19 Best Things to Do in Terre Haute, Indiana

By VacationIdea Staff on April 17, 2022 - Updated

SNEHIT PHOTO/stock.adobe.com

Nestled in the heart of the Wabash Valley, Terre Haute is a bustling metropolitan hub that is renowned for offering a wide range of sports and outdoor recreation. From racing cars at the Crossroads Dragway and riding the Spirit of Terre Haute train at Deming Park to catching a show at the Crossroads Repertory Theatre and sampling locally brewed craft beers at the Terre Haute Brewing Company.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center

The CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center offers a haunting look into the abhorrent genetic experiments conducted against twin children at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp during the Second World War. The museum was founded by Eva Kor, who, along with her twin sister was a survivor of the experiments carried out by Dr. Josef Mengele at Auschwitz. The name of the museum - CANDLES - stands for "Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors" and features heart-wrenching exhibits telling the story of what happened to twin children at the death camp.

1532 S 3rd St, Terre Haute, IN 47802, Phone: 812-234-7881

2.Terre Haute Brewing Company (THBC)

The Terre Haute Brewing Company (THBC) is the oldest brewery in Indiana and the second oldest in the country with a long and rich history dating back to 1837. Based within the original building in which Chauncey Warren and Demas Deming Sr. founded the brewery in the mid-19th century, the brewery produces modern, high-grade beers that pay homage to its brewing heritage. The Brewing Company produces four core beers in their range, including Wango Tango IPA, Velvet Cream Milk Stout, Stiffy Green IPA, and Americana Lager. The brewery offers guided tours and tastings of the facility and its high-end products.

401 S 9th St, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-814-3071

3.The Sheldon Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute, Indiana

The Sheldon Swope Art Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and showcasing American art. Founded by Civil War veteran and jeweler Michael Sheldon Swope, the museum focuses on American regionalism and features collections of work by Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, Charles Burchfield, and Thomas Hart Benton. The museum also features works from the late 20th century and early 21st century by Andy Warhol, Eva Hesse, Alexander Calder, and Robert Rauschenberg, and hosts temporary exhibitions showcasing from local artists like John Laska and Sister Edith Pfau. The museum also offers educational programs and workshops, artist lectures, and summer classes for youth.

25 S 7th St, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-238-1676

4.Indiana Theatre, Terre Haute, Indiana

The Indiana Theatre is a historic theater in the Wabash Avenue-East Historic District that presents a calendar of theatrical shows and performances. Built by famed architect John Eberson in 1922, the theater is located on the corner of Ohio and S. 7th Street and is a beautiful example of the Atmospheric style of theatre design. Interiors are inspired by 17th century Spanish Andalusia with vibrant stylized motifs, colorful pattern work, and intricate Churriguerisque-style plasterwork, and an elegant lobby has ornate statues and a frescoed ceiling. The theater has been upgraded to incorporate the latest technology such as LED atmospheric lighting, a new sound system, and a digital projection system.

683 Ohio St, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-232-8076

5.Terre Haute Action Track

The Terre Haute Action Track, also known as the Action Track, is a half-mile dirt track at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds that hosts the sprint car and Silver Crown events, as well as the annual United States Automobile Club midget car event. Established over 50 years ago, the northside of the track runs parallel to the eighth-of-a mile Wabash Valley Dragway and features a variety of amenities, including grandstand seating, grass parking, camping areas for RVs, trailers, and tents, and pit toilets outside the track.

3901 S US-41, Terre Haute, IN 47802, Phone: 812-232-4040

6.Stiffy Green the Bulldog, Terre Haute, Indiana

Located in the Vigo County Historical Society Museum, Stiffy Green is a statue honoring the most beloved bulldog in Indiana. The story of Stiffy Green is that when his owner died in 1921, he refused to leave his side, and kept running away and returning to the Highland Lawn Cemetery to sit inside Heinl’s mausoleum. He eventually died on the steps of the mausoleum and was stuffed and placed inside the tomb with his beloved owner. After the mausoleum was vandalized and Stiffy was damaged, he was donated to Historical Society and is now on display for the public to see.

929 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-235-9717

7.Haute City Center (Honey Creek Mall)

Previously known as the Honey Creek Mall, the Haute City Center is a shopping center that as established in 1968 and has grown into a large complex with over 680,000square feet of retail space. Anchor stores in the mall include J. C. Penney, Macy’s, Carson’s, and Sears, along with a variety of restaurants, cafés, bars, and services such as baby-changing stations, modern restrooms, and ample parking.

3401 S US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47802, Phone: 812-232-4500

8.Vigo County Public Library

Established in 1882, the Vigo County Public Library is a public library that houses a wide-ranging collection of fiction and non-fiction books, magazines, newspapers, reference, and research materials, and offers a variety of services, including children's storytimes, public computers, and interlibrary loans. Members also have access to a range of downloadable audiobooks, eBooks, music, videos, CDs, and DVDs, and the library hosts political debates during election seasons, ‘cracker-barrel’ meetings with representatives and state senators during the legislative session, and community meetings.

1 Library Square, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-232-1113

9.Terre Haute Masonic Temple, Terre Haute, Indiana

Located in on the campus of Indiana State University, the Terre Haute Masonic Temple is a beautifully preserved Classical Revival-style Masonic building that was built in 1916. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building has four floors, the first of which is a public floor with a grand ballroom and parlor, a boardroom, offices, and a fully stocked library. The second-floor houses three lodge rooms and a lounge area and is dedicated to the Blue Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star, while the third floor is used by the Commandery of Knights Templar, the Council of Royal & Secret Masters, and the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. A choir, organ loft, and storage rooms take up the fourth floor.

224 N 8th St, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-234-4039

10.LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course

Located just east of the Terre Haute International Airport, the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course is a purpose-built cross-country course that forms part of the 240-acre Wabash Valley Family Sports Center. Built on a reclaimed coal mine, the course consists of a 1.8-mile external loop and four internal loops varying lengths. The LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course is the home of Indiana State University's Cross-Country team and hosts multiple championship meets throughout the year.

599 S. Tabortown Street, Terre Haute, IN 47803, Phone: 800-366-3043

11.Crossroads Repertory Theatre, Terre Haute, Indiana

The Crossroads Repertory Theatre is a volunteer theater that produces five main stage plays and musicals, and several Oakley Stage plays with smaller casts in a more intimate space, every year. Established as the ISU Summer Theatre, the theater began producing plays during the summer of 1965, attracting graduate students who wanted to gain valuable experience and be a part of good theater. The theater produces a calendar of productions and performances, ranging from well-known plays to up-and-coming concerts by emerging artists.

536 N 7th St, Terre Haute, IN 47809, Phone: 812-237-3333

12.Memorial Stadium, Terre Haute, Indiana

Built in 1924, the Memorial Stadium is the home of the Indiana State Sycamores professional football team. The original stadium has a horseshoe shape grandstand that seated 16,000 fans and hosted a variety of sports from high school football and baseball and to soccer matches and annual 4th of July celebrations. The stadium featured a graceful arch at the entrance to the facility that was built in honor of those who served during the First World War. Today, the arch is one of the only remaining piece of the original stadium, which was renovated and is now a football-only facility.

3300 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute, IN 47803, Phone: 812-237-3773

13.Hatfield Hall, Terre Haute, Indiana

Located on the campus of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Hatfield Hall hosts an array of world-class performances ranging from musicals, concerts to dance recitals, and student ensembles. The theater produces a calendar of productions and performances, ranging from well-known plays to up-and-coming concerts by emerging artists.

5500 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute, IN 47803, Phone: 812-877-8544

14.Saint Benedict Catholic Church

Established at the end of the Civil war by a few German immigrants, the original building was dedicated to St. Benedict Church in 1864 and served by Benedictine priests. After moving into the care of the Franciscans in 1872, the church moved to a bigger building designed and built by architect Adolph Druiding in the Romanesque style. The church is built in a cruciform shape and features two large towers with distinctive cupolas, a 60-foot wide nave, and a grand 120-foot transept. The church has three bells named for the saints, St. Francis, St. Benedict, and The Blessed Virgin.

111 S 9th St, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-232-8421

15.Charlie's Neighborhood Pub & Grub

Charlie's Neighborhood Pub & Grub is a local favorite that serves a variety of made-to-order American roadside favorites California classics, including juicy cheeseburgers, great hot dogs, chunky onion rings, and thick, hand-spun shakes. Located on Crawford Street, Charlie's uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create both classic and modern takes on the traditional American burger, as well as unique toppings and sauces. Burgers are served on freshly baked buns and accompanied by a selection of locally crafted brews on tap and by the bottle. Charlie's Neighborhood Pub & Grub is open for breakfast and lunch, daily.

1608 Crawford St, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-232-1886

16.Piloni's Italian Restaurant, Terre Haute, Indiana

Piloni's Italian Restaurant is a family-owned and operated restaurant that brings the sun-kissed tastes of Italy to the heart of Terre Haute. Using recipes passed down from generation to generation and adding a touch of Puerto Rico flavors, expert chefs create a creative menu of authentic Italian cuisine with fresh, local ingredients. The menu features fresh seafood, grass-fed meats, handmade pasta, and homemade sauces, wood-fired pizza and various toppings, and organic salads and vegetables. The cuisine is accompanied by a selection of fine Italian wines, craft beers, and classic cocktails made with imported spirits. Piloni's Italian Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, daily.

1733 Lafayette Ave, Terre Haute, IN 47804, Phone: 812-466-4744

17.Grand Traverse Pie Company, Terre Haute, Indiana

The Grand Traverse Pie Company is a local chain outlet that makes and serves freshly baked sweet and savory pies and classic café fare in a warm and welcoming setting. The café has comfortable décor, wooden tables and chairs, and friendly staff who brew fresh coffee and serves delicious food like gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, homemade quiches, breakfast bowls, egg dishes, and vegetarian options. The café specialized in homemade pies and other sweet treats such as custom cakes, pastries and muffins, and a variety of freshly brewed coffee and espressos are always on the go. The Grand Traverse Pie Company is open for lunch and dinner, daily.

75 N 3rd St, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-235-1582

18.Stables Steakhouse, Terre Haute, IN

Located in a former stable, Stables Steakhouse is a luxurious restaurant with exposed brickwork, rich, dark wood and leather furnishings, plush carpeting, and elegant chandeliers that serves award-winning cuisine. Exuding the feeling of a cozy mountain lodge, the restaurant serves prime, 28-day aged steaks, fresh seafood, surf-and-turf, and fresh salads, and has a full-service bar with the largest selection of bourbons, cognacs, scotch, and other fine liquors in the region. The bar also serves classic cocktails made with imported spirits, craft beers, and fine wines from around the world.

939 Poplar St, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-232-6677

19.Sonka Irish Pub, Terre Haute, Indiana

Housed in a historic building on the northwest corner of Wabash Avenue and 14th Street dating back to 1900, Sonka Irish Pub is a long-time neighborhood tavern that serves traditional Irish fare, craft beers on tap and by the bottle. The menu features authentic Irish dishes with American twists like cheese boards, fish and chips, nachos, quesadillas, burgers and fries, gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, fish platters of fresh seafood. The full bar serves a wide range of craft beers on tap and by the bottle, a selection of wines from around the world, classic cocktails made with imported spirits, and the pub is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, daily.

1366 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute, IN 47807, Phone: 812-234-8802