Rising Sun, Ind., is a pretty little town southwest of Cincinnati on the Ohio River. I traveled to Rising Sun to see craft shops, dine and behold the autumn glory of a river town.
The town name was officially registered by 1816 when over 600 individuals lived there. The early 19th century saw some 300-400 flatboats each day embark from Rising Sun. There are a few possible stories about the origin of the name, but as you might imagine they involve settlers beholding a beautiful sunrise from the hills above the Ohio River.
When I arrived there I beheld the first annual Rising Sun Festival of fine arts and crafts. My first stop in an old storefront with pressed and painted ceiling was Harps on Main (222 Main St.). Inside I found dozens of beautiful harps, from small harps finished in bright glowing colors to natural wood larger harps. You can pick up a brochure and follow the self-guided tour to the production facilities in the back.
Across and down Main Street a short walk toward the river was an art gallery and shop called The Main Artery (211 Main St.) where I was drawn in by the mesmerizing color pencil drawings of Vera Curnow. Vera noticed me puzzling over a piece which depicted a gathering of men and women whose skin and clothes were draped about giving an almost vulture-like appearance. As with much visual art, the 2-D rendition beggared a story. The background concept, revealed in the title, "Preyers with Strings Attached," played on the words of pray and prey. Vera explained that she saw some religious organizations seeking to ensnare the vulnerable public-thus her unusual topic and graphical scene.
Vera lived in Seattle 10 years ago until she was lured to Rising Sun by the Downtown Development Office. She and a half dozen other artists who set up stores were offered low interest loans to relocate and help draw visitors to their town.
"We're working actively to develop the arts community. We advertise through a cooperative arrangement," she said. Vera had not heard of Rising Sun before moving there but feels "very positive about my experience here. There's good networking and support amongst local artists. Officials from other towns like Paducah came here to talk to artists and development officials, and they've similarly structured their stipend programs."
In addition to more arts and crafts on Main Street (I nearly succumbed to an overly direct sales pitch from a larger framed man who was selling turned wooden pencils and pens), I found the spacious Pendleton Art Center refreshing and full of multiple media fine art, sculpture and 2-D art. Brochures were available offering artist professional development workshops and seminars, which included such topics as "Exploring the Possibilities of Acrylics," "How to License your Artwork" and "Mixed Media Collage."
I took a lunch break at The Courtyard where, besides a nice lunch, I discovered that steamboat builder Shadrack Hathaway may still haunt his former abode. The Courtyard was built in 1827 as a general merchandise store. It now houses a cafĂ and pub, gift shop and, yes, a pretty outdoor courtyard. Those interested in historic Rising Sun may locate a dozen fascinating stops on the self-guided Historic Architecture Tour.
After lunch I walked across the street to find a park bench and started my favorite part of my visit there - sitting in peace watching the riverboats move about and gazing at the blue sky and the Kentucky wooded hills. I sat atop a natural bluff perhaps reinforced after the devastating 1937 flood. To my left, north, there sat a riverboat. Farther north and out of sight is the Grand Victoria Casino Resort.
To plan your trip to Rising Sun, visit the town's Web site at www.enjoyrisingsun.com or call (888) 776-4786 to speak to someone at the tourism bureau. Other attractions which I haven't yet had time to see include the Ohio County Courthouse, Mulberry Inn and Gardens Bed and Breakfast, and Tuggle's Folly B&B.
Have fun on your day trips and travel safely this fall. Enjoy traveling to special places whether big cities or small towns. It's all about the land you walk, the cool air you breathe and the people you meet.
To Get There
From Lexington take Interstate 75 north for nearly 70 miles to Exit 185, west on Interstate 275. Drive for about 16 miles to Exit 16, State Road 156/56 to the towns of Greendale, Lawrenceburg and Aurora. Follow signs for State Road 156/56 as it winds southbound along the Ohio River for about 15 miles to Rising Sun, Ind. The drive time is two hours.