Indiana (Pennsylvania)

As far as the exhibits go, it's pretty much your average run-of-the-mill small-town history museum, with displays of artifacts pertinent to Indiana and vicinity (with special attention paid to local military artifacts and history) as well as the onsite Frances Strong Helman Library for academic researchers and those looking into their Indiana County family roots. But the real reason to visit is the building itself: the Historical & Genealogical Society is located in the 1870 Silas M. Clark House, the magnificently restored Italian Villa-style residence of a prominent local attorney, political figure, and eventually State Supreme Court justice. Even if you've got no interest in the museum itself, fans of Victorian-era architecture should not miss the chance to gawk at this and the several other handsome old mansions that grace this section of Indiana.

Sutton Hall is the centerpiece of IUP's sprawling campus, and it's where you'll find this museum that seeks to "bring... the material history and arts of the region together in an environment that encourages exploration, dialogue, and enjoyment". Temporary exhibits tend to focus more on the "arts" half of the equation — if you're keen on getting acquainted with the local and regional scene, especially works by IUP students, check out the events calendar on the website — while the permanent collection deals more with local history and culture, including that of the university itself. If you're passing through in November or December, the annual "Holiday Wheels & Thrills" model train display is always a hit with the younger set.

Inside the third floor of the Indiana Borough Community Building is a vast trove of memorabilia that together recounts Jimmy Stewart's "wonderful life" not only as a leading man on stage and screen but also as a military hero, civic leader, husband and father. You'll see original movie posters, clothing and other personal effects, old photographs, artifacts from the hardware store his father owned in town, even the front door of the home where he lived in Hollywood after becoming famous.