Area Attractions:
Ferdinand, population 2,500, is located near I-64 in hilly, scenic southern Indiana, near the Hoosier National Forest and the Ferdinand State Forest. Louisville, KY, is just over one hour to the east and Evansville, IN, is one hour to the west. Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Nashville, and St. Louis are all located three hours from Ferdinand. A predominantly rural, farming, and furniture-producing region, Ferdinand provides excellent schools and a safe, caring, family-friendly environment.
Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home (from age 7 to 21, 1816-1830) is a National Memorial located twenty minutes away. This famous, historic site features the gravesite of Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, replica cabins, a museum, a modern amphitheatre, a lake, and state forest. Lincoln State Park also owns the carefully restored 1834 Federal-design home of the merchant employer of Abraham Lincoln, Colonel William Jones. Offering a unique look at the early development of Indiana and the life of Colonel Jones. this State Historic Site includes guided tours, themed talks, exhibits, gifts, 100 acres of forest, a self-guiding nature trail, picnic area, and a restored log barn.
Holiday World is located fifteen minutes away. This amusement and water park, owned and operated by the Koch family, is one of the nation's finest. It features three of the nation's best wooden roller coasters, several water slides, and miscellaneous fun for the whole family.
Newly restored, historic French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs Hotels and Casino are located 45 minutes away. Currently the most ambitious multi-million dollar historic preservation and economic revitalization project in the region, this location features new restaurants, shops, convention space, and amenities with Old World charm. The hotel's large atrium dome at West Baden was once the eighth wonder of the world — the world's largest free-standing dome prior to the building of the Houston Astrodome. (For more info, see www.historiclandmarks.org)
Two historic Benedictine monasteries — one in Ferdinand and another in St. Meinrad (ten minutes away) exhibit magnificent Romanesque architecture and are indicative of the region's strong German-Austrian ethnic heritage. Dynamic, active centers of education and spiritual growth, these nationally-renowned communities host retreats, conferences, and cultural events open to the public.
Neighboring towns such as Huntingburg and Jasper, Indiana, (a fifteen drive) contribute to the area's rich German-American heritage — evident in its well-preserved architecture, the pride and work ethic of the people, the high quality of its schools, and the friendly, good nature of the people. (For more info on Dubois County, see www.visitduboiscounty.com)
The immediate neighborhood of the Wollenmann home features the nationally renowned Sisters of St. Benedict Monastery, a Romanesque-style “castle” just three block away. Next door is the German-American Bank which in the 1970s revived the unique Swiss architectural style of the Wollenmann home. St. Ferdinand Church, one of the town's Romanesque landmarks with a towering sandstone steeple in the heart of town, is located just two blocks away, as are 100+ year old Italianate and Second Empire structures. An eclectic blend of vernacular, Arts and Crafts, Craftsman, Romanesque, and modern architecture contributes to the charm of the Wollenmann neighborhood. Families with children live in close proximity to the home.
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