America's 23rd president, Benjamin Harrison, came from a long line of important political figures, and this attractive, three-story home affords a glimpse into his life and that of his family. Many of the Victorian-era furnishings adorning the residence actually belonged to Harrison, along with numerous artifacts and personal effects. Today, the sizeable lawn, Centennial Room, and kitchen may be rented for special events.

A stroll through this massive cemetery (the fifth largest in the nation) is like taking a walk through history. Grab a map from the gatehouse and let it guide you to the tombs of some of history's most important figures. Indy poet James Whitcomb Riley is buried at the highest natural point in Indianapolis. Also among the 170,000 gravesites are the tombs of notorious bank robber John Dillinger and former Vice-President Thomas Marshall (who served under Woodrow Wilson in the early part of the 20th century). Call for details about public tours, which meet at the 34th Street Gate (34th Street and Boulevard Place).

Part of the State Museum, Freetown Village is a living history museum that lets visitors get a glimpse of the lives of free African Americans living in 1870, just five years after the end of the Civil War. Costumed actors represent composite characters determined from the 1870 Indianapolis census, and the geography of the exhibit focuses on the city's old Fourth Ward. The museum offers an outstanding program called "Evening Dinner with Freetown Village," a unique chance for you to experience a historically focused, family-style meal including the likes of smothered cabbage, black-eyed pea soup and cornmeal hoecakes.

Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, the route now known as the Historic National Road was completed in 1834 and proved to be a vital part of Americans' westward movement in the mid-19th century. Having endured massive changes in transportation and culture, the road is now lined with many points of interest. Huddleston Farmhouse Museum, Wayne County Historical Museum, the '50s-style diner and drive-in theater in Plainfield, and plenty of old-fashioned filling stations and farms educate and entertain you along the way.

A recent $10 million renovation restored the somber walls of this building to their former splendor. Before the renovation efforts, the walls were a dull green, a color that had been painted by local inmates. The Indiana General Assembly meets here at the beginning of every year. Sightseers may call ahead for a guided tour of the spectacular interior. Once inside, visitors will see the brass spittoons in the Supreme Court Chambers, the beautiful brass chandeliers, and the stately marble floors.