Terre Haute

Terre Haute's history reaches back to the early 1800s with the construction of Fort Harrison as a permanent settlement within the Indiana Territory. The city grew up primarily around industry and river traffic on the Wabash River. The growth of the railroads and a short-lived oil boom contributed to the city's prosperity, but the decline of both, along with the Depression, resulted in the city becoming a model of Midwestern urban decay up through 1980s. Recent mayors have worked hard to reverse this image, and have begun making gains in turning the city back around.

Tourist information

• Terre Haute Convention & Visitors Bureau. 643 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute. +1 812-234-5555 or +1-800-366-3043. 24-hour information line: +1 812 238-TALK.

By plane

Most people in Terre Haute and the surrounding regions use Indianapolis International Airport, which is a 1-1½ hour drive east of the city on Interstate 70. Rental car services to Terre Haute are available at the airport.
Terre Haute is served by Terre Haute Regional Airport, but there have not been any commercial flights from there since 1999.

By car

There are three main highways which run through the city: Interstate 70 running east to west through the south of the city (near Honey Creek Mall); U.S. 41 (known locally as Third Street) oriented north-south; and U.S. 40 (also known as Wabash Avenue) as the road which separates the north and south parts of the city. U.S. 40 splits near the central business district. The westbound traffic turns onto Cherry Street, and the eastbound traffic runs into Ohio Street. In the event of an accident on the interstate, traffic is often re-routed through U.S. 41 and 40.

By train

Catch-A-Train provides highway service to the Mattoon Amtrak station for trains to Chicago.

By bus

Greyhound provides service to Terre Haute, with daily buses departing from Indianapolis and St. Louis.

Automobiles are generally the easiest ways of traveling in Terre Haute. Pedestrian travel is the best on the north portion of the city (including Wabash Avenue), but several of the cross-streets on Third Street have short traffic signals. While there is no "rush hour" like those seen in larger cities, during the afternoon and early evening, the south end of town on U.S. 41 can become hectic. Also, many people cannot manage to drive the speed limit. Bicycling is becoming increasingly popular due to the heightened gas prices, although cyclists should use caution when riding, as bike lanes and paths are still few and far between. Sidewalks are usually the preferred paths for bikes, but some of the sidewalks on secondary roads are in poor condition. This is being improved by the city.

By car

The general speed limit on the streets is 30 miles per hour (48 km/h). Wabash Avenue and Third Street have a slightly higher speed limit. Terre Haute has several train tracks which run through the city, so becoming "railroaded" is a common occurrence. Construction is ongoing around the central business district.

Rental companies

• Alamo: +1 812-234-1449
• Avis: +1 812-877-6969
• Budget: +1 812-238-9963
• Enterprise: +1 812-235-3142
• National: +1 812-234-1449

By public transit

Terre Haute is served by a public bus system , which runs Monday through Saturday from 6AM to 6PM. Routes run throughout the city, including several shopping centers. There are tenuous plans to have midnight routes which will serve the local bars and universities. Single-trip fares are $1.75, 14 trip passes are $21, and monthly passes are $45. Although the bus system is growing, the quickest, simplest method of traversing Terre Haute is still by car.

By taxi

Dependable Cab: +1 812-232-1122
Indiana Shuttle: +1 812-877-7787
N.E.T. Taxi: +1 812 208-3857
Terre Haute Cab: +1 812-232-1313
Yellow Cab: +1 812-478-5000

• Eugene V. Debs House

  address: 451 N 8th St
  This was the house of the late 19th-/early 20th-century leader of the Socialist Party of America. Each room is filled with Eugene V. Debs artifacts up to the third floor, where the ceiling is completely covered in a beautiful mural painted by John Laska. The house really gives you an idea of the time period. Call ahead if you would like to arrange a tour at a different time.

• Swope Art Museum

  phone: +1 812-238-1676
  address: 25 S 7th St
  A small but good art museum in downtown Terre Haute that features art primarily from the twentieth century. The museum also houses plenty of Hoosier artists, and hosts traveling collections as well.

• Gopalan Contemporary Art

  address: 9 South 7th St
  Small gem of an art gallery showcasing internationally known artists. The gallery has a new show every month and features a diverse group of artists and artisans.

• Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

  phone: +1 812-535-3131
  address: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
  The Sisters of Providence, founded by Saint Mother Theodore Guerin in 1840, welcome tourists and pilgrims to their grounds to see the shrines, scenery, historic architecture, eco-justice center and alpaca herd.

• Terre Haute Children's Museum

  phone: +1 812-235-5548
  address: 727 Wabash Ave
  Impressive children's museum for a smaller town. Hands-on exhibits, lots of different activities, and a gift shop.

• Vorhees Skate Park

  address: Corner of State Road 63 & Vorhees Road
  You can have fun at a little skate park.

• Honey Creek Mall

  phone: +1 812 234-4929
  address: 3401 S. U.S. Highway 42
  The main shopping center for the city, Honey Creek Mall houses a number of fairly standard mall stores covering a wide swath of shopping choices. It also features a T.G.I. Friday's.

• Bottle 41

  phone: +1 812-298-4500
  address: 5131 US Hwy 41
  Boutique wine and specialty shop run by Jeff Hock. Wine, craft beer, coffee, cheeses, olive oils and more.

• Modern Charm

  phone: +1 812-223-6601
  address: 9 S 7th St
  Unique handmade jewelry and accessories, repurposed home decor and a children's line.

• Linden Leaf Gifts

  phone: +1 812-535-2947
  address: 1 Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
  Gift shop with religious books and goods, fair-trade merchandise and one-of-a-kind gifts on the beautiful, peaceful grounds of the Sisters of Providence.

American

• M. Moggers Restaurant & Pub

  phone: +1 812-234-9202
  address: 908 Poplar St
  M. Moggers (or "Moggers," as it is called by the locals) is a turn-of-the-century brewery converted for use as a restaurant. The food here is generally standard fare that one would see in a typical American bar/restaurant, but tastes very good, especially with one of the 170 beers kept on the premises. The ambience, especially in the bar area, is very different from other restaurants in the city, and this is one that should be on any travelers' itinerary.

• J. Fords Black Angus

  phone: +1 812-235-5549
  address: 502 S 3rd St
  Chef-owned steakhouse with an upscale-casual vibe presents high-end American fare & wine classes. Specials change daily and many of their dishes use local fruits, vegetables and meats. On the pricey side, but unparalleled in Terre Haute.

• St. Mary's Supper Club

  phone: +1 812-535-3277
  address: 3700 W. Arms Pl, St. Mary-of-the-Woods

• Bush Restaurant

  phone: +1 812-238-1148
  address: 932 Locust St

Barbecue

• Homey's Que & Grill

  phone: +1 812-232-2195
  address: 1100 S 13th St
  Open Thursday through Saturday. The Indianapolis Colts have been known to visit here during their summer training at Rose-Hulman.

• Rick's Smokehouse & Grill

  phone: +1 812-235-8335
  address: 3102 Wabash Ave

Chinese

• First Wok

  address: 2570 Wabash Ave

• Royal Mandarin Express

  phone: +1 812-478-1113
  address: 1 Meadows Shopping Center

• Royal Mandarin Express

  phone: +1 812-235-7877
  address: 43 Southland Shopping Center

• Panda Garden

  phone: +1 812-235-0515
  address: 3540 U.S. 41

• Great Wall

  address: 100 North 3rd Street

• China 8 Buffet

  phone: +1 812-235-0866
  address: 3059 U.S. 41

• China Garden

  address: 1353 Wabash Avenue

• Jade Garden

  address: 3375 South 3rd Place

• Magic Wok

  phone: +1 812 234-1133
  address: 3401 U.S. 41

• Crazy Buffet Inc

  phone: +1 812-231-0003
  address: 4674 U.S. 41

• Teppanyaki Grill

  phone: +1 812-231-0000
  address: 3810 U.S. 41

Deli

• Oy Vey Bakery & Deli

  phone: +1 812-235-3354
  address: 2170 N 13th
  An authentic kosher deli known for its fresh-baked bagels and deli sandwiches.

Donuts

• Square Donut Shoppe

  phone: +1 812-232-3606 (Wabash), +1 812-466-9660 (Fort Harrison)
  address: 930 Wabash Ave and 2417 E. Fort Harrison Rd
  This odd little place has amazing, fresh-made donuts. A must for breakfast one day on your visit to Terre Haute. Make sure to get napkins.

European

• European Grill

  address: 2949 S 5th St
  Open for lunch (mostly sandwiches) and dinner (more formal food).

• Harry and Bud's European Cuisine

  address: 1440 South 25th Street
  Across the street from Community Theatre. Open for lunch Monday through Saturday. A quirky little place with no sign. If the outside light is on, it's open. No menu! He will ask you what you want based on the ingredients on hand and then fix something. Definitely not fast food!

Indian

• Taj Mahal

  phone: +1 812-232-5947
  address: 1349 South 3rd Street
  Nicely redecorated former IHOP building, turned authentic Indian cuisine. Expect to pay $10-$15 for an entree that will feed two. Lots of chicken and lamb dishes, and several kinds of flatbread.

Italian

• Carosi's Italian Restaurant

  address: 1733 Lafayette Ave

• Cucina Maria

  address: 810 S 9th St

• Pino's II Sonetto

  phone: +1 812-299-9255
  address: 4200 S 7th St

• Zamberletti Restaurant

  phone: +1 812-232-1243
  address: 1429 S 25th St

Japanese

• Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse

  address: 3495 S. 4th St

• Umi Grill

  phone: +1 812-232-7874
  address: 2002 S 3rd St
  Top-class sushi, Japanese food and cocktails in a modern, aesthetic atmosphere. One of the best restaurants in Central Indiana and maybe even the U.S.

• Tokyo Japanese Cuisine

Pizza

• Maurizio's

  phone: +1 812-232-0633 (Wabash), +1 812-466-9645 (Lafayette)
  address: 2940 Wabash Ave and 5035 N. Lafayette Ave
  A fantastic locally-owned pizza place, that delivers within small distances from their stores. They feature the "747," an enormous pizza suitable for feeding at least 4 people. Definitely one of the better pizza places in Terre Haute.

• Wise Pies

  phone: +1 812-917-4656
  address: 9 S 6th St
  Thin-crust pizza by the slice or pie, plus salads and subs.

Coffee

• Java Haute

  phone: +1 812-234-5282
  address: 3805 Wabash Ave
  This hip and a little funky coffee shop is a local hangout for everyone from young to old. Local artists have work on display. The 24/7/365 drive thru is awesome. Oh yeah, free wi-fi.

• Joe Muggs

  phone: +1 812-232-0856
  address: 3362 S. U.S. Highway 41

• The Coffee Grounds

  address: 423 Wabash Ave
  Local bands perform here on weekends. It has wi-fi, and often has art exhibits. They also sell some of the coffee they serve, both ground and whole bean. The Coffee Grounds is one of Terre Haute's more famous hangouts. Serve panini-press "Gourmet grilled cheese" and salads through the day.

Beer

• The Apple Club

  phone: +1 812-232-6081
  address: 3300 S. U.S. Highway 41

• Buffalo Wild Wings

  address: 3718 S. U.S. Highway 41
  This is a national chain restaurant that serves excellent wings with many different kinds of sauces, as well as some other standard American junk food fare. As with their other restaurants, this one features NTN Trivia, a great way to waste a few hours if you have nothing better to do.

• Copper Bar

  address: 810 Wabash Ave

• The Fourth Quarter

  address: 2000 Wabash Ave
  Looks like a dive from the outside, but they generally have decent local and regional rock bands on the weekends. It's worth a drive by if you're cruising around looking for something to do.

• M. Moggers Eatery & Pub

  address: 908 Poplar St
  Moggers features about 170 beers from around the world, mostly bottled. This is an excellent place to go for good beer.

• Simrell's

  address: 804 S. 7th St
  While Indiana State University is in session, this is one of the primary student hangouts, so it can make for a loud and good time Thursday through Saturday nights.

• Speak Easy

  address: 1800 Wabash Ave
  Billed as a "conversation bar", this is a great place to hang out and get to know the locals, different drink specials every day and free food on Friday. Stop in and have a good time.

• Sonka's Irish Pub

  address: 1366 Wabash Ave
  A great little pub located just east of downtown, this bar features many different kinds of beer and wine, but no liquor. The beer lineup is constantly changing, though you will always be able to find a pint of Guinness on tap.

• The Terminal

  address: 820 Wabash Ave

• The Verve

  address: 677 Wabash Ave
  A great place to go to hear music, primarily rock and blues from local and regional bands.

• Malloy's Irish Pub

  address: 684 Lafayette Ave
  3 pool tables, 3 dart machines, steel tip darts, karaoke Thursdays and Fridays, dance music or live bands Saturdays. Sports on 5 TVs and the 110" projected "TV". Cornhole and Bag Ball in the beer garden any time. Open 7 days. 9 beers on tap.

Budget

Mid-range

For easy access to I-70, there is a cluster of hotels off the Terre Haute Highway 41 exit:

• Comfort Suites Terre Haute

  address: 501 E Margaret Ave

• Drury Inn Terre Haute

  address: 3040 S US Highway 41

• Fairfield Inn by Marriott Terre Haute

  address: 475 E Margaret Ave

• Hampton Inn Terre Haute

  address: 3325 U.S. 41 South
  Near Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Offering free hot breakfast, free WiFi and free parking.

• Holiday Inn Express Terre Haute

  phone: +1 812-232-6081
  address: 3300 S US Highway 41

• Candlewood Suites Terre Haute

  phone: +1 812-234-3400
  address: 721 Wabash Ave

• Hilton Garden Inn Terre Haute

  phone: +1 812-234-8900
  address: 750 Wabash Ave

Unlike other cities its size, Terre Haute boasts five institutes of higher education:

• Indiana State University. 200 N 7th St. . Founded in 1865, Indiana State University is a public university with around 10,000 students.
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. 5500 Wabash Ave. . Founded in 1874, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a private college with about 2,000 students. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks it the #1 undergraduate engineering institution in the United States.
• Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN. . Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is a liberal arts college for women. Founded in 1840 by Indiana's first Catholic saint (Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, who is entombed on the campus), it is the nation's oldest Catholic college for women.
• Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.
• Harrison College.

• Terre Haute is generally a safe city, but the same precautions for any other city apply here. Don't go out alone at night, don't flash money around and avoid the sections of town without streetlights, as crime tends to be higher there.
• Although it is on the edge of Tornado Alley, Terre Haute does experience severe thunderstorms and the occasional tornado warning. Most of these occur in the spring and summer but there have been severe weather events in other months. There are sirens near Indiana State University, but they can only be heard within a mile of the campus. It is usually recommended to tune into local television or radio stations if there is a chance of severe weather.

By phone

Most telephone numbers in Terre Haute consist of +1 812 plus a seven-digit number, but the entire 812 area is now served by an overlay complex of two area codes, with 930 being the second. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call).
Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 812 before these if no area code is indicated.