Salem is located in scenic Southern Indiana just 35 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky and less than 100 miles south of Indianapolis, Indiana. Salem is a great place to live and make a living. We have high achieving public schools, beautiful and historical homes, and a wide variety of community activities. Salem also has a strong and diverse economic base. If you're a visitor to Salem, Indiana we hope you will take note of these unique destinations.

The John Hay Center includes the following:

The Stevens Memorial Museum
The Stevens Memorial Museum was built in 1970 to preserve community history and heritage. A major expansion was completed in 1995. The beautiful two-and-one-half story brick building is built of native brick from local old historic buildings. The museum features old-time law and dentist offices.

There are hundreds of native historic relics. Many Civil War mementos are included along with tools, agriculture tools and items, beautiful furniture, clothing and other displays. Visitors will find it historically educational and fulfilling in developing an association with the lifes of our ancestors.

The Pioneer Village
The Pioneer Village is an extension of the Stevens Memorial Museum and has been reconstructed as a "living village" during the 1840's era. Visitors find a visit to the village a challenge to their imagination of the way of life for early settlers. Thomas Hopper is credited with being the first settler to what is now Washington County. George Brock was the first man to settle in the immediate vicinity of Salem. From early settlements came men and women who prominently figured in the development of Washington County.

The John Hay House
The John Hay House was built in 1824 and was the birthplace of John Hay, private secretary to President Abraham Lincoln ,1861-1865, Writer/Author, 1870-1890, Life of Lincoln and many poems. Mr. Hay was also Ambassador to England; and Secretary of State under President McKinley, 1898, and President Roosevelt, 1902.

Genealogy and Historical Library
The Stevens Memorial Museum also houses the Washington County Historical Society Genealogy and Historical Library. Many researchers from all over the United States come here to work on special projects. A small library staff is available to work with researchers. The library not only contains Indiana and local records but also maintains data and records from other states. Types of data included are: family histories, church records, cemetery records, obituaries, census records, marriage records, newspapers, state and county histories and antique photographs.

John Hay Center
307 East Market Street
Salem, Indiana 47167
Ph#812-883-6495
http://johnhaycenter.org

The Depot Railroad Museum

The Depot Railroad Museuem stands as a tribute to and reminder of Salem’s role in organizing the railroad that served much of Indiana for 125 years.

Known as “The Hoosier Line” because its tracks were located in the state of Indiana, the "Monon Railroad" was founded because of the efforts of Salem businessmen.

The Depot Museum contains antique furniture from railroad stations, including the original waiting room benches from the Salem station that was torn down in 1982. Also, there are displays of railroad equipment and tools, signs, advertisements, signals and lanterns. A worker’s motor car and a station’s baggage wagon are on display. The Depot’s basement contains an HO scale model railroad that depicts Washington County as it was in the 1950s and 1860s. A team of volunteers is rebuilding Salem, Pekin and Campbellburg as they were a half century ago.

The Depot Railroad Museum
206 South College Ave.
Salem Indiana 47167
Phone: 812.883.1884
http://salemdepot.com/
info@salemdepot.com

 

John Hay Lake

John Hay Lake is a 210-acre surface area impoundment located, in the Rush Creek Valley, 6 miles northwest of Salem. The lake offers tournament fishing or just a day of leisurely angling. This primitive area is also great for observing birds and animals in their natural habitat. Lake access includes one boat ramp.

A City of Salem boat launch permit is effective for one (1) calendar year, January 1 to December 31. The permits are issued at Salem’s Clerk-Treasurer’s office and the Salem Police Department office. The launch permit is good for both Lake Salinda and John Hay Lake. A valid Indiana fishing license is also required.

Please Note: Since this is a drinking water source, the use of gasoline powered motors is banned, only electric trolling motors are allowed.

Any questions pertaining to the boat permit should be directed to the City of Salem Clerk-Treasurer’s office at 812-883-4264.

John Hay Lake & Lake Salinda
Boat Launch Permit Application (pdf)

A valid Indiana fishing license is also required.

John Hay Lake & Lake Salinda
Rules & Regulations (pdf)

Lake Salinda

Lake Salinda is an 88 acre surface lake, owned by the City of Salem, located 2 miles south of Salem on S.R. 135. Salinda was once the primary drinking water source for Salem residents and is now the back-up source.Lake Salinda offers tournament fishing and serves as a popular fishing spot for area anglers. Lake access includes one boat ramp.

A City of Salem boat launch permit is effective for one (1) calendar year, January 1 to December 31. The permits are issued at Salem’s Clerk-Treasurer’s office and the Salem Police Department office. The launch permit is good for both Lake Salinda and John Hay Lake.  A valid Indiana fishing license is also required.

For your walking, running or jogging pleasures, the road from the boat launch area to the dam is marked at ¼ mile intervals, for a total of 1 ½ miles back and forth. For exercise or health reasons, you will know how far you’ve traveled.

Lake Salinda has two shelter houses, a pavilion, men’s & women’s restrooms and eight grills. You may reserve a shelter house, at no cost, by calling the City of Salem’s Mayor’s Office at 812-883-4265. Fishing, reunions, weddings and picnics are a few good reasons to take advantage of this beautiful lake area. Shop Salem for your picnic supplies and then head south two miles for a wonderful day of fun and relaxation.

Please Note: Since this is a drinking water source, the use of gasoline powered motors is banned, only electric trolling motors are allowed.

Any questions pertaining to boat launch permits should be directed to the City of Salem Clerk-Treasurer’s office at 812-883-4264.

John Hay Lake & Lake Salinda
Boat Launch Permit Application (pdf)

A valid Indiana fishing license is also required.

John Hay Lake & Lake Salinda
Rules & Regulations (pdf)

Salem Speedway

The Salem Speedway has developed a strong racing heritage and tradition that continues today.  Some of the top names in open wheel and stock car competition visit the famed high banks each racing season to challenge the demanding .555 mile oval.

The Salem Speedway officially opened for business on June 22, 1947, with Tommy Hinnershitz winning the 20-lap feature event for AAA "Big Cars" in front of over 7,000 enthusiastic fans that packed the grounds for the inaugural Salem Speedway Event. 

Since that day in 1947 the names of those who have been raced for the checkered flag at the Salem Speedway continues to grow.   Included upon that list are racing legends such as;  Ted Horn, Troy Ruttman, Bob Seikert, Parnelli Jones, A.J. Foyt, Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Mario Andretti, Curtis Turner, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace, Alan Kulwicki, Ken Schrader, Tony Stewart, Kenny Irwin, Jr., Jeff Gordon and many others.

Salem Speedway
Highway 56
Salem, IN 47167
Ph#812-883-6504
http://www.salemspeedway.com

Old Settler's Day

Old Settler's Day was first held on September 29th 1875 when local settlers came together to recount in "old fashioned style" the stories, accounts and incidents of the earliest settler families in Salem.

Old Settlers' Days continues to this day to pay homage to the early settlers that migrated to the area and comemorates their roughhewn frontier lifestyles and traditions.  

Old Settler's Day is held in late September on the grounds of the John Hay Center. Visitors have the opportunity to see blacksmiths at work, quilting, wood-carving and a variety of local crafts are available for purchase. Historical reenactments encourage visitors to immerse themselves into a Pioneer lifestyle if only for a few hours on a trip to Old Settler's Day. 

John Hay Center
307 East Market Street
Salem, Indiana 47167
Ph#812-883-6495
http://johnhaycenter.org

Salem Community Park

Community Park is alive with activity almost every weekend and evening with Tee-leaguers and proud parents to youth baseball and adult league softballers. Community Park contains 5 ballfields that may be rented from the Salem Parks & Recreation Dept.

Salem Community Park also includes a concession stand, covered picnic area, two sets of restrooms, a skate park, tennis courts and a merry-go-round and slide.

Salem Community Park is located on the east side of Salem. Take State Highway 56 and look for the entrance just past K.D.'s Backroads restaurant.

DePauw Park & Riley's Place

"Riley's Place" is located inside DePauw Park. DePauw Park is just a few blocks west of the Salem Square. Riley's Place was named after Riley Jean Tomlinson, a local toddler who accidentally drowned in a swimming pool, the park was built in 2001 and contains two and three story wooden castles and other structures for children's play along with swings, slides, and similar playground equipment.

Early Quaker History & Salem

The largest group of settlers in the Salem area in the 1800's were Quakers. The Quakers migrated from the east coast and specifically areas such as North Carolina and Virginia. The trip was made by covered wagon and took about a month from the Carolinas across the Cumberland Gap on the Wilderness Trail.

The Quakers were guided by their religious discipline, agrarian lifestyle, commitment to education, anti-slavery beliefs and following a code of "plain living" that dates back to Quaker conduct rules established in London, England in 1660.

The Hicksite Church building (pictured on the right) is an early Quaker Church that was also used as a schoolhouse by local Quaker families. This Hicksite Church was erected in 1815 on land donated by Levi Coffin. Notice the symmetry and relative "plainness" of the building's architecture.

For additional information on Indiana Quakers see the information provided on Conner Prairie's website by clicking on the link below.

"Quakers in Indiana in the Nineteenth Century"

Salem Farmer's Club

The Salem Farmer's Club was organized in November 1892 and is the oldest club of it's kind in Indiana. The club was organized by Mr. and Mrs Warder Stevens. Charter members include Mr. and Mrs Warder Stevens, Mr and Mrs. E.M.C. Hobbs, Mr and Mrs. Asa Eliott, Mr. and Mrs. William Lindley, Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Lindley, Mr. and Mrs. L.G. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Evans Wright, Mr. and Mrs. L. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. L.N. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Parr, Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Newby, Mr. and Mrs. T.M. Loudon and Mr. and Mrs. Francis Nixon.

The club meets each month at the home of one of the families to discuss topics of interest to farmers such as agricultural topics, community issues, historical and patriotic issues and social concerns.