Madison Farmer's Market [north side]Madison Farmer's Market is the oldest farmer's market in Indiana. Tracing its roots to 1809, the first two market houses were west of the Courthouse near the corner of Jefferson and Main . . . — — Map (db m180996) HM
Broadway Colored School [south side]Built in 1880 as a grammar school for Madison's African American children, it was expanded in 1898 to include high school students. With integration, it closed in 1957 and became a community . . . — — Map (db m180997) HM
Public Library [west side]In the early 19th century a small group of men met at a local tavern to form the Madison Library Society. The library opened April 18, 1818. It was located at several different sites before the former . . . — — Map (db m180998) HM
Lower Seminary School Lydia Middleton Elementary School [west side]The first school on this site was built in the early 1840s as a tuition academy. It became a city school and wings were added in the 1870s. In 1923 the building . . . — — Map (db m180999) HM
John Paul [east side]"Colonel" John Paul, founder of Madison, was an energetic, imposing figure. In 1808, with Lewis Davis and Jonathan Lyons, he purchased 691.54 acres for the new town. In 1809 Paul and his family settled in a . . . — — Map (db m181000) HM
Jefferson County Courthouse [west side]Completed in 1855, the Greek Revival style brick and stone courthouse replaced a smaller octagon shaped courthouse that burned in 1853. In 1869 the roof was rebuilt with the steeper pitch . . . — — Map (db m181158) HM
Madison's Fire Companies [south side]Madison's fire protection is provided by six volunteer companies. The oldest company, Fair Play Fire Co. #1, was founded in 1841. Washington Fire Co. #2 was organized in 1846. Co. #2's . . . — — Map (db m181159) HM
Servicing the Automobile [west side]Once the automobile came to Madison, changes came quickly. Livery stables were changed to garages and service stations appeared. In addition to pumping gasoline, attendants checked the oil . . . — — Map (db m181161) HM
Indiana's First Railroad [east side]Visible just downriver from here is an abandoned section of track from the first operating railroad in Indiana. The Madison and Indianapolis R.R. began service in 1838, and its famous . . . — — Map (db m181335) HM
Railroad on the Riverfront [east side]Factories and mills along Madison's riverfront shipped products by railroad. Tracks ran along the riverfront to the east end of town. A block-long freight station occupied the grassy field . . . — — Map (db m181336) HM
Flood of 1937 [west side]Although Madisonians are used to the ups and downs of the river, 1937 marked the year of the worst recorded flood in Ohio River history, enveloping the city below First Street. The high water mark is . . . — — Map (db m181338) HM
Madison Regatta [east side]The 4th of July week is celebrated in Madison with fireworks and the firepower of unlimited hydroplane racing. Fast and furious racing marks the Indiana Governor's Cup, with boats reaching speeds of . . . — — Map (db m181379) HM
Eagle Cotton Mill [west side]Built in 1884 for $100,000, this was the most modern mill of its time, complete with its own power plant. Electric lamps illuminated 300 workers at 240 looms spinning thread and weaving cotton . . . — — Map (db m181405) HM
Milton-Madison Bridge [east side]The first bridge across the Ohio River here, a 20-foot wide metal truss, officially opened to traffic in 1929. Drivers paid 45 cents and walkers 5 cents. In 2012-2013 a new 40-foot wide bridge . . . — — Map (db m181406) HM
Side A
Madison’s Riverfront
Once a bustling commercial and industrial area,
Madison’s riverfront has greatly changed since the
City’s founding in 1809. On these banks stood
factories, mills, hotels and taverns, typical of . . . — — Map (db m22775) HM