Whitewater Memorial State Park

{{Short description|State park in Indiana, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox park

| name = Whitewater Memorial

| photo = File:Whitewatersign.jpg

| photo_width =

| photo_caption = Entrance sign at Whitewater Memorial State Park

| map =

| map_width =

| type = State Park

| location = Indiana USA

| nearest_city = Liberty, Indiana

| coords = {{coord|39.613889|N|84.965278|W|region:US-IN|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| area = {{convert|1710|acre|km2|0}}

| created = 1949

| visitation_num = 240,651

| visitation_year = 2018–2019

| visitation_ref = {{cite web |title=2018 / 2019 Estimated Fiscal Year Visits for Indiana State Parks ~ Alphabetical |publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources |url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/files/sp-2018-19-State-Park-Visitation.pdf |access-date=November 2, 2021}}

| operator = Indiana Department of Natural Resources

}}

Whitewater Memorial is the sixteenth state park in Indiana. It is located {{convert|47|mi|km}} in Union County, Indiana, west-southwest of Dayton, Ohio. At {{convert|23000|acre|km2}}, it is the third-largest state park in Indiana; its {{convert|17|mi|km|spell=in}} stretches between Brookville, Indiana, and Liberty, Indiana, paralleled by Indiana State Road 101.Conn, Earl L. My Indiana:101 Places to See (Indiana Historical Society Press, 2006). pg.172McKinney, Sally. Hiking Indiana (2000) p.111 The park was established as a memorial to those American soldiers who lost their lives in World Wars I and II. The park receives about 240,000 visitors annually.

Part of the facilities available to visitors to Whitewater Memorial State Park include Brookville Reservoir. Brookville Reservoir was created as an artificial lake by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1974, spanning {{convert|5260|acre|km2|0}}. The dam which enables the lake is {{convert|181|ft|m}} high and {{convert|2800|ft|m}} long.Conn 172, 173 Whitewater Lake itself is {{convert|200|acre|km2}}.[http://www.indianaoutfitters.com/wwater.html Information page containing trip reports, weather, and a complete set of maps for Whitewater Memorial State Park, an Indiana State Park]

Popular recreation options in the state park include houseboats, five hiking trails, a nine-mile (14 km) horse trail and lake swimming. Bass, bluegill and other small fish are the attractions for fishermen. An archery range is available by the reservoir. Hayrides are also occasionally offered.[http://www.guidedtrailridesllc.com/~guidedtr/index.php?section=1 Guided Trail Rides LLC | Giddy Up!] Hunters are attracted to the park's deer, rabbits and raccoons. Non-hunted wildlife include woodpeckers and owls.McKinney 111 Within the state park is the Hornbeam Nature Preserve, which features the rare hornbeam trees. It is {{convert|37|acre|m2}} in area, and was established in 1974.[http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/whitewater_trail.pdf Property Map]

Whitewater Memorial State Park hosted the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall from September 4–8, 2008. It was placed at the beach's grassy southern edge. Surviving veterans of the four counties were specifically honored.[http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080219/UPDATES/80219017 Liberty will host Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall meeting Feb. 28] Accessed February 19, 2008 The park is 1 of 14 Indiana State Parks that was the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse, with the park experiencing 3 minutes and 33 seconds of totality.{{Cite web |last=R |first=Mike |date=2021-07-14 |title=Indiana 2024 Eclipse State Park Resources |url=http://cosmospnw.com/indiana-2024-eclipse-state-park-resources/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=CosmosPNW |language=en-US}}