Thomas Park Avondale

12 stops in the South Side of Muncie

The Ross Community Center collaborated with Ball State University’s Public History Program to create a walking tour documenting sites or cultural significance in the Thomas Park-Avondale neighborhood of Muncie. This project was done as part of the Ross Center’s 50th anniversary celebration.

The director of the Public History Program, Dr. Wendy Soltz and students enrolled in HIST 240: Introduction to Public History worked with Jacqueline Hanoman (Director of the Ross Center) and several community volunteers during the spring of 2024 to research 12 important sites throughout the neighborhood. Students also interviewed local community leaders of the Thomas Park-Avondale neighborhood. Department of History MA student, Kegan Mixdorf, conducted additional research, worked to edit the walking tour text, and added narration.

The tour is roughly three miles long and takes around one hour to complete.