You might know about us in general, but there are probably some neat things you didn’t know about Knightstown. We’re here to tell you about all those neat things and help you find fun, interesting, and informative reasons to fall in love with our town. We have to admit: we’re pretty obsessed! Keep reading to learn about neat things to know, to do, to see, and some neat people from Knightstown.
Neat Things To Know
- We’re the only “Knightstown” in the country. Our city was named in honor of Jonathan Knight, a civil engineer overseeing construction on the National Road (U.S. 40) which still runs through the town.
- We’re small, but growing! Although Knightstown is a pretty petite town, we’ve seen consistent, steady growth over the past couple of years, while most small communities our size have experienced declines. In fact, we were named a “Stellar Community Finalist” in 2020 for our work in planning for our future.
- The 1986 film, Hoosiers, was filmed in Knightstown (more on this later…).
- We’re situated between two bodies of water – the Big Blue River and Montgomery Creek – which makes for fun canoeing and kayaking excursions for a city nested in the Corn Belt.
Neat Things to Do
That’s a lot to list in one article! Be sure to visit our page on What to Do in Knightstown. You’ll find places to shop, things to do, and places to play. We’re proud of our outdoor recreation options and our small local businesses where you can shop, eat, and enjoy Knightstown culture.
Neat Things to See
- Glen Cove Cemetery was named to the National Register of Historic Places. This is the Federal and State official list of sites, buildings, structures, districts, and objects that are important to our history. Be sure to look for the grave of Medal of Honor recipient George Ham Cannon. He was the first member of the U.S. Marine Corps to receive this honor for action in World War II.
- The Hoosier Gym is a world-renowned historic site on its own, but it’s also the set of the film Hoosiers, museum of basketball and film history, and serves as a functioning gym that still hosts the Hoosier Classic and other special events throughout the year.
- Historic Architecture: take our self-guided walking tour to admire the 19th and 20th-century architecture in Knightstown.
Neat Things (Well, Folks) We’re Proud Of
We have some incredible people that were born in Knightstown, Indiana. We’re also planning on looking back in a few years at the amazing people who live here now and the things they accomplish, too. Will they end up with their own Wikipedia pages? Only time will tell! For now, let us tell you about…
- Actor Monte Blue
- You may recognize Monte Blue if you’re a fan of silent films. After a rough loss in the stock market, he took on some character roles in Westerns, like Annie Oakley, and specialized in that genre. He earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
- Actor Forrest Lewis
- Lewis enjoyed time in repertory theatre and on Broadway before he broke into radio and then film acting. He was well-known for his series work on The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
- NFL All-Pro Running Back/Kick Returner (and singer) Timmy Brown
- Talk about an interesting life – football, television color analyst, professional actor (M*A*S*H), singer, and later a corrections officer – and it all started in Knightstown, Indiana!
- Former Secretary of Agriculture Clifford M. Hardin
- In his role under Nixon, Clifford Hardin extended the food stamp program to serve more people in need, established the Food and Nutrition Service, as well as the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
- Historian Charles A. Beard
- Beard’s work was primarily in the fields of history and political science. He was known for his interpretation of history through the lens of economics.
- Medal of Honor Recipient William Zion
- You don’t have to spend a lot of time in Knightstown to know how much we appreciate our veterans, but Private Zion went above and beyond during his time serving in the Boxer Rebellion. He was commended for meritorious conduct in the presence of the enemy in Peking, China.
- Open Heart Surgery Pioneer Dr. Michael Schatzlein
- Raised in Knightstown, Dr. Schatzlein went on to establish the Northern Indiana Heart Institute in 1984 and performed the first heart transplant there in 1985. Nine of the world’s 22 longest-living heart recipients received their new hearts under his care.
We may be small but we boast a variety of things uniquely Knightstown. Our tagline, Hoosiers Made Here, says it all. We are the place where Hoosiers are made, and by that we mean, people, products, experiences, AND movies. We look forward to seeing you in our community soon! To find the best places to shop, eat, and stay visit our website at www.goknightstown.com.
