Visitors to Muncie can focus on different interests: painting themselves, discovering art and everyday history, or spending time outdoors by the river and on trails. The activities differ in form, from painting classes to interactive experiences and walking and cycling trails.
Art and History Through Different Approaches
The Bob Ross Experience offers painting classes in the building where “The Joy of Painting” was filmed. Visitors can learn Bob Ross’s wet-on-wet technique from certified Ross instructors. The focus here is on hands-on instruction in a painting technique. If you want a class to be a highlight of your stay, check the current class information before planning your day around it.
The David Owsley Museum of Art has a different focus: its collection includes works from six continents and represents 5,000 years of civilization. Its geographic and historical range gives the collection a broad scope. You can explore it as an art-focused experience alongside the hands-on painting at the Bob Ross Experience, while bearing in mind that the two offer different kinds of access.
The Oakhurst Experience focuses on domestic life. The home of George and Frances Ball invites visitors to explore it interactively: they can use books from the shelves, play board games together, and learn in the kitchen about preserving food at home. Reading, playing together, and learning about food storage come together here in a range of everyday topics. Those who prefer to explore history through activities and spaces rather than an art collection will find a different focus here.
The Delaware County Historical Society operates the Moore-Youse Center at the corner of Mulberry Street and Washington Street in Downtown Muncie. In a building more than 160 years old, the society maintains three exhibition rooms on the ground floor. The location is clearly identified by its downtown setting, the named street corner, and the historic building. The bronze replica of the statue “Appeal to the Great Spirit” adds another local connection: it is located north of the White River, belongs to the City of Muncie, commemorates Edmund B. Ball, and was dedicated in 1929.
Nature and Trails Along the White River
Minnetrista has a 40-hectare campus in the center of Muncie. Minnetrista’s Nature Area represents three habitats typical of Indiana: tallgrass prairie, wetlands, and forest. You can walk there and explore the surroundings. The three habitat types give your walk a specific thematic framework, from prairie to wetlands to forest.
Along the White River, options vary by activity and trail. The paved White River Greenway is 5.6 miles long and runs through Muncie along the scenic north bank; it is intended for walking or cycling. Kayaking and shore fishing are also possible on the river in Muncie. Cycling is also possible along a six-mile park on the north bank. This gives you a paved route for walking or cycling alongside other activities on the water.
The Cardinal Greenway offers a different scale: this 62-mile rail trail runs through Muncie, is free to use, and is open daily year-round from sunrise to sunset. Compared with the 5.6-mile White River Greenway, both the substantially greater trail length and the daily operating hours are important details for planning. The trails can therefore be distinguished by the features described for each, rather than treated as equivalent routes.
For an overview of the wider trip: Delaware.
