Terre Haute [http://www.terrehaute.com/] is a city in the west-central Indiana, about 4 hours (300 km) south of Chicago and 1 hour southwest of Indianapolis. The name "Terre Haute" is French for "high land" and refers to the area's history from the French colonization of the Americas as well as its geography next to the Wabash River.

Understand

Terre Haute's history reaches back to the early 1800s with the construction of Fort Harrison as a permanent settlement within Indian Territory. The city grew up primarily around industry and river traffic on the Wabash River. The growth of the railroads and a short-lived oil boom contributed to the city's prosperity, but the decline of both, along with the Depression, resulted in the city becoming a model of Midwestern urban decay up through the 1980's. Recent mayors have worked hard to reverse this image, and have begun making gains in turning the city back around.

Tourist Information

  • '''Terre Haute Convention & Visitors Bureau.''' 643 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute. (812) 234-5555 or (800) 366-3043. 24-hour information line: (812) 238-TALK.
  • Get in

    By plane

    Terre Haute is served by Terre Haute International Airport [http://www.huf.com], but there have not been any commericial flights from there since 1999. Most people in Terre Haute and the surrounding regions use Indianapolis International Airport [http://www.indianapolisairport.com], which is an hour to an hour and a half drive east of the city on Interstate 70. Rental car services to Terre Haute are available at the airport.

    By car

    There are three main highways which run through the city: Interstate 70 running east to west through the south of the city (near Honey Creek Mall); U.S. 41 (known locally as Third Street) oriented north-south; and U.S. 40 (also known as Wabash Avenue) as the road which separates the north and south parts of the city. U.S. 40 splits near the central business district. The westbound traffic turns onto Cherry Street, and the eastbound traffic runs into Ohio Street. In the event of an accident on the interstate, traffic is often re-routed through U.S. 41 and 40.

    By bus

    Greyhound [http://www.greyhound.com] provides service to Terre Haute, with daily buses departing from Indianapolis and St. Louis.

    Get around

    Automobiles are generally the easiest ways of traveling in Terre Haute. Pedestrian travel is the best on the north portion of the city (including Wabash Avenue), but several of the cross-streets on Third Street have short traffic signals. While there is no "rush hour" like those seen in larger cities, during the afternoon and early evening, the south end of town on U.S. 41 can become hectic. Bicycling is becoming increasingly popular due to the heightened gas prices, although cyclers should use caution when riding, as bike lanes and paths are still few and far between. Sidewalks are usually the preferred paths for bikes, but some of the sidewalks on secondary roads are in poor condition. This is being improved by the city.

    By car

    The general speed limit on the streets is 30 miles per hour. Wabash Avenue and Third Street have a slightly higher speed limit. Terre Haute has several train tracks which run through the city, so becoming "railroaded" is a common occurance. Construction is currently ongoing around the central business district.

    Rental Companies

    National: (812) 234-1449 Alamo: (812) 234-1449 Avis: (812) 877-6969 Budget: (812) 238-9963 Enterprise: (812) 235-3142

    By public transit

    Terre Haute is served by a public bus system [http://www.terrehaute.in.gov/Dept_Transit/transit_info.htm], which runs Monday through Saturday from 6am to 6pm. Routes run throughout the city, including several shopping centers. There are plans to have midnight routes which will serve the local bars and universities. Single-trip fares are $1, 14 trip passes are $12, and monthly passes are $30. Although the bus system is growing, the easiest method of traversing Terre Haute is still by car.

    By taxi

    Dependable Cab: (812) 232-1122 Indiana Shuttle: (812) 877-7787 N.E.T. Taxi: (812) 208-3857 Terre Haute Cab: (812) 232-1313 Yellow Cab: (812) 478-5000

    Talk

    See

  • '''Eugene V. Debs House'''
  • 451 N 8th St, ''+1 812'' 232-2163, [http://www.eugenevdebs.com/pages/house.html]. W-Su, 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM; ring the doorbell before entering. Each room is filled with Eugene V. Debs artifacts up to the third floor where the ceiling is completely covered in a beautiful mural painted by John Laska. The house really gives you an idea of the time period. Call ahead if you would like to arrange a tour at a different time.

  • '''Swope Art Museum'''thumb|Swope Art Museum
  • 25 S. 7th St., ''+1 812'' 238-1676, [http://www.swope.org/]. Tu-F, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sa, Noon - 5:00 PM. A small but good art museum in downtown Terre Haute that features art primarily from the twentieth century. The museum also houses plenty of Hoosier artists, and hosts traveling collections as well. Free admission.

    Do

    You'll notice there is nothing here. This is not an accident.

    Buy

  • '''Honey Creek Mall''', 3401 S. U.S. Highway 42, ''+1 812'' 234-4929, [http://www.honeycreekmall.com/shop/honeycreek.nsf/index], M-Sa 10 AM - 9 PM, Su Noon - 6 PM. The main shopping center for the city, Honey Creek Mall houses a number of fairly standard mall stores covering a wide swath of shopping choices. It also features two restaurants, T.G.I. Friday's and Garfield's.
  • Eat

    American

  • '''M. Moggers Eatery & Pub''', 908 Poplar St., ''+1 812'' 234-9202 - M. Moggers (or simply "Moggers," as it is called by the locals) is a turn-of-the-century brewery converted for use as a restaurant. The food here is generally standard fare that one would see in a typical American bar/restaurant, but tastes very good, especially with one of the 170 beers kept on the premises. The ambience, especially in the bar area, is very different from other restaurants in the city, and this is one that should be on any travelers' itinerary.
  • '''St. Mary's Supper Club''', 3700 W. Arms Pl., St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN (''west of Terre Haute on U.S. 150, near the campus of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College'') ''+1 812'' 535-3277.
  • '''Bush Restaurant''', 932 Locust St., ''+1 812'' 238-1148.
  • Barbecue

  • '''Big Shoe's Barbecue''', 1105 S 12th St., ''+1 812'' 234-0507, [http://www.bigshoesbarbeque.com/].
  • '''Homey's Que''', S 13th St and College Avenue, ''+1 812'' 232-2195. Open Thursday through Saturday. The Indianapolis Colts have been known to visit here during their summer training at Rose-Hulman.
  • '''Rick's Smokehouse & Grill''', 3102 Wabash Ave. Terre Haute, IN, (812)235-8335, [http://www.rickssmokehouse.com/]
  • Chinese

  • '''First Wok''', 2570 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 232-3298.
  • Deli

  • '''Market Bella Rosa''', 669 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 234-3663.
  • Donuts

  • '''Square Donut Shoppe''', 930 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 232-3606; 2417 E. Fort Harrison Rd., ''+1 812'' 466-9660. This odd little place has amazing, fresh-made donuts. A must for breakfast one day on your visit to Terre Haute. Make sure to get napkins.
  • European

  • '''European Grill''', 2949 S 5th St., ''+1 812'' 244-0335. Open for lunch (mostly sandwiches) and dinner (more formal food).
  • Harry and Bud's European Cuisine, 1440 South 25th Street, Across the Street from Community Theatre, Open for lunch Monday through Saturday: A quirky little place with no sign. If the outside light is on, it's open. No menu! He will ask you what you want based on the ingredients on hand and then fix something. Definitely not fast food!

    German

  • '''Gerhardt's Bierstube Restaurant''', 1724 Lafayette Ave., ''+1 812'' 466-9249. Gerhardt's is a Terre Haute institution, having served the north side of town for nearly 50 years. Started by a German immigrant, the decor, if not authentic, certainly makes one think that one is dining in a country restaurant in Germany. The food is magnificent, and the hottest mustard in town can be had here, if you're brave. The prices are slightly higher than average, but it is definitely worth it, and any visitor to town would be remiss if they did not visit this little bastion of Germany in Terre Haute.
  • Indian

  • '''Taj Mahal''' 1349 South 3rd Street, Terre Haute, IN 47802. ''+1 812'' 232-5947. Nicely redecorated former IHOP building, turned authentic Indian cuisine. Expect to pay $10-$15 for an entree that will feed two. Lots of chicken and lamb dishes, and several kinds of flatbread.
  • Italian

  • '''Carosi's Italian Restaurant''', 1733 Lafayette Ave., ''+1 812'' 466-4744
  • '''Cucina Maria''', 810 S 9th St., ''+1 812'' 232-7474
  • '''Pino's II Sonetto''', 4200 S 7th St., "+1 812'' 299-9255
  • '''Zamberletti Restaurant''', 1429 S 25th St., "+1 812" 232-1243
  • Japanese

  • '''Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse''', 3495 S. 4th St., ''+1 812'' 232-4363.
  • '''Sushi Umi''', 2801 S. 3rd St., ''+1 812'' 232-7874.
  • '''Tokyo Japanese Cuisine'''
  • Pizza

  • '''Maurizio's''', 2940 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 232-0633; 5035 N. Lafayette Ave., ''+1 812'' 466-9645. A fantastic locally-owned pizza place, that delivers within small distances from their stores. They feature the "747," an enormous pizza suitable for feeding at least 4 people. Definitely one of the better pizza places in Terre Haute.
  • Thai

  • '''Exotic Thai Cuisine''', 1295 S. 3rd St., ''+1 812'' 232-8898.
  • Drink

    Coffee

  • '''Java Haute''', 3805 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 234-5282. This small coffee shop is a local hangout for everyone from young to old. It also has a 24 hour drive-thru and free wi-fi.
  • '''Joe Muggs''', 3362 S. U.S. Highway 41 (''part of the Books-A-Million store''), ''+1 812'' 232-0856.
  • '''The Coffee Grounds''', 423 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 238-9664. - Local bands perform here on weekends. It has wi-fi, and often has art exhibits. They also sell some of the coffee they serve, both ground and whole bean. The Coffee Grounds is one of Terre Haute's more famous hangouts. Serve panini-press "Gourmet grilled cheese" and salads through the day.
  • '''Starbucks''', 3017 S US Hwy 41., ''+1 812'' 235-5346.
  • Beer

  • '''Ambrosini's''', 1367 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 235-1445.
  • '''The Apple Club''', 3300 S. U.S. Highway 41, ''+1 812'' 232-6081.
  • '''Buffalo Wild Wings''', 3718 S. U.S. Highway 41, ''+1 812'' 242-9464, [http://www.buffalowildwings.com]. This is a national chain restaurant that serves excellent wings with many different kinds of sauces, as well as some other standard American junk food fare. As with their other restaurants, this one features NTN Trivia, a great way to waste a few hours if you have nothing better to do.
  • '''Copper Bar''', 810 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 238-0033.
  • '''The Fourth Quarter''', 2000 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 232-9216. Looks like a dive from the outside, but they generally have decent local and regional rock bands on the weekends. It's worth a drive by if you're cruising around looking for something to do.
  • '''M. Moggers Eatery & Pub''', 908 Poplar St., ''+1 812'' 234-9202. Moggers features about 170 beers from around the world, mostly bottled. This is an excellent place to go for good beer.
  • '''Simrell's''', 804 S. 7th St., ''+1 812'' 232-4114. While Indiana State University is in session, this is one of the primary student hangouts, so it can make for a loud and good time Thursday through Saturday nights.
  • '''Speak Easy''', 1800 Wabash Ave., ''+1'' 812 232-7805. Billed as a "conversation bar", this is a great place to hang out and get to know the locals, different drink specials every day and free food on Friday. Stop in and have a good time.
  • '''Sonka's Irish Pub''' , 1366 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 234-8802. A great little pub located just east of downtown, this bar features many different kinds of beer and wine, but no liquor. The beer lineup is constantly changing, though you will always be able to find a pint of Guinness on tap.
  • '''The Terminal''', 820 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 232-8480.
  • '''The Verve''', 677 Wabash Ave., ''+1 812'' 234-9536, [http://www.theverve.biz/]. A great place to go to hear music, primarily rock and blues from local and regional bands.
  • '''Malloy's Irish Pub''', 684 Lafayette Ave., ''+1 812'' 235-5074. http://www.myspace.com/malloysirishpub 3 pool tables, 3 dart machines, steel tip darts, karaoke Thursdays and Fridays, dance music or live bands Saturdays. Sports on 5 TVs and the 110" projected "TV". Cornhole and Bag Ball in the beer garden any time. Open 7 days. 9 beers on tap.
  • '''The Vault''', COMING SOON to Wabash Ave., ''Watch for this combination nightclub and sports bar in October 2008. Two stories of amazing fun.
  • Sleep

    Budget

    Mid-range

    For easy access to I-70, there is a cluster of hotels off the Terre Haute Highway 41 exit:

  • '''Comfort Suites Terre Haute'''. 501 E Margaret Ave. (812) 235-1770.
  • '''Drury Inn Terre Haute'''. 3040 S US Highway 41.
  • '''Fairfield Inn by Marriott Terre Haute'''. 475 E Margaret Ave. (812) 235-2444.
  • '''Hampton Inn Terre Haute'''. 3325 S US Highway 41. (812) 242-2222.
  • '''Holiday Inn Express Terre Haute'''. 3300 S US Highway 41. (812) 232-6081.
  • Learn

    Unlike other cities its size, Terre Haute boasts five institutes of higher education:

  • '''Indiana State University'''. 200 N 7th St. [http://www.indstate.edu/]. Founded in 1865, Indiana State University is a public university with around 10,000 students.
  • '''Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology'''. 5500 Wabash Ave. [http://www.rose-hulman.edu/]. Founded in 1874, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a private college with about 2,000 students. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks it the #1 undergraduate engineering institution in the United States.
  • '''Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College'''. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN. [http://www.smwc.edu/]. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is a liberal arts college for women. Founded in 1840 by Indiana's first Catholic saint (Saint Mother Theordore Guerin, who is entombed on the campus), it is the nation's oldest Catholic college for women.
  • '''Ivy Tech Community College'''.
  • '''Indiana Business College'''.
  • Stay safe

  • Terre Haute is generally a safe city, but the same precautions for any other city apply here. Don't go out alone at night, don't flash money around and avoid the sections of town without streetlights, as crime tends to be higher there.
  • Although it is on the edge of Tornado Alley, Terre Haute does experience severe thunderstorms and the occasional tornado warning. Most of these occur in the spring and summer but there have been severe weather events in other months. There are sirens near Indiana State University, but they can only be heard within a mile of the campus. It is usually recommended to tune into local television or radio stations if there is a chance of severe weather.
  • Contact

    The area code is 812.

    Get out