Monument City

Indiana's ghost towns are canal towns, coal camps, and railroad stops the interstates finished off.

Monument City is a former settlement in Huntington County, Indiana. Located at the current site of the Salamonie Reservoir in southern Huntington County, the parking area to view the remains of Monument City is located near the coordinates 40°45’49.45″ N 85°35’31.64” W. Monument City was covered by the damming up of the Salamonie River to create Salamonie Lake in 1965. When the reservoir is low, remains are visible. Former residents are now scattered throughout Huntington and the surrounding counties, although many have died since the destruction of the town.

Calling it Monument City was either optimism or a very good joke — boomtowns were never modest about their ambitions.

The on-the-ground condition of Monument City is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Monument City is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Monument City is roughly 40.7637, -85.5921 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.