original fixtures and fittings. A tour of the home allows visitors to view the building and gardens, as well as the displays of the life and times of union leader and presidential candidate Debs.
