Maple Grove Road Rural Historic District

Maple Grove Road Rural Historic District is a countryside area containing farmsteads with buildings dating mainly to the 1800s, spread across two townships in Monroe County. The district covers more than 600 acres with 69 preserved structures including homes with Gothic Revival details and extensive old stone walls throughout the landscape.

The district began forming around 1828 when early settlers established farms, with the Daniel Stout House from that year being one of the oldest surviving buildings. Development continued through the 1800s and into the 1900s, reflecting how rural Indiana changed over more than a century.

The farmsteads show how families lived and worked the land across generations in this area. The old stone walls and cemetery visible today reflect the settlement patterns and rural traditions that shaped daily life here.

The district spreads across open farmland between a creek and a state road, with various homesteads accessible from public roads nearby. Visitors should respect private property boundaries and consider exploring by car to see the full extent of the preserved structures.

This was Indiana's first designated rural historic district, setting a precedent for protecting farmland heritage in the state. It was also home to Rachel Peden's farm, where she wrote about and documented everyday rural experiences.