Edinburgh, Indiana: History and Golf

Edinburgh, Indiana, invites you to discover local history through a variety of traces. At the heart of the town is the Edinburgh Commercial Historic District, along with a historic tour, a mural with local connections, and a public golf course. Together, these offer a look at both downtown history and recreational opportunities. When planning your trip, the main question is whether you’re drawn to Edinburgh for its history or its golf.

History at the Heart of Town

The Edinburgh Commercial Historic District covers about two and a half blocks and lies at the heart of Edinburgh. Its local significance is categorized under criteria A and C in the areas of transportation, commerce, government, and architecture. These four themes offer different perspectives on the district, ranging from the design of its buildings to the functions that mattered to the area as a historic commercial and administrative center.

If you’d like to discover the town’s history firsthand, the Historic Edinburgh Tour offers just that kind of historical experience. Other individual details add to the picture: Horizon Bank/Thompson Bank was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The site of the Edinburgh Public Library was the first trading post in Johnson County. These two facts point to different chapters in the town’s history, without sharing the same function or date.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Pixy Theatre also mark distinct points in time. The congregation of Holy Trinity Catholic Church moved into the current church building in 1883. The Pixy Theatre was built in 1907. The dates refer to different events: one marks the congregation’s move into its current building, the other the construction of the theater. Along with the other historical details, they offer specific points of reference if you’d like to learn about Edinburgh’s past through named places rather than in general terms.

Transportation, Murals, and Golf

The Interurban Depot in Edinburgh is part of the story of transportation. It was part of an electric railway whose cars, called the Dixie Flyer, passed through Edinburgh six times a day. This detail illustrates the frequency of the service and adds a specific railway reference to the transportation history of the Commercial Historic District.

Another way to connect with the town’s history is through the mural in Edinburgh, which, in 2022, helped commemorate the town’s 200th anniversary. Its design combines the river and dam with fish. It also includes a secondary, almost subtle reference to Camp Atterbury. If local imagery interests you, the mural offers both a connection to the waterside landscape and a more understated second reference. It complements the historic buildings and names with a more recent way of marking the anniversary.

For a different kind of trip, Timbergate Golf Course may be of interest: it’s a public golf course in Edinburgh. If you enjoy golf, you can take this into account when choosing Edinburgh as a destination; if you’re primarily interested in downtown history, the Historic District and tour offer a fitting place to start. Another place at the same hierarchical level to explore is Greenwood.

For the broader travel overview: Johnson.