American Indian tribes fished there, and settlers navigated their flatboats through its rapids until the Portland Canal was built in 1830. More than 600 species of ancient plants and sea animals are embedded in the rocks, now recognized as the largest exposed fossil bed in the world. Although you ll spend most of your time looking down to see the fossils, take a minute to glance skyward to see the shore birds that nest there and stop to feed on their seasonal migration. If you want to bring a group, call ahead. Public hikes June 1 through October 31 are free of charge.
Visitors stand along the Indiana shoreline to view the birds and the fossils.
Schedules of public hikes are printed a month in advance. The Filson Club 1310 S. Third St. 635-5083 Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of Kentucky is probably somewhere in this club s vast library of 50,000 research books, genealogies, wills, deeds, marriage records, manuscripts and old photographs. Especially interesting are the documents from the pioneer, antebellum and Civil War periods and the thousands of early photographs and illustrations. The collections grow every year, making The Filson Club worth more than one visit. You can also tour a museum that houses art and artifacts, including paintings, firearms, coins, silver objects, ceramics and textiles.