Gene Stratton-Porter

Gene Stratton-Porter

148 Acres of Forests, Gardens and Pure Imagination

A Woman Ahead of Her Time

Gene Stratton-Porter’s Cabin at Wildflower Woods is nestled on the shores of Sylvan Lake amongst 148 acres of fields, woods and beautiful formal gardens. Stratton-Porter is Indiana’s most widely-read female author, as well as a gifted nature photographer and entrepreneur. She began her career writing about nature for magazines, but soon decided to reach larger audiences by sweetening her nature studies with a veneer of fiction. Stratton-Porter’s first novel was 1903’s The Song of the Cardinal, although Michael O’Halloran, 1915, was the first book she wrote in Rome City.

Cabin at Gene Stratton Porter

Designed by Gene Stratton-Porter and completed in 1914, the cabin is nestled on the shores of Sylvan Lake. The vast, undeveloped forest provided a rich source of material for her nature studies, writings and photography. Furnishings in the home are arranged and maintained to reflect Stratton-Porter’s lifestyle. Much of the furniture and personal collections, including her library, are preserved at the home.

Children Under 3 Admission: Free
Youth (Ages 3 - 17) Admission: $5
Adults (Ages 18 - 59) Admission: $8
Seniors (Ages 60+) Admission: $7
Members Admission: Free

Operating Hours

April through November

Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Holidays

April through November

Easter – Closed

Memorial Day – Open for preregistered tours only

Juneteenth Celebration (date tbd) – Free admission

July 4th – Open

Labor Day – Open for preregistered tours only

Thanksgiving – Closed

Guided Cabin Tour

April through November
10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Purchase Tickets

December through March, building tours are only available by reservation for groups of four or more by calling the site at 260.854.3790.

Guided Nature Walk

May through October
12 p.m., weather permitting

Walk up tickets are subject to availability. Call the site at 260.854.3790 to ensure registration.

Visiting on a free day or when school is in session? Specific site access and tour space will be limited. Please contact the site in advance of your visit to learn more and reserve your space.

Programs & Events

Stop and smell the wildflowers

As you visit the site, be sure to enjoy the loving touches Gene added. Masterfully sculpted from Bedford limestone, great horned owls perch atop puddingstone pillars, a 35-bed formal garden accented with a 120-foot-long wisteria-covered arbor, Sower’s Woods’ beautifully maintained trail benches provide a quiet place to relax, and an artesian well and puddingstone walkway grace the shoreline of Sylvan Lake.

Carriage House Visitor Center

Explore your Naturalist Side

Explore the Carriage House Visitor Center to learn about moths, wildflowers, woodpeckers, carnivorous plants and other nature topics. Pull the drawers out from a large cabinet to see different types of rocks and wildlife found throughout Indiana. 

Relax in 148 acres of loveliness

Discover 148 acres of gardens, woods, lake shore and newly restored wetlands and prairies. The site also has over three miles of grass and mulched trails in the woods and along the fields as well as a paved trail on the west portion of the site behind the historic Sower farmhouse and barn.

Wetland plants at GSP
Cabin at Gene Stratton Porter

Discover Gene's source of literary inspiration

In her lifetime, Porter authored 12 novels, seven nature studies, three poetry books, children’s books and numerous magazine articles. With an estimated 50 million readers, her works have been translated into several foreign languages as well as Braille. Eight of her novels were produced as motion pictures.

Girl walking through gardens at Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site

BOOK A FIELD TRIP

Help bring history, science, art and education to life for your students with a one-of-a-kind field trip experience. Students will learn how Gene Stratton-Porter infused her personality into her home. All state historic sites support Indiana Academic Standards, and feature a variety of academic topics. Call 260.854.3790 to schedule your visit to Gene Stratton-Porter.

Learn more

Watch Rare Video Footage of Gene Stratton-Porter

A multi-talented woman, Gene Stratton-Porter was not only a best-selling author and conservationist, she was heavily involved in the film industry. In spite of many years in Hollywood, there has been no film footage of Gene herself…until now. This unearthed video of Gene working on her property in Catalina Island in Avalon, California gives us a new glimpse at one of the most influential women in Hoosier history.

EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF NATURE AS A MEMBER TODAY!

Our members discover the natural beauty of this place Gene Stratton-Porter called home, all year long!  What will you see today?

Become a Member Today
Older man in blue polo walking alongside young girl in pink shirt and young boy in yellow shirt on a trail in a wooded area
  • Wisteria Arbor at GSP

    Gardens Galore

  • Typewriter at GSP

    The Tools of Her Trade

  • Flower on the grounds of GSP

    Inspiration All Around

  • Cabin during the Winter

    Year-round Beauty

  • Bookshelf at GSP

    A Priceless Library

  • 1 of 1

Plan Your Trip

  • Contact

  • Group Rate

    Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 visitors or more. To receive group rates, please call the site in advance and purchase all tickets with one payment. Find prices below.

    Adults – $7
    Seniors* – $6
    Youth* – $4
    Children under 3 – FREE
    *Seniors: Ages 60 and older, Youth: Ages 3 through 17

    For group transportation to a state historic site, contact our partners at CharterUP.

  • Discounts

    Special discounts are available for educators and education groups, military, Access Pass holders and more. View all discounts >>

     

  • School Groups

    Field trip admission is free for pre-scheduled, accredited schools and homeschool groups of 10 or more Indiana K-12 students. Members of the Indiana Association of Homeschool Educators receive free daily admission with proof of membership. Call 260.854.3790 to schedule your visit.

    Academic topics covered include natural history, environmental science, early 20th-century culture (1913-1925), multidisciplinary focus through art, science, reading and writing.

    Learn more
  • Girl Scouts

    Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site has numerous opportunities for Girl Scouts throughout the year. We also offer a free, printable Badge Explorer Guide!

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  • Commercial Photography And Videography

    If you are a photographer looking to book a shoot at Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site, please review our commercial photography policy and application process. Learn more >>

1205 Pleasant Point, Rome City, IN 46784

Visit Today

From E 850 N, turn onto Pleasant Point. Follow the road for about a half mile, then the site will be on your right. Visitors may park in the free Visitor Parking Lot on Pleasant Point. ADA compliant parking is available in the lot nearest the Carriage House Visitor Center.