It’s been about a month since I relocated to Indiana, so a visit to Brown County to explore the legacy of one of the state’s most famous Impressionist painters, T.C. Steele, felt like the perfect next step.

Nestled in the scenic hills near Bloomington, the T.C. Steele State Historic Site was once home to Theodore Clement Steele and his wife, Selma. Steele, an American Impressionist, is best known for his landscapes of Indiana and as a prominent figure in the Hoosier Group. Before settling here, Steele traveled the state in a horse-drawn wagon, using it as a mobile studio before building a permanent house. The surrounding landscape became a vital inspiration for his Impressionist works.

Visitors today can tour the house and grounds that sparked much of Steele’s artistic vision. At the Singing Winds Visitor Center, an orientation video outlines the history of the ridgetop home, and you can see a replica of Steele’s mobile studio. The Large Studio also showcases rotating displays of his original artwork. The 92-acre Selma N. Steele Nature Preserve is just next door, a lush area filled with diverse trees, seasonal streams, and valleys that bloom with wildflowers throughout the year.

From Bloomington, follow IN Route 46 east for 9.5 miles. Turn right onto T.C. Steele Road and continue south for 1.7 miles. From Nashville, follow IN Route 46 west for 7.5 miles. Turn left onto T.C. Steele Road and continue south for 1.7 miles.