Whitewater Canal Grist Mill and Aqueduct

The Whitewater River valley is part of the homeland of the Miami (Myaamia), the Lenape (Delaware), and the Shawnee, who lived and traveled through this region of southeastern Indiana. The river routes that later shaped the canal had long been part of these peoples' world before the state was formed.

In the 1830s Indiana embarked on a bold and costly program of internal improvements, building canals to knit its farms and towns to markets. The Whitewater Canal was among these projects, meant to carry produce and goods down the valley toward the Ohio River. The canal boom proved financially disastrous for the young state, and railroads soon overtook canals, but for a time the Whitewater Canal carried real traffic and gave rise to towns like Metamora.

The engineering marvel of the site is the Duck Creek aqueduct, a covered wooden structure that carries the canal over the creek below. Rather than the water crossing on a bridge as a road might, the canal itself, with any boat upon it, rides across the top of the aqueduct inside a wooden trough sheltered by a roof.

Such aqueducts were once part of canal systems across the young country, but almost none survive. The Metamora aqueduct is one of the rare remaining examples, and standing beneath it or watching the canal cross above the creek is a vivid lesson in how nineteenth-century engineers moved water and freight across the landscape.

Beside the canal stands a historic gristmill powered by the canal's water. When it runs, the mill grinds corn and wheat much as it did in the canal era, its wheel and stones driven by the flow, a working link to the days when mills were the beating heart of rural commerce.

The town of Metamora grew up along the canal and has been preserved and restored, its old buildings now home to shops and a walkable towpath. A canal-boat ride, part of the same historic site, carries visitors along the water behind a team, completing the picture of a canal town in its heyday.

The mill, aqueduct, and canal boat operate on a seasonal calendar, so a visit is richest in the warmer months when the site is fully active. Metamora is a small town that leans into its history and hosts seasonal events, so it is worth checking what is running before you go.

The wooded Whitewater valley makes a scenic setting for a slow wander along the towpath and through the town. Comfortable shoes help on the uneven paths, and spring and fall bring the surrounding hills to their best.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.