George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Indiana. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At George Rogers Clark the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:07 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:53 PM | 243° | 9h 46m |
| February | 6:42 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:51 PM | 5:28 PM | 255° | 10h 46m |
| March | 7:02 AM | 7:38 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:57 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:15 AM | 6:50 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:27 PM | 283° | 13h 12m |
| May | 5:39 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:56 PM | 295° | 14h 17m |
| June | 5:26 AM | 6:06 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:17 PM | 301° | 14h 51m |
| July | 5:38 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:15 PM | 299° | 14h 37m |
| August | 6:05 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:46 PM | 289° | 13h 41m |
| September | 6:32 AM | 7:07 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:00 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:00 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:13 PM | 260° | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:12 AM | 3:59 PM | 4:38 PM | 247° | 10h 05m |
| December | 7:02 AM | 7:44 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:31 PM | 241° | 9h 29m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.6791, -87.5355); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From George Rogers Clark, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:57 AM – 5:07 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:06 AM – 5:26 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:02 AM – 4:32 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:03 AM – 3:43 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:15 PM – 3:25 AM | 5.2 | 22° |
| July | 10:08 PM – 1:58 AM | 3.8 | 22° |
| August | 9:25 PM – 11:55 PM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:30 PM – 9:50 PM | 1.3 | 19° |
| October | 7:41 PM – 8:01 PM | 0.3 | 12° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
The weather in the area is quite typical for the Midwest. The average temperature for the winter months is in the mid 30s, but the summers can often be hot and humid with temperatures reaching into the 90s.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (69%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
The George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is located within the city of Vincennes, Indiana. Evansville is approximately 50 miles to the south and Terre Haute is approximately 50 miles to the north. Highway 41 provides good roads from the north or south. Highway 50 provides access from the east and west. From Hwy 50 east and west or from Hwy 41 from the north use the 6th Street exit. On Hwy 41 from the South use the Willow Street exit. From there follow the blue directional signs for the park.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Arts and Crafts
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
