Highland Park was established on April 2, 1892 on 15 acres of land located along Kokomo Creek as a destination for the Kokomo Street Railway Company. The cost of the land was $1500. Rodgers Pavilion is the oldest structure in the park and was built by the railway for the convenience of it’s passengers. It was originally an open sided structure. It stood empty from 1931 to 1958 after the railway company stopped using it. It was refurbished to include enclosing the structure in 1958. It is named for a former Park Superintendent. The first play ground was built by the Park Road entrance around 1910. It consisted of a merry-go-round, several swings and two slides. There was also a minature train located to the left of the main entrance bridge. I could not find a date when this park was dismantled and the current playground built. There have been, and still are, many landmarks in Highland Park. Below is a list of these landmarks:
Park Zoo – this was located in the northwest part of the park and dated from around 1908. Some of the animals housed were bears, raccoons, foxes, deer, several types of birds in addition to an eagle, owl and swans and an alligator pit.
Tourist Camp – established around 1920 and consisted of space for about 29 tents and room for parking. This was used kind of like a motor lodge for people driving through the area.
Old Ben – the world’s largest preserved steer. He stands six and a half feet tall at the shoulders and weighs in at over 4500 pounds. He was placed in Highland Park in 1919.
Civil War Cannon – the cannon is a 12 pound Confederate Bronze Howitzer. It is one of only nine made and one of only three known to still exist. It was originally placed in the park around 1910 and has been moved to many places around the city. It was located in it’s current location in the Spring of 2008.
Vermont Covered Bridge – the bridge was originally built approximately 5 miles east of Kokomo in Vermont, Indiana. It was built in 1875 and cost $991.62. It was dismantled, transported to Highland Park and rebuilt in January 1958 for $3500. It is currently open to pedestrian traffic only.
Elwood Haynes Museum – the mansion and grounds were donated to the city of Kokomo on October 14, 1965. The museum celebrates and commemorates the many accomplishments of this great man. There is no fee to enter the museum, but donations are encouraged.
Sycamore Stump – the stump originally stood approximately two miles north of New London, Indiana. It has a circumference of 57 feet. It was moved to it’s current site in 1916.
You are looking for a micro sized bison tube. Once you sign the log, please replace the cache exactly where you found it. Also, please remember to CITO.