All images © 2005 by Robert E. Pence
Return to Lafayette, Indiana Index
Let's start with a trip to the top of a parking garage near the river for an overall view of the downtown area.
Looking toward downtown
Fifth Third Bank and Riehle Plaza
Wabash River bridge to West Lafayette and Purdue
The third courthouse was built in 1884 at a cost of $500,000, and a recent renovation cost $15 million. The building has over 100 columns on the exterior, and stands 212 feet tall. The walnut entry doors weigh 500 pounds each.
The Red Crown Mini Museum, a vintage Standard Oil gas station, stands across the street from the Holiday Inn Select. Although the building was closed when I was there, through the windows I saw some interesting motoring memorabilia
On Saturday morning a beautiful 1934 Cadillac was parked in the drive
Riehle Plaza honors the late Mayor James Riehle. The centerpiece of the plaza is the 1902 brick Big Four Railroad depot, moved two blocks from its original location at Second and South Streets, placed atop a lower level, and restored to provide a space for meetings and receptions. The lower level houses offices and a shared waiting room for Greyhound, Amtrak and CityBus.
.
A pedestrian/bicycle bridge provides access to the Amtrak platform and to the former Main Street Bridge, now a pedestrian bridge across the Wabash River
A railroad relocation project, including the new street bridge across the river, eliminated many railroad crossings on city streets and a several-block-long stretch of street-running on CSX (former Monon) tracks down 5th Street for freight trains and Amtrak. Freight trains, especially northbound ones, move quite fast along the new combined corridor.
Return to Lafayette, Indiana Index