Paul Dresser

This is Paul Dressers' home located on the banks of the wabash in Fairbanks park. You would think will this house still standing that we would turn it into a memorial of the man who wrote our state song. There is only a sign out in front of the house telling you about the man who lived there. I'm not sure if you can take a tour into the house and look out the windows to see the view that inspired Paul or not, but from peaking into the windows it doesn't look like you can go in.

The is the sign that is in front of Pauls' house. As you can see it doesn't do the man any justice. It pretty much just tells you that he wrote a song and a book. It doesn't mention anything about what inspired him to write those things or that the house behind the sign was his child hood home. I believe it is important to give him credit, but there is so much more we could do with these things to help make Terre Haute shine.
If I could go back and redue this for the city of Terre Haute I would. Speaking out and giving ideas is how you go about keeping a city alive and thriving. When we all stay quiet nothing good can come of it. I would say that we could turn the Dresser home into a museum and make it the end part of a walking tour. You would start the tour along the banks of the wabash and talk about how this view inspired Paul to write the famous Indiana song "On the Banks of the Wabash". Then you would stroll through the park and up to the house. Entering the house you would see furniture from that time period and your guide would tell you the history of the family and of the house. When you left your tour you would be more education on Paul Dresser and how Terre Haute use to be.