Captain McHarry's Vault - New Albany, IN
Posted by: 
Mr. 0
N 38° 08.556 W 085° 54.754
16S E 595289 N 4222195
A short, but steep hike is required to get to this vault. Located on a cliff over looking the Ohio River just across the state line from Louisville, KY.
Waymark Code: WM34WC
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 02/10/2008
Views: 88
I discovered this one by visiting the
Geocache that is located here.
Captain Frances McHarry was once a steamboat captain on the Ohio River in the mid 1800's. At that time his business was one of great competition, and Captain McHarry was known for his unstable relationship with other captains in the area. According to legend McHarry built this vault over looking the Ohio River so he could keep watch over it. It is said that he requested to be entombed standing up so he could "look" out of the portal in the vault and curse all of the passing boats. After the captain's death, the other captains who had to pass his vault would blow their horns to ward off his curse. It's a tradition that is said to continue to this day, although none of the passing coal barges seemed to carry this out.
Captain McHarry was moved from the vault to Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville not too long after his death, so the vault is empty today. Time, Mother Nature, and vandals have hastened the deterioration of the vault, but it is still an impressive, and unique landmark.
As mentioned in the short description the hike up to the vault is somewhat difficult. It's about 400' uphill in a very short distance. There appear to be no direct paths, and the hillside is rocky and the soil is loose. The reward of seeing the old vault and the view over the Ohio River into Louisville, KY make the hike more than worth the effort.
The closest parking is at the intersection of 111 and 211. Please do not park in front of, or trespass on Hy Pointe property.