Jay County is home to the world’s largest Gas Engine and Tractor Show. The Antique Gas Engine & Tractor Show is also dedicated to historic technology: it features more than 3,000 engines and 800 tractors. The event also includes 150 dealers in antiques and crafts. These figures give an impression of the range—from machinery to handcrafted items.
Engines, Markets, and Recurring Events
The Jay County Fair has been held since 1853. Its program includes truck and tractor pulls. A different kind of event is the annual Vintage Bike Show: it is the largest gathering of its kind in the United States and includes a swap meet and an auction. If you would like to plan a trip around one of these dates, check the dates for the relevant year.
Local technology history can also be explored in different ways. The Gas Boom Trail is a driving tour of historic sites in Jay County. The Natural Gas Boom of East Indiana began in Jay County in 1886. A specific year and a driving route thus offer different ways to explore regional history.
Glass and the History of the County
The Jay County Historical Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Jay County. It covers 11,000 square feet and displays thousands of artifacts dating back to 1838. The collection gives history a tangible dimension: it focuses on objects spanning the county’s early years.
Several forms of glass art come together at the Glass Museum. On display are 25 stained-glass windows as well as hundreds of mouth-blown and hand-pressed glass creations. The museum also presents Dunkirk’s past through 8,000 glass objects from 110 factories around the world. The windows, handcrafted pieces, and large number of objects each offer a different perspective on glass.
The Jay County Courthouse also combines architecture and visual history: the building is made of Bedford stone and has columns, marble walls, and marble floors. Paintings in the rotunda depict early pioneers, the first log cabin, and the Battle of Shiloh. The pioneer home’s cabin served as a safe refuge for countless travelers on the Underground Railroad. A 1910 automobile by Elwood Haynes is also on display at the Community Resource Center.
Portland’s Historic District encompasses five blocks of historically significant buildings and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another architectural feature is the concrete Bowstring Arc/Arch Bridge on South Meridian Street, the only bridge of its kind in Indiana. For readers interested in architectural history, the courthouse, district, and bridge offer very different points of connection.
Marshland, Trails, and More to Explore
The Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve covers 475 acres of marshland, forest, and prairie. The Bird Sanctuary is smaller: established in 1947, it covers 38 acres. Its trails pass through forest, prairie, and wetlands. The difference in size between the two areas is clear; at the same time, both descriptions feature open and wooded habitats.
Hudson Family Park has a lake and walking trails. For another outdoor activity, the Portland Golf Club has an 18-hole course, a driving range, and a putting, chipping, and pitching green. These options offer different themes for planning your trip: natural areas and trails, parkland, or golf with several practice areas. Which focus is right for you depends on which of these featured attractions you would like to make the centerpiece of your stay.
Discover more destinations: Portland, Greene County, Kosciusko County, Morgan, Pulaski County, Posey County, Johnson, Clay County.
For the main travel overview: Indiana.
