Upcoming
Society events
Spring Pilgrimage 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Fort Wayne and Rome City:
Allen County Public Library and Gene Stratton-Porter Site
Highlights of the spring 2012 pilgrimage will include a visit to the spectacular enhanced and landscaped "Limberlost North" beloved by famed naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter, who has been reburied on the site on Sylvan Lake near Rome City in far-northeastern Indiana.
A nationally acclaimed nature photographer, author of bestsellers such as "The Girl of the Limberlost", and an early environmentalist, Stratton-Porter loved the birds and the 125-acre property she named Wildflower Woods. A State Historic Site, Limberlost North includes her cabin and gardens, which she developed using plants from around the state. A scenic orchard, arbor, gardens, and paths are intact from her era, and the site – which should be in full spring glory during our visit -- has been significantly enhanced in recent years by Fort Wayne-area naturalists; we will enjoy special programming and tours by site manager Dave Fox. (Stratton-Porter's other cabin is located in Geneva and known as "Limberlost South.")
Other highlights of the day will include a tour of another nationally-acclaimed gem, the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne; specifically, we will receive an introduction to its genealogy division, which is considered one of the country's best.
Our luncheon will be at the oldest restaurant in the entire northern third of the state, St. James Restaurant in Avilla, which has been serving family-style meals since the 1870s.
Later in the day, the group will enjoy afternoon tea at the Limberlost cabin.
- Enjoy breakfast during our drive north. Author/pilgrimage chairman Nelson Price will provide commentary en route about famous local people and places.
- Tour and receive an introduction to the Allen County Public Library's renowned genealogy division.
- Savor lunch in Avilla at the St. James Restaurant, which dates to 1878.
- Tour the Mid-American Windmill Museum in Kendallville, which includes exhibits and a video. Between 1860 and 1920, more than 90 windmill companies were within an 80-mile radius of Kendallville.
- Explore the scenic gardens and tour "The Cabin in Wildflower Woods", the historic "Limberlost North" home and property of famed author-photographer Gene Stratton-Porter. Dave Fox, manager of the State Historic Site, also will have exhibits of her nature photography and other special programming for the Pioneers. The 125-acre property is nestled on the shores of Sylvan Lake near Rome City.
- Savor afternoon tea at Limberlost North before the return south.
$109.00 per person
Registration deadline:
February 17, 2012
(subject to availability)
Guests are welcome. Seating is limited so don't delay in making reservations.
Price includes transportation, breakfast, light lunch, dinner, admissions and gratuities.
You may board the motor coach at your choice of three departure sites:
North & East: 7:30 am departure; 8:30 pm return: Flanner & Buchanan East,10612 E. Washington Street
West: 6:30 am departure; 9:30pm return: Flanner and Buchanan West, 2950 N. High School Road
South: 7:00 am departure; 9:00 pm return: Country Inn & Suites, 4325 Southport Crossing Way
The registration form is available by clicking this link; send it along with your check payable to "Sunrise Tours" to:
Sunrise Tours/Milestone Travel Club
7911 Hunters Path
Indianapolis, IN 46214
To make a reservation or for answers to any questions, contact Sharon Woodburn at Sunrise Tours at (317) 254-8945.
Fall Pilgrimage 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Tippecanoe & Carroll Counties
Wabash & Erie Canal, Fort Ouiatenon and the Tippecanoe Battlefield
The Fall 2012 Pilgrimage will include a boat ride on the historic Wabash & Erie Canal; a visit to Fort Ouiatenon, a replica of the historic military post constructed by “New France”; a tour of Tippecanoe Battlefield, and visits to other historic sites in Tippecanoe and Carroll Counties. Details are still being worked out, but plan for the pilgrimage in September to accommodate the ride on The Delphi, a replica of an 1850s canal freighter. Presentations by special speakers at the various sites will be highlights of the pilgrimage. The day will include visits to the Federal-style Reed Case House, the Wabash & Erie Canal Interpretive Center in Delphi, and Fort Ouiatenon (considered to have been the first European settlement in what’s now Indiana) as well as a motor coach tour of Tippecanoe Battlefield, a National Historic Landmark where Native American and white cultures clashed.
Archived Society events
As a service to our membership, we're pleased to make these reviews of previous Society events available here on the website:
96th Annual Meeting
and Luncheon - 2011
Fall Pilgrimage 2011:
Brown County
Spring Pilgrimage 2011:
Vincennes
95th Annual Meeting
and Luncheon - 2010
Fall Pilgrimage 2010:
Indianapolis
Spring Pilgrimage 2010:
Corydon
94th Annual Meeting
and Luncheon - 2009
Fall Pilgrimage 2009:
French Lick and West Baden
Spring Pilgrimage 2009:
Montgomery County
Fall Pilgrimage 2008:
South Bend and Culver
93rd Annual Meeting
and Luncheon - 2008
Spring
Pilgrimage 2008:
Historic Tippecanoe County
92nd
Annual Meeting
and Luncheon - 2007
Fall Pilgrimage
2007:
Evansville & New Harmony
Spring
Pilgrimage 2007:
Wabash
91st
Annual Meeting
and Luncheon - 2006
Fall Pilgrimage
2006:
Bedford & Lawrence Counties
Spring
Pilgrimage 2006:
The Land of Lincoln
90th
Annual Meeting
and Luncheon - 2005
Spring
Pilgrimage 2005:
Taggart's French Lick & West Baden
89th
Annual Meeting
and Luncheon - 2004
Spring
Pilgrimage 2004:
Along the Old National Road
88th
Annual Meeting
and Dinner - 2003
Fall Pilgrimage
2003:
Lewis & Clark Bicentennial
Spring
Pilgrimage 2003:
History and Art of
Bloomington
87th
Annual Meeting
and Dinner - 2002
Fall Pilgrimage
2002:
The Lillys of Indianapolis
Spring
Pilgrimage 2002:
Lincoln's Indiana and
Historic Spencer County
86th
Annual Meeting
and Dinner - 2001
Fall Pilgrimage
2001:
Oldenburg and Batesville