Franklin by Foot

08/04/2025

05/10/2025

What if $1 could feed 15 people?

I'm on a personal movement to raise $500 in 3 hours!

I recently learned about an organization doing exactly that. Food Rescue US - Southwest Indiana rescues fresh, surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away and gets it directly into the hands of people who need it.

They’re not just feeding people — they’re doing it with care, dignity, and zero waste.

Right now, they’re raising funds to keep their work going. Just $1 helps feed 15 people. That’s real impact.

If you’ve ever felt helpless in the face of hunger, this is a tangible way to help. I’m supporting them, and I’d love for you to join me.

Here’s the link to donate: https://www.foodrescue.net/Via-friends.html

Even a small amount makes a difference. Let’s do some good today.

04/19/2025

Franklin's very own Adam Stoner , owner of The Salt House Tattoo, has released his highly anticipated documentary of this VERY haunted location!

https://youtu.be/hCX7Ahnx6lE?si=ewhgHWM67XkWiSZx

04/04/2025

🌩️ Boos & Brews Rain Check 🌩️

Well, friends… turns out the only thing scarier than ghost stories is hail + lightning. Thanks to some extreme weather heading our way tonight, we’re hitting pause on tonight’s Boos & Brews tour for everyone’s safety.

But don’t worry—your spooky stroll with a side of local brews isn’t gone for good. We’ve rescheduled for Thursday, April 25th and can’t wait to haunt the town with you then.

Gotta love that unpredictable Indiana spring, right? 🌧️⚡ See you (safely) soon!

11/15/2024

We are HUGE fans and supporters of the The Historic Artcraft Theatre! This amazing theater is on both our History Tour and Haunted History Tour. If you join us for a walk on Friday or Saturday, you can swing through the concession stand for popcorn, drinks, and snacks!

11/15/2024

This beautiful church, well not THIS ONE (the one that replaced it), is on our Haunted History tour. Visit our wonderful museum and then join us for a walk to see it in person and learn even more about our great town. :)

It’s Karen the Curator, and it’s time for this week’s ! Today I want to highlight an artifact that is on loan from the First Presbyterian Church of Franklin. They are celebrating their bicentennial this year, so we have put together an exhibit case highlighting their first 200 years.
This cabinet card photograph is of the exterior of the church taken around 1875 by Franklin photographer A.G. Hicks. Be sure to come by and see the other artifacts celebrating the Church's history!

11/12/2024

We’re back with Part 2 of our H.H. Holmes series, and this time, we’re stepping into the twisted depths of his “Murder Castle” in Chicago. As the World’s Fair dazzled the city in 1893, Holmes was weaving a dark web of deception just blocks away, using charm and cunning to draw in victims who’d never escape.

This chapter follows Holmes as he moves from calculated frauds to something far more sinister. After the shocking Pitezel murders, the story takes a suspenseful turn—a cross-country manhunt led by Detective Frank Geyer, whose pursuit of Holmes brought to light a horror few could imagine.

What does it take to catch a man as slippery as Holmes? And how did he evade justice for so long? Part 2 unravels these questions, tracing Holmes’s trail across the country until his ultimate capture.

Ready to see how this all unfolds?

https://www.franklinbyfoot.com/blog/hhholmes-part2

11/12/2024

Who says ghost stories are just for Halloween?

Our Haunted History tours run all year long! Join us anytime to stroll through Franklin’s haunted corners and swap some ghostly gossip. Whether it’s a chilly winter night or a warm summer evening, the spirits of Franklin have plenty to say—and they’re not going anywhere.

Ready to meet some of our town’s most talked-about “residents”?

11/11/2024

Did you know that in the early 1900s, Indianapolis had the largest interurban trolley system in the world? One of the busiest spots on the planet was right here at Illinois and Washington Streets in downtown Indianapolis, buzzing with people, clanging trolleys, and constant energy. And here’s a fun bit for Franklin folks: the line to Louisville ran directly through downtown Franklin, making our town a part of this vast transportation network.

(Source: Library of Congress)

11/05/2024

Let’s take a step into the past and meet H.H. Holmes, a man who built more than just a “castle” in Chicago. Over the next three weeks, we’re diving into a story that’s as chilling as it is intriguing.

How does a bright young medical student from New Hampshire end up becoming one of history’s most notorious killers? This is the question we’re exploring in Part 1. Holmes’s journey from promising student to cunning con artist is the first thread in a web of deceit that would ultimately unravel in terrifying ways.

Imagine the 1860s—a time when America was still figuring itself out, and Holmes was doing the same, though his path was far darker. This week, we’re setting the stage, uncovering how he began weaving the skills and schemes that would eventually create the “Murder Castle” in Chicago.

Curious? You’ll want to follow each chapter as we reveal more about Holmes’s life, the people he deceived, and the dark legacy he left behind. Part 1 is out now—are you ready to see where it all began?

https://www.franklinbyfoot.com/blog/hhholmes-part1