Today, Greater Lafayette is a hob of industry, technology, and commerce, but this has not always been the case. What sparked Lafayette’s transformation from a ramshackle river town to the bustling epicenter of the Wabash Valley? Attendees will be invited to become canal sleuths to find and appreciate the hidden remains and traces of the historic canal across Lafayette and Tippecanoe County.

Presented by Mike Tetrault, Executive Director of the Wabash and Erie Canal Park.

The Wabash Valley saw rapid growth between the 1820s and 1860 as residents flooded west from Eastern states and Europe. Growth brought an influx of carpenters, builders, and architects to meet the demand for new buildings. This presentation will tell the story of early architects and builders who practiced in Fountain, Warren, Tippecanoe, Carroll and Cass Counties. 

Presented by Benjamin L. Ross

Benjamin L. Ross is a a Lafayette native and has been a historic preservation specialist with RATIO architects in Indianapolis for 15 years. Ben has been entrusted with analyzing, interpreting, and planning for the future of some of the most important historic sites in the United States, including the homes of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.