Before Monroe Reservoir was built, the Salt Creek Valley was home to numerous farms, homesteads and businesses. Salt Creek Valley History Week, an annual event coordinated by Monroe Lake, highlights this era with special programming Sept. 15-21.

One of the featured events this year is Public Archaeology Day on Sept. 17 at Fairfax State Recreation Area. Archaeologists from DNR’s Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (DHPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, have partnered with DNR’s Division of State Parks to document and map one of the historic homestead sites. Guests can drop by to watch the site mapping, learn about the ownership history of the land, and ask questions from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Limited spots are also still available in the afternoon of Sept. 17 to assist with prepping another homestead at Fairfax SRA for future mapping. Sign up is required at tinyurl.com/archday2024.

On Sept. 19, there will be guided hikes of Mount Ebal Cemetery, which is located just outside the Fairfax SRA entrance. Attendees can learn about the history of the cemetery and the adjacent church as well as hear stories about some of the people buried there. Space is limited to 20 guests, and registration is at tinyurl.com/mtebal2024.

Brown County State Park will offer a Salt Creek Bridges Walk at 5 p.m. Sept. 20. Participants should meet in the Olympic pool parking lot in the park. The 30-minute tour will highlight two historic bridges and discuss the importance of bridges to early development. No registration is needed.

Child-friendly programs for drop-in guests will take place at Paynetown State Recreation Area throughout the week. On Sept. 15, programs include Cash Crop Craft from 10 to 11 a.m. and Woven Bookmarks from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

On Sept. 20 child-friendly programs include Salt of the Earth, which will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Sept. 21 programs include The Nation’s Building Stone from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Weaving 101 from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and Marble Games from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Complete information on all Salt Creek Valley History Week programming can be found at tinyurl.com/scvhistory2024. Questions should be directed to Jill Vance at the Paynetown Activity Center, 812-837-9967 or [email protected].

Property admission to Fairfax SRA, Paynetown SRA and Brown County State Park is $7 per vehicle with Indiana license plates or $9 per vehicle with out-of-state plates. Indiana State Park Annual Entrance Permits are also accepted at all three locations.

To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.