Dana, Indiana was home to Ernie Taylor Pyle

Dana, Indiana was home to Ernie Taylor Pyle

Dana, Indiana is smaller than small with a population of just over 600 people.

Yet as small as this Vermillion County town may be, it is certainly no less interesting!

Dana, Indiana in Vermillion County

The first thing you see when you enter the town is a big painted mural on the side of the building that reads, “Ernie Pyle State Memorial” with a big arrow pointing off to the right.

Yes, teeny tiny Dana, Indiana was the home of the beloved Ernie Taylor Pyle, a war correspondent killed overseas outside of Okinawa. If you haven’t read anything of his, you should–it’s superb.

His childhood home and plenty more are available to tour and would be a great spot for the war history buff. There’s two out buildings full of things!

Unfortunately we couldn’t get inside. It sounds like there’s talk about the town of Dana taking possession (which I do so hope happens)! More about Mr. Pyle in a future post.

Things to Do in Dana, Indiana

Dana, Indiana mystery circle right on the street downtown! Can you guess what it is?

Dana, Indiana mystery circle right on the street downtown! Can you guess what it is?

Walking around this small Indiana town didn’t take long, it was basically up one block and down another. Other than the Memorial, there is only one shop that we could see is still open in the downtown area (antiques) and a few blocks away there is a candy store.

Besides that, there was one mystery in Dana that we could not figure out: a big circle in the middle of town right in the center of the street with squares of numbers up to 100. Do you know what it is?

Luckily, someone stopped in town and we were able to ask if they knew what it was for. Would you believe that Dana, Indiana has a big cake walk and that they hold it right there in the center of the street? Small town living for sure!

It’s not every town that puts a cake walk right smack dab in the middle of things. I think that says a lot about the sense of community in this little place.

Go There

Dana, Indiana downtown (and a very grand building)

Dana, Indiana downtown (and a very grand building)

There were a few rather grand buildings–but far more empty lots of vacant buildings that I like to see.

If anyone has a story to share about this very small town, please share it in the comment below. I’d love to read it!

Small Towns: Destinations, not Drive-Thrus! I’m Jessica Nunemaker and THIS is little Indiana!

Find pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream or on the new little Indiana Tumblr blog.

Just don’t forget to tell ’em that  little Indiana sent you!

Dana, Indiana in Vermillion County

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