The Fort Benjamin Harrison historic district is a familiar area in Indianapolis, but have you spent time in Fort Harrison State Park? This park is great for trail running, birding and hiking, plus animal lovers, outdoor sports enthusiasts, and people interested in the military!
I have a lot of great memories of Fort Benjamin Harrison back when it was a U.S. Army post. Growing up, my brother played soccer games there, and every Fourth of July, we would watch fireworks and listen to the Army band play patriotic music. I’ve always loved the historic old homes around the park and the way it feels like an urban oasis.
In 1991, Fort Benjamin Harrison was scheduled for closure, but Governor Evan Bayh proposed turning it into a state park. In the decades since, the city of Lawrence has fully embraced the park so they feel like natural extensions of each other. Nearby, you'll find paved paths, wooden boardwalks, the singing swings, and a thriving and diverse community that has become an extension of Indianapolis.
IN the Podcast Episode
In this episode discover why Fort Harrison is a great park for animal lovers, outdoor sports enthusiasts, and military history buffs. You’ll hear from the park’s interpretive naturalist, one of the horse barn owners, the president of the Museum of 20th Century Warfare, the Hoosier Mountain Biking Association, and the Friends of Fort Harrison volunteer group.
Park Features
At Fort Harrison, you’ll find trails for hiking or running, a hilly paved multi-use path, mountain biking trails, fishing, a nature center, an awesome playground, the horse barn, an adjacent dog park, and an extensive military history. While it doesn't offer overnight camping or a pool, there is the Fort Harrison Inn along with the Fort Golf Resort and Conference Center.
The park also provides engaging experiences for people with all sorts of interests. In the podcast episode, you’ll learn about all those activities and how you can be part of the community that exists at Fort Harrison.
Animal Lovers
Fort Harrison is a wonderful place for animal lovers. I interviewed Robert Parham, one of the horse barn owners. Robert didn’t grow up around horses, but said “the more you're around them, the more you gain that love.” There are plenty of chances to love the horses since the horse barn is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
The barn provides two trail options: a 30-minute and 60-minute ride. There are also shorter, parent-led pony rides around the stable which my niece and nephew tried out. As soon as my niece sat on the pony, the sweetest smile broke out on her face! There are also classes available, but you’ll need a reservation for these which can be made through the Fort Harrison website.
For dog lovers, check out the Fort Harrison State Park Dog Park. It's located through a different entrance off Fall Creek and does require a separate dog park pass, which you can purchase at the main park office. It has a pond where water is regularly tested, and there are trails for your canine companion. A friend of mine took her golden retriever there, and on the podcast, she shared how much fun it was!
Outdoor Sports Enthusiasts
Many people are introduced to Fort Harrison through an annual race, the Indy Half Marathon at Fort Ben. Put on by Beyond Monumental every October, the event offers a 5K, 10K, and half marathon. I’ve run all three distances, and it’s absolutely beautiful to run around and through the park as the leaves are changing! Take those hills seriously though!
If wheels are more your style, the Hoosier Mountain Biking Association also maintains trails at Fort Harrison. I talked with Jason Hilt, a member of HMBA, who told me, “All the trails here are brand new, specifically built by the mountain bikers for mountain biking… We have about a one-mile beginner trail that is mostly flat, and very, very kid-friendly, very beginner-friendly. The other two trails we have are Lawrence Creek Trail and then the Schoen Creek Trail.”
Mountain biking can be a little intimidating, but Jason reassured me that the culture is accepting. He described it as “Very friendly, very helpful. If we see somebody that's off the side of the trail, we're always like, ‘Hey, you know, are you good? You got everything you need?’”
He shares even more about the trails on the podcast. Whether you’re interested in trying out mountain biking or have been doing it for a while, Fort Harrison’s trails are there for you!
Military History Buffs
Fort Harrison’s origin story with the U.S. military goes back to World War I. Emilie Sweet, the park’s interpretive naturalist, said the inn on Post Road was used as a hospital then. After World War I, the fort housed a military training center, and during World War II, there was a prisoner of war camp there. After the Soviet Union fell, many military bases were closed, including Fort Benjamin Harrison. The park’s nature center goes into greater detail about that military history.
With its connection to the military, it makes sense why the Museum of 20th Century Warfare is also located at Fort Harrison. The museum is an incredible volunteer-led resource full of knowledge and information. I spent over an hour with Christopher Schneider, the museum’s president. The information was so interesting and valuable, it ended up becoming its own podcast episode so keep an eye out for that!
The museum starts with the twentieth century's first deployment, the China Relief Expedition. It walks visitors through one hundred years of conflict, ending with the Kosovo deployment. It’s also home to a military history library with over 4,000 books. Dale Lane, the museum's vice president, has organized it all. He says it’s important work because “A lot of times it's family members looking for information about where their veteran might have served or more details about what their unit did.” He can also help current veterans with information or context for places they served.
I cannot overemphasize how thorough the museum is and how passionate the volunteers are who run it. What an incredible resource for teachers, students, military history lovers, veterans and their families! Check their Facebook page for visiting hours.
Get Involved through Volunteering
If you’ve been looking for a place to volunteer, Fort Harrison would love to work with you. The Friends group has regular volunteer hours on Mondays and Tuesdays that work outdoors on weeding, removing invasives, and planting native flowers. Reach out to them on Facebook for how you can get involved.
Additionally, the Museum of 20th Century Warfare is always looking for people to help inventory its military donations or put together plastic model planes or tanks. If you have an interest in grant writing, they would also love to connect with you.
The way the park, museum volunteers, and the Friends group have partnered together is really exciting. The future of our state parks is strong because of the community that supports them.
Planning Your Visit
If you live in Indianapolis and you’ve never been to Fort Harrison, I don’t know what you’re waiting for! Go this weekend and enjoy any of the activities described here!
I love this park year round. After a good snow, the sledding hill is full of action. Hiking in the fall is magical! There are regular Sunday morning bird walks which are especially great during migration season. If you visit in the summer, biking the paved paths will cool you off as you fly down the hills. No matter when you’re there, be sure you stop for ice cream afterwards at Moo & Lou Frozen Treats!
Follow and Share
Want to join my IN the Parks journey? Check out the podcast, follow along on Instagram and Facebook, and be sure to share with a friend. Now, get out and make some of your own memories, and I hope to see you IN the Parks!
