A.H. Marshall was the stuff of legends. He successfully completed his 48-contiguous state highpointing journey with Indiana’s Hoosier Hill [1]. Marshall stood on this final summit in 1936!
While this wasn’t our last stop, it was a natural direction to go while we were in the area. What an experience it was to stand in the same spot many other highpointers have; it truly is a fun adventure to include the kids in, and a great way to get them interested in geography, outdoor activity, and history!
The Tipton Till Plain
Surprisingly enough, Indiana’s high point sits in glacial plains, not in a towering mountain range. The highest bedrock elevation in the state lies in this area; glacial deposits (about 100 feet of ‘till’ [2]) created the rolling hills of Hoosier and its neighbors.
Hoosier Hill
At only 1,257 feet above sea level, Hoosier Hill isn’t the most photographic of high points. It’s hardly distinguishable as the highest point by sight, as woodlands and farmland cover the rolling hills in the area. Located in Franklin Township, Hoosier Hill has recently replaced its wooden high point sign with a large, heavy, engraved boulder – visitors were known to steal the sign when it was made of a much more lightweight material!
Indiana Fun Facts
- “No one seems to know how the word “Hoosier” came to be.” [3]
- “Known for its rich farm land, Indiana is most famous for its plentiful fields of corn and apple orchards.” [4]
- “There have been six men from Indiana who have been elected vice president… They have earned Indiana the nickname ‘Mother of Vice Presidents.’” [5]
- “The first successful goldfish farm in the United States was opened in Martinsville in 1899.” [5]
Sources:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoosier_Hill
[2] http://media.wfyi.org/NaturalHeritage/learn/regions.html
[3] https://indianahistory.org/education/educator-resources/fun-facts/
[4] https://www.reference.com/geography/food-indiana-famous-e69bd8ddd81e7bce
[5] https://visitindiana.com/about-indiana/fun-facts