Terre Haute’s Crossroads Connections: Presidents and Our Shared History

​By Karen Dyer, Executive Director, Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau

With the upcoming election just days away, I’ve been reflecting on the presidents who’ve shaped our nation—and the many who campaigned across Indiana, including here in Terre Haute. My husband, Brian, and I share a love for presidential history and travel, and over the past few years, we’ve immersed ourselves in their stories by visiting numerous presidential sites in the Midwest and beyond. From the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, to the recently renovated Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, the Gerald Ford Museum in Michigan, Dwight D. Eisenhower Library in Kansas, and Herbert Hoover Library in Iowa - each visit gave us a unique look into these leaders' lives, legacies, and a deep dive into American history, both locally and nationally.

Exploring the historic homes of Ulysses S. Grant and William Howard Taft near Cincinnati and Reagan’s birthplace and college days at Eureka College in northwestern Illinois this summer has also added richness to our understanding of their journeys.

Vigo County Historical Museum

A Crossroads Connection to American History

As the "Crossroads of America," Terre Haute has long played a key role in presidential campaigns as it holds a special place in this history, welcoming presidents including Abraham Lincoln (nd), Martin Van Buren in 1842, Grover Cleveland in 1887, William McKinley in 1898, Richard Nixon in 1968, Gerald Ford in 1987, and Barack Obama in 2008. In 2016, Donald Trump spoke to a full house in the historic Indiana Theater during his campaign, and Hillary Clinton also made a stop to the city, highlighting its importance in presidential politics. Truman took a famous Whistle Stop tour called the Truman Special in which he traversed the U.S., stopping in 18 cities throughout Indiana, including Terre Haute and Indianapolis in 1948. Throughout history, candidates from both parties have recognized our city’s bellwether status, making it a focal point in many election cycles and a moniker the city has only lost a handful of times including four years ago.

Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy famously addressed a crowd on the steps of the Vigo County Courthouse in 1960, stating:  
“…I believe that here in this State of Indiana, in the heartland of the United States, along this Wabash River, I believe all the issues which are as significant to us as Indianans and as Americans are gathered here in this state.” – From Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Courthouse, Terre Haute, Indiana, October 5, 1960, in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

We’ve also seen evidence of Terre Haute’s connection to presidents and history in local museums. From Whistle Stop maps in Truman’s museum to mentions of Eugene Debs at the Taft site and the World War I Museum in Kansas City, these exhibits highlight our city's rich historical and nationally connected tapestry – which can be found in several Terre Haute museums. The Eugune V. Debs Museum, Candles Holocaust Museum, the Veterans Memorial Museum, and Vigo County History Center in Terre Haute showcase local history that connects our city to the broader narrative revealed at other presidential historical sites and museums. Historic events such as prohibition and the Cold War are two such examples. Terre Haute’s brewing history can be found at the Vigo County History Center and in touring the tunnel access beneath Mogger’s Pub and Brewery, linking the city to the prohibition-era times of Hoover. Kennedy’s fallout shelter program from the 1960s reminds us of the tensions of the Cold War. You can see a Cold War-era shelter at the Conservatory of Music at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a tangible reminder of that period.

A particularly significant example is found at the Candles Holocaust Museum, where Holocaust survivor and famous local resident Eva Kor’s journey from the horrors of the Holocaust to her advocacy offer a story for forgiveness and education, resonating deeply with the historical narratives of presidents who have shaped our nation, especially those who campaigned in Terre Haute.

Terre Haute's history is not just a local story; it serves as a reflection of America's history, woven together through the stories of its presidents. Each presidential visit and historical event contributes to a broader narrative of resilience, struggle, and progress, illustrating how the experiences of a small city can mirror the larger national journey. This connection reminds us that the lessons learned from our past—whether from the horrors of the Holocaust or the struggles for civil rights—continue to shape our present and future.

U.S. Grant Historic District in Clermont County, Ohio

Midwestern Presidential Day, Weekend Trips

We have found Terre Haute to be an ideal launching point for a Midwestern driving trip to see other presidential sites in Indiana and beyond. Just a short drive away on Interstate 70, part of Eisenhower’s national interstate system, Indianapolis offers the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site and Crown Hill Cemetery, where Harrison and several U.S. vice presidents are laid to rest. Vincennes holds Grouseland, William Henry Harrison’s home, while Lincoln City preserves the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, honoring Abraham Lincoln’s early years.

Beyond Indiana, Terre Haute's location provides easy access to more significant presidential sites. In nearby Cincinnati, the William Howard Taft National Historic Site tells the story of the only man to serve as both president and chief justice. Farther south in Ohio, Ulysses S. Grant’s birthplace in Point Pleasant and his boyhood home in Georgetown reveal insights into the Civil War hero who would lead the nation as its 18th president. Springfield, Illinois, is only a few hours’ drive to see many significant Lincoln sites including his presidential museum, home and resting place. You can visit the U.S. National Archives and the U.S. Parks Service to map out your own trips.

Duke, Raegan and Jovi learn about the Cold War, American history and get to go onboard an actual Air Force One plane during a visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California in 2023.

Connecting Our Histories

Over the course of our travels, my husband and I have visited more than ten presidential museums, historical sites, and birthplace homes, walking through pivotal chapters of our country’s history, from the Civil War to the Cold War. Each visit revealed challenges and issues that resonate today, connecting us to the moments that helped shape our nation. Learning about each president’s life and legacy is more than an educational journey—it’s also a connector to our family history, helping us understand how national events influenced the lives of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, and, ultimately, our own lives today and that of our children and grandchildren.
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For us, these visits carry personal significance. In looking at our family tree on Ancestry, we are intrigued by Brian’s family connections to two presidents, or rather, presidential names: Grover “Dot” Cleveland Decker, his grandfather, and James Polk Decker, his great grandfather, both on his mother’s side, were named for presidents. We also got to talk about history we have lived through with our own grandkids while visiting Reagan’s museum, as we touched a piece of the Berlin Wall and explained that not all people enjoy the same freedoms as Americans. This unique legacy adds a new layer of connection to our travels, tying us closer to the lives and legacies that continue to shape our nation—especially as we prepare for next week’s election.