The Department of Natural Resources has scheduled two special programs featuring supervised tours to the site at Salamonie Reservoir where Monument City once stood.
The site of the former town has drawn recent attention after being exposed this summer due to low water levels in the reservoir caused by drought. DNR officials temporarily closed public access to the location last Sunday to ensure the integrity of the site and to protect artifacts.
It now will reopen to limited visitation from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 29, and 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 5.
Visitors wanting to learn more about the site can begin at the Salamonie Interpretive Center at 5:30 p.m. both dates for an orientation program by Upper Wabash Interpretive Services staff, then follow staff to the Monument City site.
At the site, visitors may walk the main road and look at foundations or other durable items.
Interpretive naturalists will be on hand to explain state and federal laws that prohibit collecting any materials from the site.
“The true story here is in the lives and stories of former residents of the Salamonie area,” UWIS director Marvin McNew said. “We are hoping to connect once again with former residents of Monument City and other reservoir locations.
“There are so many stories unrecorded of the former towns and fond memories of days past that we would like to record at a future date. We hope those folks will call us or visit on these days, so we can make arrangements to learn from them and share these lasting images with future generations.”