Henry County Memorial Park

Henry County Memorial Park. New Castle, Indiana. , This 94-acre historic park was created on June 11, 1920 to honor those who fought in World War I. The park grew to include memorials to all wars. The park's many monuments and memorials are tucked into rolling, wooded terrain within the Big Blue River Valley with two lakes and a stream., The first monument erected in the park was dedicated in 1923 to the memory of aviator Wilbur Wright who was born in Henry County. The most notable memorial is the “Spirit of the American Doughboy” statue by Hoosier artist E. M. Viquesney, dedicated to the park in 1929 by the American War Mothers., The park also includes two buildings with large meeting rooms, two historic cabins that were relocated to the park, picnic pavilions, gazebos, Depression-era bridges, a tennis court, trails for hiking, stone drinking fountains, a natural amphitheater, and a large playground., A fireworks display is held annually on Independence Day and has drawn as many as 20,000 spectators., The park's first Board of Trustees were Salem Shively, Luther Symons, Frank Wisehart, Dr. W.C. VanNuys, and Maurice Goodwin., On August 26, 2020 during the centennial of the park's creation Henry County Memorial Park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures by the Citizens to Preserve Henry County Memorial Park.